Have You Heard?

By: M. S. Shiflett

 Without a doubt, what Jesus did for the world is the greatest news that has ever been told.  Man deserved to die because of his sin. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Roman 3:23  God is a holy God.  He has to punish sin.  There is no other way.  When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God killed an innocent lamb to provide a covering for their shame. "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Genesis 3:21 From that time, man always had to offer blood sacrifices to God for their sins.  Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites offered thousands and thousands of bulls, calves, goats, sheep, even birds on the altars.  God required death for the penalty for sin.  But when we get to the New Testament, we find that Jesus came to earth to be the FINAL SACRIFICE  for sin. 

     John the Baptist called Jesus "the Lamb of God"  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29.  This time, the death of the sacrifice would be the last death that God required.  The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were not good enough.  God required not only a blood sacrifice, but a PERFECT blood sacrifice.  Jesus, the only Son of God was the only one qualified to be that sacrifice.  So Jesus, because He loved you and all of mankind, He willingly offered himself on the cross as the final, perfect sacrifice.  He took your place.  He died so that you might live.  His death on the cross pleased God, and stopped God's anger and judgment. Isaiah 53:11  "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."

     It is extremely important to realize that salvation is NOT BY WORKS.  Man has been trying to work his way to heaven since the Garden of Eden. Cain and Abel were two brothers.  When it came time to offer their sacrifices, Abel chose a spotless lamb, just as God commanded.  Cain tried to impress God with his hard work.  He offered up the results of his labor. (Genesis 4:1-15). God did not accept Cain's sacrifice.  People today are still trying to please God by their good works, going to church, baptism, reading their Bible, being good to their neighbor and many other ways.  All these things are very important, and very good. BUT NOT FOR SALVATION!  These are things we are supposed to do AFTER we are saved. Salvation is already paid for. Jesus did everything necessary.  That is why he cried, "It is finished" when He died on the cross. (John 19:30) If you trust in what Jesus did on the cross, and put all your faith in Him, and you repent of your sins, and call out to God and ask him to save you, then that is all that God requires! 

     It is not by our works. We are saved by GRACE.  Grace is God's Riches At Christ's Expense. It is not based on whether or not we deserve it; it is based on God's love for us!  If we had to depend on our works to get us to Heaven, we would never be saved. It says in Isaiah 64:6, our righteousness is as filthy rags in God's sight!  Jesus took your place on the cross.  He died for you.  He paid for every sin that you have ever done. Isn't that wonderful? What are you going to do about it?

     The Bible is very clear on the plan for people to go to Heaven.  There is only ONE WAY!  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  John 14:6  If you do not accept Jesus as the payment for your sins, and you do not accept him as your Lord and your Saviour, you will die in your sins and go to an eternity without God.  Can you imagine the awfulness of spending the rest of eternity in a lake of fire, without God and without hope of ever being rescued?  That is why Jesus died for you.  He did not want you to go there.  He's done all that needs to be done.  All you have to do is accept Him and believe His Word.  The choice is up to you.  You can believe Him and be saved, or you can reject him and remain lost in your sins.  No one will force you to accept the Jesus as your Saviour.  Not even God.

     You have just read the most important message ever written.  It is a message of salvation, love and hope.  If you realize that you have never been saved, why don't you do so now?  Why don't you get on your knees right now and humbly admit to God that you are a sinner and that you need to be saved.  Ask him to come into your life and make you a child of God.  Let Him know that you are not trusting in your works, but instead you are trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for your salvation. Turn from your sins and ask him to save you, and He will. Don't put it off.  Ask Him today!

"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. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Rom. 10:9,10,11,13