AWESOME GOD - PLAN OF SALVATION PART FOUR

                                           
                                         AWESOME GOD

 PLAN OF SALVATION
                                                                         PART FOUR 

       copied from ESV Bible




Why do we need to be saved?

So why do we need to be saved?  Jesus said : 

"Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin." (John 8:34)

If we are honest with ourselves, we cannot deny that from the moment of our birth we have done wrong things - things that make us guilty before God and deserving His judgement. The Bible calls these wrong things sins, and sin separates us from God. And because we are separated from God, we face the awful prospect of  "the wrath of God"
(John 3:36)  which is eternal. 

Jesus is the Only Way

Can anyone save us from God's wrath and assure us of heaven ?  Some people believe they can get to heaven by doing good works, or by following the teachings of a religion or even by giving money to churches or charities. But Jesus clearly said that none of these things would save us. 

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me."
 (John 14:6)

He did not say that He simply  knew the way to heaven; Jesus said that He is the only way to heaven.  No human effort can give us eternal life. Christ and Christ alone, is the one and only Redeemer. 

In fact the only "work" that can save us is the "work"  of believing in what Jesus has done to accomplish our salvation:  "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Who He has sent" 
(John 6:29) and to those who so believe the promise of God stands firm: "... to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name,  He gave the right to become the children of God." 
(John 1:12)

How does Jesus save us ?



   John the Baptist                    calls Jesus:

  "The Lamb of God               Who takes away the             sins of the world." 
    (John 1:29)


Jesus came into this world, knowing what it would cost Him. And He explains that salvation comes through His death on the cross as the perfect sufficient sacrifice for our sins (John 3:14-15) He bore in His pure being the fullness of sin that God might forgive sinners and make them pure. And the price of Christ's bearing those sins was death. The gates of salvation are open wide to all who accept His invitation to enter by faith.

Chapters 18 and 19 of John describe Jesus' death, and then chapter 20 describes His glorious triumph over death as He rose from the dead.  Jesus' resurrection means that He can give eternal life to all who believe in Him. 

 "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die."  (John 11: 25-26) 


to be continued

next post  26th  October