4 Truths & 1 Decision
That will change your life
Truth #1
All men are sinners
The law mentioned in 1 John 3:4 is God’s law and the Bible defines sin as the transgression (breaking) of that law. Romans 3:23 states that ALL have sinned (broken God’s law.)
If you will simply be honest with yourself, you will have to admit this is a true statement of fact. You are a sinner because you have broken God’s laws. In fact, you have broken them often.
Perhaps the most often referred to portion of God’s law is the ten commandments, listed in Exodus chapter 20. Just a simple review of a couple of these commandments is enough to convince anyone they are a sinner.
Thou shalt not steal (Ex 20:15) – we have all taken something that wasn’t ours at some point in our life. We have cheated by stealing an answer for a test, we have fudged the hours on our time-sheet at work thereby stealing from our employer, we have taken something that did not belong to us and kept it. How many times does a person need to steal before they are considered a thief?
Thou shalt not bear false witness (Ex 20:16) – we have all lied multiple times. We have lied to make ourselves appear to be better than we really are, we have lied to prevent ourselves from being caught in some other sin, we have lied out of convenience. How many times does a person have to lie before they are considered a liar?
According the teaching of the Bible, I am a sinner, I have broken God’s law.
“The wages of sin is death . . .” Romans 6:23
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
A wage is what a person earns for what they have done. When you work for your employer, you receive a wage in the form of a paycheck … you are compensated for your work. The Bible states there is a wage for the sin we have done … we have earned death.
Revelation 21:8 mentions a second death. When the Bibles states that the wages of sin is death, the Bible is referring not only to physical death, the cessation of life (the first death), but also to spiritual death, being cast into the Lake of Fire (the second death).
According to the teaching of the Bible, because of the sins I have committed, I have earned my place in the Lake of Fire.
Truth #2
The Penalty for Sin is Death
Truth #3
You Cannot Save Yourself by Good Works
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight.” Romans 3:19-20
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6
Once one has recognized that sin is separating them from God and securing their place in the Lake of Fire, many have erred into thinking that “not sinning” is the solution. Another way to say “not sinning” is to say “keeping the law.”
There are numerous problems with this solution. One problem is that keeping the law in the future does nothing to remove sins already committed in the past. Since the penalty for sin is eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire, past sins alone are enough to send a person to Hell. Another problem is that we can’t stop sinning. We might succeed for a day or two, but soon enough our commitment to do right will end in failure resulting in more sin. The biggest problem is that the Bible teaches that no one can be justified (A Bible term referring to salvation from the penalty of sin) by keeping the law.
According to the teaching of the Bible, keeping the law will not get us in to Heaven. We cannot be good enough to earn our own way. Keeping the law and doing good works do not provide forgiveness of our sins.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son . . .” John 3:16
“The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” 1 John 4:14
“And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24
“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5-6
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Truth #4
GOD SENT HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, TO DIE FOR YOUR SIN AND GIVE YOU AN ETERNAL HOME IN HEAVEN.
God Loves the World
John 3:16
The world speaks of sinful humanity (1 John 2:2 and 4:14). It is truly an amazing thought that God loves me, that God loves you. God demonstrated (the Bible word is commendeth) His love for us in that He sent His Son Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners. God sent His Son Jesus to be the propitiation (satisfactory payment) for the sins of the entire world (for the sins of all humanity).
The payment for sin is death (refer to fact #2). To forgive your sin, Jesus took your sin upon Himself and God punished Him for the wrongs you have done. Payment had to be made. Jesus became sin for you, Jesus was wounded for your transgressions, the Lord (God the Father) laid on Jesus your iniquity, Jesus bore your sin in His body as He was crucified, Jesus died for you! He was buried and three days later arose from the grave and today sits on the right hand of the Father in Heaven.
According to the teaching of the Bible, God loved you so much He sent His Son Jesus to take your sin upon Himself and to suffer and to die in your place.
One Decision
You must depend upon Jesus to save you from the penalty of sin.
You have a personal responsibility to believe these 4 Facts are true and to depend on Jesus Christ to save you from the penalty of sin.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
– John 3:36 –
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 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.”
– 1 John 5:11-13 –
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witness by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.”
– Romans 3:21-22 –
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
– Romans 4:5 –
The word “believe” is emphasized in each of these verses, and this word indicates a choice that must be made based on the facts that have been presented.
In our American culture, we use the word “believe” a bit haphazardly. One might say I “believe” in unicorns or I “believe” in Big Foot. Both statements are more of a hope that these mystical creatures exist. The belief in unicorns or Big Foot is not a convinced belief based on facts.
The word “believe”, as it is used in the Bible, speaks of an absolute convincement that the object in which you are believing is wholly true. To believe in Jesus to forgive you of your sins does not mean that you hope Jesus is God and that you hope Jesus can forgive your sins, but that you are absolutely convinced that Jesus is God, that He died on the cross for your sins, and you are completely trusting Him alone for forgiveness of sin and entrance into His Heaven. You are believing in (depending on) Jesus alone to save you.
According to the teaching of the Bible, you are a sinner, which means you have broken God’s law. Your sin has separated you from God and the penalty for your sin is eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire. Your good works do not take away your sin and you cannot earn your own way into Heaven. God loves you so much He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross, taking your sin upon Himself, and paying the penalty that you owe. If you are convinced of these truths and you make the choice to believe in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of your sin, the Bible says you have eternal life.
If you have just trusted in Jesus for your salvation, we would love to rejoice with you in making the greatest decision of your life. If you have questions about the Bible and what it says about being saved from the penalty of your sins, we would love to talk to you. Please send us an email and we will be in touch.