what if?
…you were to die today? Are you ready? Would you be scared? Have you considered what happens after this life?
We were created by God, who intended us to be in perfect union with Him. But sin entered the world and into man, creating a separation from God in every one of us. Sin (the bad things we say, think or do) is in conflict with what God requires. We are born separated from God, with no way to close that gap or be "good enough" to earn our way back into His presence. This broke God's heart because, like a Father to his child, He loves us passionately and wants us to be with Him.
God is three persons in one: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. God is perfect. Everything about Him is perfect: He is perfect, His creation was perfect (before sin came in to the world), and His kingdom (Heaven) is perfect. So no man or woman can live forever in the presence of God unless they too are perfect. So it does not matter how good of a life you live, if you have done wrong once, you are not perfect and therefore you cannot dwell in the presence of God forever in Heaven.
"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." (James 2:10)
"For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
Because each person is not perfect, and has sin in their life, every person is spiritually separated from God.
This verse, "For the wages of sin is death…"(Romans 6:23) means the payment for imperfection is death. Not just physical death, which we all will experience, but spiritual death – which means complete separation from God for eternity in hell.
HOWEVER, there is GOOD NEWS: God also has perfect love that He wants to extend to us, and that is what He is all about.
I. God loves you.
You've just read that there is a penalty for sin, which is spiritual death. But God loves you so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, who is perfect, to pay for that penalty by taking all of our sin onto Himself, and suffering the penalty in our place. It is His free gift to us because He loves us and wants a personal relationship forever with us. He loves you and that is why Jesus came to earth, died for you and rose from the dead three days later, conquering death, and proving He is God.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
"Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)
This gift is completely free. He already paid for the penalty of sin, and is now offering you a free gift of eternal life in Him. Your choice now is whether to accept this gift (of Jesus paying the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross) through faith. It is yours if you want it. That's it. You do not have to change to receive it; the Lord says come as you are. You cannot change yourself to be perfect. If you could, you would not need Jesus, but none of us can change ourselves to be perfect and that is why we all need Him.
"For God so loved the world (that is you and me), that he gave His only begotten Son (what is most precious to him), that whoever believes in Him will not perish (spiritually die), but have eternal life (spiritual life forever with Him in heaven)." (John 3:16)
II. Jesus Is the Only Way
There is no other road to salvation but through accepting Jesus. We must choose that free gift, known as Salvation, that Jesus has for each of us. We either choose to accept it, or choose to reject it. Just "being good", or "going to church" does not replace this choice each of us has to make.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)
Ultimate bottom line: You are a sinner, every one is. Jesus Christ died for your sins, the ones you already have committed and even the ones you will commit in the future. There is no sin He cannot forgive. Jesus took your sins and charged them to His own record. Jesus died on the cross and paid that penalty for your sins. He says if you are willing to believe Him in faith, He will substitute his payment for your debt, wiping your slate clean and beginning a new relationship with Him.
"If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
III. Receive the Free Gift
Up until now, you may have been living without having this personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you have been living without Jesus, you have had yourself as number one authority over your life, which does not work. God longs to have a relationship with you and has died for your sin. He is extending to you forgiveness of all your wrong doings that you have committed or ever will commit. That means the Lord will see your death penalty as "already paid for". This forgiveness, His free gift, means He loves you so much that He paid the price for your sin. Now, He can look on you as perfect and you will be able to have a personal relationship with Him and live with Him forever in heaven.
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)
If you want to receive Jesus as Lord of your life, below is a prayer you can pray. These words are not magic. These words do not save you. God says it is by your faith that you are saved. This is just an example prayer that puts words to your new belief in Jesus Christ as you ask to receive His gift.
"Dear Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, and that You died to forgive me of my sins. I believe You rose from the grave and conquered death. I know I am a sinner, and I ask You to forgive me. I place my faith in You, as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for Your gift of a full and meaningful life now, and eternity in heaven when I die. I ask all these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen."
If you just prayed to receive the lord, here is what the Bible has to say about you now:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Congratulations! The angels in Heaven rejoice that you have accepted Jesus. Be sure to tell someone about your decision to accept Jesus as your Savior!