The Message

6-9-06

So, how can you be assured of all this? How can you know that you have peace with God and eternal life?

It's simple. In fact, it's so simple that people who don't understand the character of God try to either make it more difficult or water it down. It is human nature to want to work at something, to feel as though you have achieved it yourself.

Do you believe that Jesus was the Christ, the only Son of God, sent as a redeeming sacrifice for all mankind for all time? Did you know He wants to come to live in your heart?

You have to start there. This chapter is not an afterthought. It is the reason for everything. This message is found throughout everything I write.

God is Holy and He created the Law, the 10 Commandments and the first 5 books of the Bible called the Mosaic Law, the rules about how human beings are to treat each other and how to worship Him. The Law proves to us that apart from Him, we could not live perfect, holy lives. It is impossible to go through life without hurting someone else's feelings, or causing some kind of damage to each other either emotionally, materially, or financially, to come up with a few ideas. We try to be 'good', but 'good' isn't good enough. We can be competitive and be better than most people, but humans are not the standard, God is.

God says if you break one part of the Law, you are guilty of the whole thing. Have you ever lied? Would that make you a 'liar'? Do you ever question that a Holy God even exists? Does that maybe break the first commandment? Have you ever gotten too much change at the store and not said anything about it? Does that mean you might be a 'thief'? What if you found a large bag of money? What would you do? Have you ever been so angry with someone that you've called them names? Did you know that makes you a 'murderer'?

God's standards are that if you even think about doing something, you've already committed it in your heart. So how's your heart? Would that maybe make you a 'sinner'? What do you think the consequences are? On judgment day, how do you think you'll do before a Holy God?

Let's try to explain a little of the character of God this way. Bear with me. Let's say you are guilty of a great injustice and have never done anything bad before. In fact, you wouldn't hurt a flea. You volunteer in your spare time, and help little old ladies across the street. Let's say that you got frustrated and angry, and killed thousands of people. What would you say would be the correct punishment? A fine? Prison time? The death penalty? The judge says, "You're guilty. All the evidence is here. Have you anything to say before I pass sentence? And you say, "Yes, Judge, I'd like to say I believe you're a good man, and because I am a good man, you're going to overlook my crimes." The judge would probably say, "You're right about one thing. I am a good man, and because of my goodness, I'm going to see that justice is done. Because of my goodness, I'm going to see that you are punished." Don't you see? The very thing that sinners are hoping will save them on judgment day, the goodness of God, will be the very thing that condemns them. Because if God is good, He must by nature punish murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, fornicators, blasphemers, sinners, etc. He has to punish sin wherever it is found.

What are the consequences of sin? Death. Eternal death. Separation from God and everything else. Jesus said that hell was, "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44) and again, "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:41)

But that place was not created for us, it was created for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41 " . . . depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." God intended for you to be with Him in Paradise. That is why He sent to earth His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to take the death penalty for us. God, Himself, crossed the bridge between Him and you.

And this is why it is so simple. To cross that bridge all you have to do is believe! Believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, and that He died for your sins, ask Him into your heart, and you will be saved!

1 John 1:9-10 (NKJV) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."

1 John 4:15 (NKJV) "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."

Put that belief into action and tell others that you now believe! Romans 10:8-10 "But what does [the scripture] say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Tell everyone what I've just told you. Take them by the hand and everyone else you meet, and go to heaven together!

If a person says they are born-again or have had a salvation experience, and it doesn't change their life, then I question their convictions because to meet Jesus is a heart changing event. There are outward signs of an inward upheaval. To meet Jesus and walk away unchanged doesn't happen!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NKJV) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause to be carried away captive."

Next, you need to learn more so that when satan comes along with his counterfeit truths, you'll be able to recognize them. He'll use your family, friends, co-workers, the news, and especially movies to confuse you and question your convictions.

Start reading the Bible today. How do you think God could bring all these scriptures to remembrance when I needed them if I hadn't read them in the first place? Get one of the easy to read translations. Start with the Gospel of John, then the Gospels, Acts, Romans, and on from there. This is how you get to know who God is. That is where you start to build your relationship with Him.

You now have the Holy Spirit of God in your heart. He will lead you into all truth. He will translate the Bible to you so you understand it. He will bring to remembrance what you need when you need it. Don't let satan convince you that you need someone else to interpret the Bible for you. There are many Bible studies that will help you with doctrine and other things, but be aware that even satan will appear as an angel of light to deceive you. Get grounded in a good Christian church, one that preaches Jesus Christ and is based solely on the Bible. God will speak to your heart during the Sermons if you'll listen. If you're listening, you'll hear Him throughout the days and nights, speaking to you about things in your life to teach you and to lead you, also.

Matthew 10:16 (KJV) "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (KJV) "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

Matthew 24:24 (KJV) "For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

The Treasury Department trains their agents to spot counterfeit bills by making them study the real things very carefully. To be able to spot the deceptions of this world, you need to study the real thing, very carefully, and for yourself. Be extremely careful about depending on other documents or teachers other than the Bible and the church you attend. And do attend church! Read the Bible for yourself and listen to the urgings of the Holy Spirit. Find out the character of God for yourself. It means your life.