Erik B’s Blog.

Part 1- The Law and God’s Righteous Standard

Every person on earth has sinned. That’s a fact ( If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8) of life. People tend to measure each other by each other, this is our standard. It is not, however, God’s standard. Let’s look at the standard that God uses to measure each person’s character.

A few of the ten commandments:

• Honor your father and your mother.
• You shall not steal.
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

The first one on the list. Can you honestly say that you have always been perfectly obedient to your parents? Always been respectful and not argued with them one time? No one could possibly grow up in a home and never do anything wrong for all those years.

The second one. Well, I know you probably haven’t stolen a Mercedes Benz in the last week, but what about sneaking a stick of gum from your sibling’s drawer? You never got one extra cookie or a piece of one? Most if not everyone has taken something that did not belong to them. No matter how small a thing it may have been, stealing is stealing.

The third one: lying. Have you ever lied? Okay, a half truth (half lie), a “white lie”, or twisted the truth when you retold the story so that your side sounded a little bit better? Everyone has been deceptive in some way at some point in their lives.

In God’s eyes what does this make you? A disrespectful, thieving, liar.
(For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. Romans 3:23)
These are only three of the Ten Commandments!

The penalty for our wrong doing is eternal separation from God and judgment in Hell.

Part #2 -God’s plan for Salvation

But now for the Good News! God is in His mercy provided a way to save us from the punishment we deserve by sending His son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was born of a virgin, Mary. It was a miraculous occurrence that had never happened before, nor will it happen again. His birth was foretold by Isaiah the prophet around 750 B.C. nearly 750 years before the birth of Christ. (Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 )

God’s purpose in sending His Son Jesus to take on the form of a man, was to provide a way to redeem mankind and save them from the penalty of their sin. (For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23)

Jesus Christ grew up and lived a perfect, sinless, and holy life. (For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21)

We are deserving of Hell because we have sinned against God, but God does not wish anyone to perish and be condemned to Hell. For this reason He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin and to become sin for us.

Part #3 -The Only way to God.

How can Jesus pay for our sin? Jesus paid the penalty for our sin by dying on a cross. After which, he was sealed in a tomb that was cut out of a rock. Read the story starting in Mathew 26:31 all the way to the end of Mathew 27 Christ shed his blood to pay the price for our wrong. Ponder this for a moment, Jesus willingly giving up his life to die a horrible death so that we would not have to go to Hell and face eternal separation from God. A Man who had done no wrong, sacrificing Himself for us, that we sinful creatures who deserve the wrath of God, might be saved.

However, the story does not end with the death of Righteous Man and a tomb. For three days later Jesus was raised back to life from the dead . (Read the account of his resurrection. Mathew 28)

(Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6)

The only way to have salvation is by believing on Jesus Christ and putting your hope and faith in the saving work that He did on the cross. By his shed blood he paid the entire cost of your sin and all that you must do is believe.

(So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31)
(For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:13)

The only way to have a right relationship with God is through His Son Jesus. When you put your faith in Jesus and trust in Him, His blood covers your sin and when God looks down upon your heart He sees only the blood of Jesus. Your only responsibility is to put your faith in the saving blood of Jesus, and what He did on the cross.

Part #4 – Putting your faith in Jesus Christ

The sinner’s prayer is often told to those who want to commit their lives to Jesus. But it is not a collection of words that grant magic access to God‘s forgiveness, you must, from you heart, mean what you say. (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. Romans 10:9) It is confession and believing that is the key.

These are the five steps to salvation.
1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).
2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit.
(Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)

If you have just made a commitment then your name is now written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This means that when you die you will go to heaven to be with God and Jesus for all eternity. Praise the Lord. The angels in heaven rejoice when one lost sinner is found and saved.

If you would like to contact me for more information, or to tell me of a recent decision for Christ, please do so.

God Bless.
Erik B.

Free online edition of:
Peace With God-by Billy Graham

Steps to Salvation 1-5 copied from here.