ETERNAL LIFE IS A FREE GIFT
The Bible says ,
"...the GIFT of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Romans 6:23b]
And because eternal life is a
gift like any other genuine gift...
IT IS NOT EARNED OR DESERVED.
Therefore, NO amount of personal effort, good works, or religious deeds can earn a place in God's eternal kingdom for you.
The Bible says,
"By Grace you are saved
through Faith, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the GIFT of God. NOT OF WORKS, so that no
one can boast." [Ephesians 2:8-9]
WHY is it that no one
can earn eternal life?
Because....
I. MAN IS A SINNER.
The Bible Says,
"ALL have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God." [Romans 3:23]
Sin is transgressing God's law and includes such things as lying, lust, cheating, anger, evil thoughts, immoral behavior, and more. And because of this....
MAN
CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF
If you wanted to save yourself
by good deeds, do you know how good you
would have to be?
The Bible says that you
would have to be PERFECT.
"Therefore you shall be
perfect, just as your father in heaven is perfect."
[Matthew 5:48]
With such a high
standard, no one can save themselves for God also says,
"Whoever shall keep the
whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." [James 2:10]
In spite of our sin, however...
II. GOD IS MERCIFUL and therefore DOESN'T WANT TO PUNISH US.
This is because...
"God is love...[1John 4:8b]
and He says,
"I have loved you with an everlasting love." [Jeremiah 31:3b]
But the same Bible that
tells us that God loves us also tells us that ...
GOD IS JUST, and therefore MUST
PUNISH SIN.
He says... "...I will by no
means clear the guilty..." [Exodus 34:7b] and
"The soul who sins shall die." [Ezekiel 18:4]
We
therefore have a problem; we have ALL sinned.
The penalty for sin is death [physical death and later separation from God].
Each day our bodies grow older and someday they will perish but our souls are Eternal and
will go to one of two places for Eternity.
To have Eternal Life in
the presence of God, we need forgiveness so that we can have a right relationship with
God.
God solved this problem for
us in the person of...
III. JESUS CHRIST
Who exactly would you say Jesus Christ is?
The Bible tells us
clearly that He is the infinite GOD-MAN.
"In the beginning was the
Word [Jesus]...and the Word [Jesus] was God. ...
and the Word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us..." [John 1:1,14]
Jesus Christ came to
earth and lived a sinless life, but while on earth...
WHAT DID HE DO?
He died
on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, was buried and rose from
the grave on the third day, appeared to over 500 witnesses over a period
of 30 days, ascended into Heaven, where He is seated at the right
hand of the Father to purchase a place for us in eternity.
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all." [Isaiah 53:6]
Now Jesus Christ offers
you eternal life as a Free Gift.
This Gift is received by...
IV. FAITH
Faith is the key that opens the door to eternal life.
Many people mistake TWO kinds of faith as Saving Faith.
1. Mere INTELLECTUAL ASSENT, that is, believing certain historical facts. The Bible says the devil believes in God, so believing in God is NOT Saving Faith.
2. Mere TEMPORAL FAITH, that is, trusting God for temporary crises such as financial, family, or physical needs. Now these are good, and you should trust Christ for these, but they are NOT Saving Faith. So what is true saving faith --
3. SAVING FAITH is trusting in Jesus Christ Alone for Salvation/Eternal Life.
It means resting upon Christ ALONE and what He has done rather than upon what you or I have done to get us into heaven/eternal life.
"Believe [trust] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved..." [Acts 16:31a].
Faith is like the hand of a beggar receiving the gift of a King.
We don't
deserve the gift of eternal life.
But we can have it, if we will receive it by applying saving faith.
The question that God is asking you now is...
V. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE?
Because this is such an important matter...
LET'S CLARIFY, just what this involves.
1. It means, first of all, that you TRANSFER YOUR TRUST from what you have been doing to what Christ has done for you on the cross.
2. It means, next, that you RECEIVE THE RESURRECTED, LIVING CHRIST into your life as SAVIOR.
3. It means further that you RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR LIFE AS LORD. He comes as Master and King. There is a throne room in your heart, and that throne is rightly His. He made you. He bought you with His life, death, and resurrection thus He wants to take His rightful place on the throne of your life.
4. It means, finally, that you REPENT OF YOUR SINS. That means that you are willing to turn from anything you have been doing that is not pleasing to Him and to follow Him as He reveals His will to you in his Word.
Now, if this is what you really want?
VI. YOU CAN GO TO GOD IN PRAYER right where you are. You can receive His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ right now.
"...with the heart
one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation...for
whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
[Romans 10:10,13]
If you want to receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, then call on Him, asking Him for this gift right now.
Here is a suggested prayer
VII. "Lord Jesus Christ, I know I am a sinner and do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died on the cross, were buried and on the third day rose from the grave to purchase a place in heaven for me. Lord Jesus, come into my life; take control of my life; forgive my sins and save me. I repent of my sins and now place my trust in you alone for my salvation. I accept the free gift of eternal life."
If this
prayer is the sincere desire of your heart, look at what Jesus promises
to those who believe in Him.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has eternal life." [John 6:47]
VIII. WELCOME TO GOD'S FAMILY!
If you have truly placed your trust in the person of Jesus Christ alone. And if you belive in His death, burial, and resurrection on the thrid day. And you are willing to turn from sinful behavior as He reveals such sin in His written Word (the Bible) then you are now a child of God! Forever!
Welcome to the Family of
God!
"But as many as received
Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, even to those who believe in His name [John 1:12]
IX. WHAT'S NEXT?
Just as a newborn baby grows physically, so you will grow spiritually by taking the following steps:
1. Read One Chapter of the Book of John in the Bible Each Day.
"As newborn babes,
desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby."
[1 Peter 2:2]
You can also go to the 4 lessons on the Gospel of John and complete each lesson. Be sure to share what you have learned in these lessons with your church family.
2. Spend time each day in PRAYER conversing with God.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God..." [Philippians 4:6]
Go -->>> Listen & Read about God's Antidote to Anxiety!
3.WORSHIP regularly in a church that teaches you the Bible and honors Jesus Christ.
"I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord'." [Psalm 122:1]
4. FELLOWSHIP with Christians who will help you grow in faith.
"Those who gladly received his word...continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and in prayers." [Acts 2:21,42]
5. Be a WITNESS by telling others what Jesus Christ means to you!
Jesus said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." [Matthew 10:32,33]
This text is taken in
part from:
Evangelism Explosion III International
PO Box 23820
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33307
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version,
copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Publishers
Remember to attend regularly a Bible-teaching Church where Jesus Christ is honored.
Click Here to see the foundation of a Bible Believeing &Teaching Church.
Click Here to read about the History of the Bible with insights on how to choose a Bible.
Confess
your faith in Christ to them and join it.
"Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as inthe manner of some..." [Hebrews 10:25]
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