Has Anyone Ever Told You?
There is something crucial that you need to know. It’s the most serious problem the world has ever known, but mixed with it is the best news anyone could ever hear.
There is a problem. Every person on earth– past, present, and future– has a terrible problem: sin. You have this problem, I have this problem, and everyone you know has this problem. But why exactly is it a problem? Sin is what separates us from a holy God. It is the part of us that has a penchant for wickedness, and there is nothing we can do about it. We can try all we want to be good people, but deep down, we all know something is wrong. A truly good person wouldn’t do the things you do in private, or say such things behind another person’s back, or think the dark thoughts you have in your heart…
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
-Romans 3:23“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
-Romans 5:12
God is holy! That means He is perfect. He has never sinned, and He never will sin! Therein lies our problem– this stark contrast between ourselves and God. God, in His holiness and justice, cannot permit Himself to have intimate fellowship with sin. It is against His character!
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
– I John 1:5“…for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
-II Corinthians 6:14b
There is a punishment. That punishment is hell. Hell is a place of torment, a place of fire, and a place of separation from God. And it never ends!
“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
-Luke 16:23-24
Hell is the punishment for sin. Because of God’s holiness and justice, He cannot permit or accept sin. Sin deserves death.
“For the wages of sin is death;”
-Romans 6:23a
There is hope– there is a promise. God is holy and just, but He is also loving. He doesn’t want to send anyone to hell! He would much rather bring everyone to heaven to be with Him because He loves everyone! But because of sin, this is impossible.
“For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”
-Ezekiel 18:32
This is where the good news comes in. Jesus made a way– the ONLY way– for us to go to heaven. God the Son left heaven and became a human being. But not just a man– He became a little baby! He grew up, lived a perfect, sinless life, and then died on the cross to pay for your sin and mine. Because He was perfect, He was the only sacrifice acceptable to God on behalf of our sin. But He did not remain dead– three days after His death, He resurrected, and is alive today. Because of this, He is your only way of salvation, your only chance of heaven.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
-John 3:16“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
-Romans 6:23“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
-Romans 5:8
But there’s a little more to it than that. Even though Jesus died for the whole world, not everyone will go to heaven. The question is, what will you do with Jesus? You have to make this good news personal. Here’s how:
1.You have to realize and admit that you are a sinner.
2. You have to believe that Jesus is God, that He died on the cross for your sins, and resurrected and lives today so you can be saved.
3. You have to tell the Lord all this in prayer and ask Him to save you.
It really is that simple! And this is the promise: He will!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
-John 3:16“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
-John 3:18“That 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
-Romans 10:9-10“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
-Romans 10:13“…if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
-John 8:24“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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.”
-I John 5:12-13
Please, if you haven’t done so already, make this important decision now! Any later might be too late! Jesus has done the work, and He desires nothing more than to save you. Will you let Him?
