A lot of people would acknowledge that knowing about Jesus is beneficial. Some even turn to Him for aid in a crisis. What we proclaim is that Jesus Christ is more than just a person whose thoughts and deeds are helpful, but rather to know Him as Savior and Lord is absolutely essential to real living and for having hope of eternal life. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). The death spoken of in this verse is not physical, but spiritual. All people die physically, but the Bible warns us that in eternity those who are not in a right relationship with Him will be separated from God in a place called hell.
It is sin that separates us from God. John 8:21 says, "Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come." The issue is sin. God's heaven is a place where sin and sinners cannot go. The Bible tells us that we are all sinners- no exceptions. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."(Romans 3:10-12) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The issue is not how good we think we are, or how good we try to be, or even how good we are compared to others. God is absolute in his holiness, His "apartness" from sin. Many think that by keeping the Ten Commandments or some other rules of life they can be good enough. The Bible tells us that it only takes one sin to make us guilty before God. "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Galatians 3:10). "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).
How can our sins be removed? "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22).
Jesus Christ, who had no guilt of His own, willingly took our sin guilt upon Himself when He died on the cross. "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin" (1John 3:5). "For he (God) hath made him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him"(2 Corinthians 5:21).
God calls us to respond to Christ's sacrifice for our sin by trusting Him as our only hope of being saved from our sins. "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). Trusting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord means that we realize we are sinners and cannot do anything to save ourselves and that Christ and what He accomplished on the cross is our only hope for forgiveness of sin and an eternity with God in His heaven. Recognizing that Jesus is Lord makes this life worth living and gives it purpose and meaning.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 4:1-8,
"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."
This Biblical message is called the gospel which means "good news." It is "good news" because Jesus not only died for our sins and was buried, but He also rose from the dead in resurrection glory. We have a living hope because our Lord Jesus Christ is alive.
Do you have hope in Jesus Christ? If you were to die today and had to stand in the presence of God and give God a reason why He should let you into heaven, what would you say? Would you tell Him about your good deeds or your church membership? Would you say you have always believed in God and tried to do your best? Do any of these things really deal with the sin that separates you from God?
The Apostle Paul struggled with the relative value of a rich religious record and history as compared to simple and complete faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. Paul's conclusion is recorded in Philippians 3:3-9:
"for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith."
Did you catch his conclusion in verse 9? Paul's hope was for "the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith."I urge you to trust Christ as your Savior today. Your soul is too precious to waste simply "hoping for the best" when you can have a sure hope by faith and trust in Christ alone. The key to life, the only key, is Jesus Christ.
If you need spiritual help, please feel free to write or call KEYY. Our e-mail address is: mail@keyy.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Steve Barsuhn
General Manager