Good News

Sometimes the best news we can receive gives the solution to the worst and most frightening of problems. A doctor will first give the diagnosis of a patient’s illness before prescribing the treatment. So, let’s start with the bad news.

God created humanity to love and worship Him, but our sin has separated us. Further, because of our sin, we deserve to be punished for all eternity in Hell.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

The Bible, Romans 3:23

We have all sinned. Whenever we break one of God’s laws we sin.

To enter Heaven and be with God we must reach His standard, which is perfection. That is what it means to come short of the glory of God. The question is not how often or how badly we sin, but whether we have even broken just one of God’s laws. According to the Bible,

“whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

James 2:10

So, just breaking one of God’s laws (lying, stealing, taking God’s name in vain, or any sin) means we are guilty.

The Good News, the Gospel, is that God

“commendeth (showed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, God put our guilt and punishment on Him. When He suffered and died Jesus Christ paid the debt we owed.

In a work we cannot fully comprehend God took all of the sin, guilt, and shame of every sinner and put it on Jesus. Our debt was placed on Jesus’ account. When Jesus hung on the cross God punished Jesus as if He were guilty. Because of what Jesus did, whoever calls on God to be saved will receive the free gift of salvation. The righteousness of Jesus is placed on us, on our account. So, when God looks on us He sees the perfection He requires.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:9-13

To receive God’s gift of salvation and one day enter the presence of God in Heaven, we must admit we are sinners, and ask God to forgive us because of what Christ has done on Calvary. Salvation cannot be earned or deserved. It must be received as a free gift.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

God saves us by His mercy and grace. Grace gives us what we do not deserve. It means salvation is all of God and nothing of ourselves. Mercy does not give us what we do deserve, which is judgment. By faith, believing not just in the facts presented, but trusting Him, we receive the gift of salvation. You may believe in a bridge to support you, but when you have faith you step out onto the bridge. Faith is belief in action.

Will you call on God to save you today?

If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, or if you have questions and need to know more, we’d love to hear from you.