Long time ago, the apostle Paul said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). Could he who wrote 13 books of the New Testament have been that bad?
How about you? Are you good enough to go to Heaven? Have you told a lie, stolen anything, cheated someone, disobeyed your parents or said something bad about someone? If you have, then you are not very good either.
In fact, the Word of God says that man on his own is not good enough to get to Heaven based on good works. For in the sight of God there is none righteous, not even one…"for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10,23). God requires complete righteousness to anyone who ever want to go to Heaven, and no one ever attained that righteousness---no, not one!
God is not saying that we cannot do some good things in this life. But He does say that we all do bad things called sins, and these sins make us unrighteous in His sight and they will keep us out of Heaven.
Some people think that when they do something good, that erases the bad things they did. But sin doesn’t go away that easily. God describes sin as a dirty spot in a piece of cloth---like a stain or paint on our white clothes---that won’t go away, no matter how many times we wash it.
You might ask now: “Then how can we ever get to Heaven”?
May I share to you the "good news" written in God’s Word---the Bible. It says that “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:7-9). Jesus shed His blood and died for our sins so that they could be washed away. Furthermore, the Bible tells us that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4; Matthew 5:17). Jesus fulfilled the righteousness which is based on the Law and He impute (put to someone’s account) that righteousness to everyone who believes in Him. Every true Christian stands in Christ as holy, blameless and above reproach in God's sight (Colossians 1:21-22). This position can only be attain through faith in Christ---and there is no other way (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God’s message of salvation is summarized in John 3:16: “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.” It is the will of God for you to be saved from the penalty of all your sins. Today is the day of salvation (II Corinthians 6:2). Tomorrow maybe too late (James 4:14). Come now to Jesus and ask Him to save you. ADMIT that you are a sinner bound to Hell and cannot do anything to save yourself out from that imminent eternal torment (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23; Revelation 21:8). REPENT of all your sins and reject every concept of personal effort to gain the favor of God for salvation. These include: giving, baptism, church membership, following ordinance and sacraments and all sort of good works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). RECEIVE the Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST by faith: believing the He died, buried and rose again from the dead for your full salvation; believing that His shed blood can wash away all your sins; believing that He is the fulfillment of the whole Law for your righteousness (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 10:4). Don’t delay! Your life is fragile! Death is imminent! Please don’t die without Jesus in your heart.
If you want to be saved, then from your heart in sincere repentance say a prayer similar to this one. "Dear God, I'm a lost sinner headed to Hell, and I need You to help me. I do believe that Jesus in His death and resurrection paid my sin debt and purchased salvation for me. At this moment, I will receive Him and submit myself in full trust in His work as my Substitute on the cross. Please, God, forgive me and save me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen".
Always remember that our eternal salvation is based on what God has done for us---not on what we have done for God. After we got saved the Lord commands us to live a pleasing life to glorify and magnify Him; and in order for others to see God through us (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:8).
(If you got saved through reading this message and wants to know more the will of God for your life, kindly click here).
By Maximiano Iligan Tagactac
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