Billy Graham, Aretha Franklin, Burt Reynolds, Prince, R. Lee Ermey, Anthony Bourdain, Robin Williams, Tim Conway, Grumpy Cat, David Bowie, Leonard Nimoy, Luke Perry, Princess Diana - each of us will die someday.
There is only one reason you’re reading this right now. God is calling to you. God has been drawing you to Him for a long time and it is now time to act. So, please read this through to the end. What’s five more minutes of your time?
In the Bible, in chapter 26 in the book of Acts, there is a man named Paul presenting his case before the King of that region of Judea ruled by Rome. Paul stood before King Agrippa and explained why he was being accused by the Jews of causing contention and starting riots. Paul had been telling the Jews that Jesus gave His life for their sins and if they put their faith and trust in Jesus they were free from the rules and weight of the Law of Moses. If they turned to Jesus they were no longer expected to live up to the impossible extra rules and regulations their religious leaders had added to their burden over the centuries. They were free to worship God and their Savior Jesus. Well, obviously this caused the religious leaders and zealots to go nuts. They saw that Jesus was threatening their power and their authority. So, they were threatened by Paul and his message and wanted him killed.
After Paul presented his case, the King looked at him and said “Paul, you almost persuaded me to be a Christian.” These are the saddest words you will ever read. You see, Jesus was calling to him just as He is calling to you right now. If King Agrippa had just allowed himself to listen to the words of Paul and accepted Jesus into his heart he would be in heaven with God right now. But instead he is suffering in hell for all eternity for his sins.
The one distinct difference between Christianity and all other religions is the gift of God's forgiveness, through the death and resurrection of His one and only Son, Jesus. In no other religion did the Savior die for you.
If you died right now, do you know where you would spend eternity?
The worst thing that can ever happen to a person is being sentenced to hell for all eternity. That is what every one of us deserve "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. Because of our sin (our rebellion against God) we are separated from God. However, because of Jesus' love for us and His sacrifice, we can ask for forgiveness for our sins and be saved. Hell is REAL and eternity is forever. People in hell will suffer unbearable pain and torment, but worst of all is they will never know the love of God. When a person dies they will either go to heaven or hell. One you're with God always, and the other you’re completely cut off from His love forever. This is our choice to make. And the consequences are eternal.
However, the Good News is that Jesus loves you right now, just the way you are. You cannot be too hard-hearted, bad, mean, hateful, heartless, or too lazy, jaded, uncaring, apathetic, unpleasant, or sin too much in your life for God not to forgive you, and Jesus not to love you! There is nothing you have done in your life that will keep you from entering into God's presence as a child of God, if you will put your trust in Jesus and believe in Him. 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
All of us are born sinful by nature and separated from God. God's forgiveness is available to all, putting to death our old sinful nature and we become a new creature in Christ. However, we are then directed to turn away from the sin of our old life. God extends His perfect love to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and past history. God's Redemption Plan will change each of us into the person He has created us to be, not who we think we are stuck with. With Jesus we can become "Reborn." Spiritual transformation includes our sinful nature: pride, envy, homosexuality, lust, greed, hatred, adultery, gluttony, jealousy, murder, etc. Sin IS Sin. God loves each of us so much that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus) that whoever believes in Him should have everlasting life (John 3:16). When we accept Jesus we are to turn away (repent) from our sins and start to live for God.
Reverend Billy Graham said, "The sin of pride particularly has caused the downfall of Lucifer in heaven; most certainly it can bring mortal man down too." He sums it up by saying "He (Satan) forever tries to discredit the truthfulness of the Word of God; he coaxes men to deny the authority of God, and persuades the world to wallow in the deluding comfort of sin."
Don’t wait until tomorrow! Tomorrow may not come for you. Swallow your pride. Admit that you are a sinner, repent of your sins, and ask God to forgive you for your sins and invite Jesus into your heart. Will you say yes to Jesus today?
In order to become a child of God, and Joint-Heir with Jesus, we are directed to confess our sins to God, and ask God to forgive us of our sins (please see the "Salvation Prayer" below). We are to believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the 3rd day - DEFEATING Satan for ALL eternity.
I can picture God in heaven looking down at you and saying "Come on Jim (that's my name, but feel free to insert yours here) I just want to love you. I sent my Son, Jesus, to die in your place so you wouldn't have to suffer in hell and be separated from me for all eternity. PLEASE accept Him into your life and let me send my Comforter (the Holy Spirit) to you."
SALVATION PRAYER
If you do not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, simply pray the following prayer in faith, and Jesus will be your Lord! "Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" and "If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved" (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9). You said my salvation would be the result of Your Holy Spirit giving me new birth by coming to live in me (John 3:5-6, 15-16; Romans 8:9-11) and that if I would ask, You would fill me with Your Spirit (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:4). I take You at Your Word. I confess that Jesus is Lord. I ask that you forgive me of all my sins and cleanse from all unrighteousness. I believe in my heart that You have raised Jesus from the dead and I am a "New Man" (or Woman) in Christ. Thank You for coming to live in my heart, for giving me Your Holy Spirit as You have promised, and for being Lord over my life. Amen."
When you say the prayer of salvation, and ask Jesus into your heart, you become a new person. You should want to change from being the sinful person you were, to a new person in Jesus. If you don't feel an intense desire to change, and turn away from your sin and your old sin-nature, then you ARE NOT SAVED. I beg you to search your heart and really turn to Jesus and ask for forgiveness and TURN AWAY FROM YOUR OLD SIN LIFE. Please don't hesitate to me if there is anything I can do to help you.
I encourage you to find a strong Bible-based church and start enjoying your new life in Christ. Remember, Jesus Love You more than you can ever imagine. :-)
A psalm of David
Psalm 63:1-8, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.”
There is only one reason you’re reading this right now. God is calling to you. God has been drawing you to Him for a long time and it is now time to act. So, please read this through to the end. What’s five more minutes of your time?
In the Bible, in chapter 26 in the book of Acts, there is a man named Paul presenting his case before the King of that region of Judea ruled by Rome. Paul stood before King Agrippa and explained why he was being accused by the Jews of causing contention and starting riots. Paul had been telling the Jews that Jesus gave His life for their sins and if they put their faith and trust in Jesus they were free from the rules and weight of the Law of Moses. If they turned to Jesus they were no longer expected to live up to the impossible extra rules and regulations their religious leaders had added to their burden over the centuries. They were free to worship God and their Savior Jesus. Well, obviously this caused the religious leaders and zealots to go nuts. They saw that Jesus was threatening their power and their authority. So, they were threatened by Paul and his message and wanted him killed.
After Paul presented his case, the King looked at him and said “Paul, you almost persuaded me to be a Christian.” These are the saddest words you will ever read. You see, Jesus was calling to him just as He is calling to you right now. If King Agrippa had just allowed himself to listen to the words of Paul and accepted Jesus into his heart he would be in heaven with God right now. But instead he is suffering in hell for all eternity for his sins.
The one distinct difference between Christianity and all other religions is the gift of God's forgiveness, through the death and resurrection of His one and only Son, Jesus. In no other religion did the Savior die for you.
If you died right now, do you know where you would spend eternity?
The worst thing that can ever happen to a person is being sentenced to hell for all eternity. That is what every one of us deserve "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. Because of our sin (our rebellion against God) we are separated from God. However, because of Jesus' love for us and His sacrifice, we can ask for forgiveness for our sins and be saved. Hell is REAL and eternity is forever. People in hell will suffer unbearable pain and torment, but worst of all is they will never know the love of God. When a person dies they will either go to heaven or hell. One you're with God always, and the other you’re completely cut off from His love forever. This is our choice to make. And the consequences are eternal.
However, the Good News is that Jesus loves you right now, just the way you are. You cannot be too hard-hearted, bad, mean, hateful, heartless, or too lazy, jaded, uncaring, apathetic, unpleasant, or sin too much in your life for God not to forgive you, and Jesus not to love you! There is nothing you have done in your life that will keep you from entering into God's presence as a child of God, if you will put your trust in Jesus and believe in Him. 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
All of us are born sinful by nature and separated from God. God's forgiveness is available to all, putting to death our old sinful nature and we become a new creature in Christ. However, we are then directed to turn away from the sin of our old life. God extends His perfect love to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and past history. God's Redemption Plan will change each of us into the person He has created us to be, not who we think we are stuck with. With Jesus we can become "Reborn." Spiritual transformation includes our sinful nature: pride, envy, homosexuality, lust, greed, hatred, adultery, gluttony, jealousy, murder, etc. Sin IS Sin. God loves each of us so much that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus) that whoever believes in Him should have everlasting life (John 3:16). When we accept Jesus we are to turn away (repent) from our sins and start to live for God.
Reverend Billy Graham said, "The sin of pride particularly has caused the downfall of Lucifer in heaven; most certainly it can bring mortal man down too." He sums it up by saying "He (Satan) forever tries to discredit the truthfulness of the Word of God; he coaxes men to deny the authority of God, and persuades the world to wallow in the deluding comfort of sin."
Don’t wait until tomorrow! Tomorrow may not come for you. Swallow your pride. Admit that you are a sinner, repent of your sins, and ask God to forgive you for your sins and invite Jesus into your heart. Will you say yes to Jesus today?
In order to become a child of God, and Joint-Heir with Jesus, we are directed to confess our sins to God, and ask God to forgive us of our sins (please see the "Salvation Prayer" below). We are to believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the 3rd day - DEFEATING Satan for ALL eternity.
I can picture God in heaven looking down at you and saying "Come on Jim (that's my name, but feel free to insert yours here) I just want to love you. I sent my Son, Jesus, to die in your place so you wouldn't have to suffer in hell and be separated from me for all eternity. PLEASE accept Him into your life and let me send my Comforter (the Holy Spirit) to you."
SALVATION PRAYER
If you do not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, simply pray the following prayer in faith, and Jesus will be your Lord! "Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" and "If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved" (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9). You said my salvation would be the result of Your Holy Spirit giving me new birth by coming to live in me (John 3:5-6, 15-16; Romans 8:9-11) and that if I would ask, You would fill me with Your Spirit (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:4). I take You at Your Word. I confess that Jesus is Lord. I ask that you forgive me of all my sins and cleanse from all unrighteousness. I believe in my heart that You have raised Jesus from the dead and I am a "New Man" (or Woman) in Christ. Thank You for coming to live in my heart, for giving me Your Holy Spirit as You have promised, and for being Lord over my life. Amen."
When you say the prayer of salvation, and ask Jesus into your heart, you become a new person. You should want to change from being the sinful person you were, to a new person in Jesus. If you don't feel an intense desire to change, and turn away from your sin and your old sin-nature, then you ARE NOT SAVED. I beg you to search your heart and really turn to Jesus and ask for forgiveness and TURN AWAY FROM YOUR OLD SIN LIFE. Please don't hesitate to me if there is anything I can do to help you.
I encourage you to find a strong Bible-based church and start enjoying your new life in Christ. Remember, Jesus Love You more than you can ever imagine. :-)
A psalm of David
Psalm 63:1-8, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.”
