Michael
continues with the example that if a criminal is caught on camera committing a
capital offense, there is no defense for the evidence of the camera’s
eye-witness that convicts them. According to the Word of God, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of
God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Though we were born
guilty of death and our sins have convicted us, the good news is that “though your sins be as scarlet, ye shall be
as white as snow” by the blood of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly
sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but
the sorrow of the world produces death.”
The
requirement for salvation starts with repentance. Repentance is real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition
for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of His holy law, and
the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called
evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life. Repentance
is a change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God. Repentance is the
relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God. It means to change direction from serving myself to
serving the Lord. Repentance is to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of
God. When we understand that “in my flesh
dwells no good thing, a broken and a contrite heart God will not forsake.”
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in
mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we
were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you
have been saved; Christ died for the ungodly.
When
someone hears the gospel of salvation, there are four responses. The first is
outright rejection. The second response is attempting to live according to the
law. These are the people who go to church and walk the aisle at the altar
call. These are those who think that they will enter heaven because of their
good works. They are trying to earn their way into heaven. The third response is
those who Jesus addressed when he said, “They call me Lord, Lord. But I shall
say unto them, “I never knew thee.” However, they never really accept Jesus as
Lord of their lives. The fourth category are those who “know whom they have believed and are persuaded that He is able to keep
that (Holy Spirit) which He has committed unto them against that day of
(righteous) judgment.” They are assured of their conviction that Jesus is
Lord and Savior. These are those who are “born
again”, not of corruptible seed (inherited from Adam) but of incorruptible seed
(of the holy spirit of Christ in you, the hope of glory) by the word of God
which lives and abides forever.”
Jesus
said, “come to me all you who are weak
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” According to John
10:10 Jesus said, “I am come that
they might have life (of the Holy Spirit) and that they might have it more
abundantly.” For He who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for
sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
Adam
and Eve sinned and they died spiritually the day that they disobeyed the Word
of God. However, the good news is that we who have confessed that Jesus is Lord,
and have believed that God has raised Him from the dead, have been saved.
Salvation is to be made whole. We were made whole … born again of the spirit of
life in Christ when we confessed Jesus is Lord. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God. This is the gospel message. This is the good news of
salvation. This is amazing Grace!
May
we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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