Plan of Salvation
The Gift of God is Eternal Life, Through Jesus Christ Our LORD!
(Romans 6:23)
Are you a Christian? If so, have you come to the place in your Christian walk where you know, without a doubt, should you die today, heaven would be your home? Many professing Christians have a hard time answering this question in the affirmative. We often hear the answer, “I’m not sure. I hope so!” or “Nobody can really know for sure.” And yet, the Apostle John wrote, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13). John says it is possible for you to KNOW that you have eternal life when you believe upon the name of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The problem with our believing is that we are NOT trusting in the righteousness of Christ to save us, but in our own self-righteousness, and we find problems there. We know that we have not lived up to the grand and holy expectations of God outlined in the Ten Commandments. We know we’ve failed miserably when it comes to treating our fellow man with the same love, mercy, and compassion Christ has shown us. And, if we are honest with ourselves, we know truly, down in our heart of hearts, we are not deserving of heaven. And yet, this is exactly what the Bible teaches. The Bible clearly teaches us that no man or woman is deserving of heaven–not one! (Romans 3:10) We are all sinners, and we will all perish eternally if we do not accept the GIFT God has extended to us through the shed blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, eternal life is just that, a GIFT.
The Bible teaches us, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Because we’re all sinners, we’re all deserving of death; eternal death. But the second half of Romans 6:23 says, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” When someone gives you a gift you don’t earn it. Otherwise, it’s not a gift at all. Though we are deserving of death, God has given us eternal life because His Son went to the cross to pay the wages of our sin. Now the Scripture says in Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Jesus Christ] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
Do you believe that Christ died on Calvary for you; that He paid your sin debt that you might receive God’s free gift of eternal life? If so, then right now, by virtue of your belief in Jesus Christ, and your willingness to tell others about Him, you have eternal life. Romans 10:9 says, “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.” The Bible also says, “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 has given to us the GIFT of eternal life through Jesus Christ who died for you on an old rugged cross. Will His death mean nothing to you? John says when you believe in Jesus Christ, you can know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13). DO YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS?
Do you have a question for the pastor? Would you like to know more about salvation? Click on his name to send an e-mail to Pastor Jim, or call him at 919-934-4022.
