TODAYS WORD

Here is what the Bible says...

Heaven is not a preset destination. We do not automatically go to heaven. Until our sin situation is resolved we cannot enter heaven. Once we understand this we can move on to the good news how God has made a way through Jesus Christ to resolve the sin problem. Then we learn how Christ can change our destination from eternal hell, to eternal life in heaven.

The Sin Situation...

Let's look at this sin situation. Sin is any lack of conformity to the moral character of God or the law of God. Because the Bible is the Word of God, we can look to it as the standard. We sin by thinking evil, speaking evil, acting evil or omitting good. Sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against God (1 John 3:4).

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered into our world and everything went from being very good to being very bad. The Bible says, "Through one man (Adam), sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). So, by nature or the state in which we were born, we are children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3).

To sin means to fall short of God's holy standard. The Bible says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Sin deceives us and makes us think that wrong is right and right is wrong (Proverbs 14:12). The Bible says: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20)." God has not changed (Hebrews 13:8). His standards have not been lowered. God still calls immorality a sin, regardless of what society says.

In the Bible, we are told of the things that will keep us out of heaven. Among them are: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like (Galatians 5:19-20, 21). We are warned that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Sin has terrible consequences. God will protect those that love Him but He will destroy the wicked (Psalm 145:20).

The Wrath of God...

God's wrath is said to be in perfect accord with God's justice. The Bible says, "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed" (Romans 2:5). God's wrath, then, is in proportion to human sinfulness.

Many churches and people refuse to acknowledge God is a God of wrath who punishes people for their sins. They believe that God is a God of love only, not one who brings hardship or calamity on His people or anyone else. The truth is that scripture tells us God can allow such things and we are to trust Him to see us through (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

The Bible says that God does not delight in evil and that evil may not dwell with Him (Psalm 5:4-5). There will be a day of judgment for the Bible says "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

Sin is a ticket to hell which is not an easy belief to accept. The Bible says that hell is real and people are going there. What surprises some who object to the doctrine of hell is the fact that Jesus had a lot to say in support of the belief. In fact, scholars have determined that he said more about hell than about heaven. See for example,

Jesus talked about who men should really fear: "Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he's the one to fear" (Luke 12:4-5).

So...now what?

The Good News

Scripture tells us that sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Because of this, God knew that we were totally lost and unable to restore our broken relationship with Him. Therefore, because He loves us so much, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die as an acceptable sacrifice for us. Christ left heaven to die as a substitute for us. He paid the penalty for our sins on the cross.

The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), but "Christ died for our sins (Romans 5:8). . . and rose again on the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He did not stay in the grave but rose victorious over death, proving that God the Father had accepted His sacrifice. And now, God says that "whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). All we have to do is understand how helpless we are because of our sins and then accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (Romans 5:10).

Jesus is now "at the right hand of God," in heaven, where He is, among other things, preparing a place for believers and one day will come again and receive us (John 14:2-3). He intends for us to join Him and will not condemn us.

Changing Our Passage From Hell To Heaven

This is great news for everyone, in that, by acknowledging our sins and having faith in the risen Christ we can have eternal life, true joy and happiness that is found only in Jesus Christ. This includes "passage to heaven" that everyone wants. The Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).

If you don't know this Jesus, you can for He is the gift of God. Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

We that believe are promised eternal life. Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die" (John 11:25-26).

This free gift is offered now, only while we are living.

Do you believe Jesus is Lord and died for your sins? Do you believe within your heart that God raised Him from the dead on the third day and that He sits at the right hand of God? Do you know that God is the source of hope and can fill you completely with joy and peace through Jesus Christ? Do you want an abundant life now? Do you want eternal life in Heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord? Have you received God's gift of salvation?

You can by simply confessing to God your sins and your need of the Lord Jesus Christ and then ask Him to come into your life. Do it right now while there is time left for you. Have your Passage-To-Hell changed to Passage-To-Heaven. If you truly do this you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

Remember, we are saved by the grace of God. No matter how hard we try, we cannot save ourselves or get rid of our sins. We can't earn our way to heaven by being good, going to church, or being baptized (Ephesians 2:8-9). God offers the way as a gift and we must accept His gift of salvation by believing in Jesus Christ so we don't perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

The great Henry H Morris once said "To think that the mighty Creator, God the Son, would not only humble Himself to become His own creature, man, but then also suffer the unimaginable agony of the cross and separation from God the Father in order to deliver us from the just penalty of sin. This act speaks of such love and grace that all we can do is whisper softly, Thank you, Lord, for this unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Truly, this is the greatest news we could ever receive.

The Good News will show you how to receive this great gift of peace and eternal life from God.