The Gift

God has declared, “… my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9.

Since Gods thoughts and ways are different than ours, we need to think God’s thoughts, and learn God’s ways. “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness:…” Proverbs 20:6. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25.

God has stated that “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” … “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10, 23. No one is good enough to get to heaven on their own. We ALL come short of the glory of God. No one can reach the minimum of what God expects of us, in order to get to heaven, on their own. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done..,” Titus 3:5. “…All of our righteousness is as a filthy rag.” Isaiah 64:6.

THE PENALTY

God then declared that, “… the wages of sin is death;…” Romans 6:23. “…and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15. There is a price to pay for sin. Just as one gets a paycheck for working, our “paycheck” for being a sinner is death. This death is an eternal separation from God in a place prepared for the devil and his angels.

Jesus himself warned us of this place, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” Luke 16:19-26

Christ preached more on hell, with compassion, trying to prevent you from going there. In hell, one will find it was real and remember the times someone tried to warn you of going there. You’ll remember the chances you had of escaping it, knowing you didn’t have to go. See, Christ takes no pleasure seeing a person cast into hell, (Ezekiel 18:23; 32; 2 Peter 3:9). However your sin penalty must be paid for.

THE PROVISION

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. This provision was promised from the beginning of the world. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2. This provision was through the mercy of God, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Titus 3:5.

“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.

Jesus Christ died on the cross on Calvary and became sin for you and me, and paid the price for sin which the law demanded. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,…” by making “his soul an offering for sin,” after He had shed His blood on the cross of Calvary. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:10; Hebrews 9:12, 14, 22; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; etc.) This meet all the demands of the law.

After one realizes what Christ did for us, we need to repent of our sins. Repentance is more than being sorrow for sinning, it includes the act of turning around. “… To God from idols to serve the living and true God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9. Paul also said in Acts 28:21, “Testifying both to the Jews, and to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

THE PRAYER

The way to get this gift of salvation is by repenting for our sins. calling, through prayer, on the Lord Jesus Christ to save you. “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

This prayer is from the heart, admitting you are a sinner, deserving hell, believing that if you would only take Christ as your personal Saviour, Christ will take you, repenting of your sins and putting your faith in Christ’s shed blood on the cross of Calvary to take away your sin. Praying something like this:

“God, be merciful to me a sinner. I know I deserve hell, trusting in what you did on the cross of Calvary, for me. The best I know how, I repent of my sins and trust you, and take you as my personal Saviour. In Jesus name. Amen.”

If from your heart you prayed this prayer, please contact us so we can rejoice with you and help you in your new Christian walk. If you prayed this prayer just remember God has saved you eternally. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2 This eternal life is found in Jesus Christ Himself, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:3, 4. This eternal life is found not in a church or a denomination, but within the person of Jesus Christ himself. If you have Jesus Christ, you have eternal life.

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