Fact
Three: Jesus took our punishment for sin when He died upon the Cross. God
prepared a way for sin to be dealt with - through special sacrifices. In the
Jewish sacrificial system this was a perfect animal without spot or blemish.
Jesus was sinless and was the perfect sacrifice for all the sins of all people
for all time. The Bible tells us that God saw that everyone had sinned and
was in danger of Hell. He decided to rescue them by sending Jesus to die in
their place. Jesus died on the cross, took our punishment fully and was raised
from the dead three days later. Our sins were "nailed to the cross" and
dealt with when Jesus died. (Romans 5:8 KJV) But God commends (shows) His love
toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus'
sacrificial death has provided THE WAY OF FORGIVENESS AND SALVATION for all who
will come to Him. Some people are too proud to want God's forgiveness. They
think they can get to Heaven without the help of Jesus.
But as we saw before they can't- because they, like you and I, are guilty before
God. And the thing about guilt is that it takes only one crime to make you
guilty and deserving of punishment. A thief cannot say "but I did not kill" and
a murderer cannot say "I did not steal" - their one crime makes them guilty. So
it only takes one sin to make us guilty before God and no-one can say they are
good enough for heaven. God takes sin seriously and (Acts 17:30 KJV)
"commands all men every where to repent" No sin will enter Heaven. There is only
ONE WAY to be forgiven and find Salvation that will allow us into Heaven. Jesus
said: (John 14:6 KJV) "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto
the Father but by me." If you want Salvation, you must receive it through Jesus
Christ. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP CANNOT SAVE YOU
Sin is the problem, and belonging to a church will NOT take it away. Jesus
said, (John 3:3 KJV)"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God." GOOD WORKS CANNOT SAVE YOU
You could never do enough to earn Heaven. Salvation is by faith in Christ,
and is not earned by any good works you could do. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV) "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."
THE BIBLE CALLS FOR "REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD"
"Repentance" is a change of heart which causes you to turn from your way of
life toward God, accepting the Bible facts that you are guilty as a sinner
before Him, and that you are unable to deliver yourself from the punishment of
hell, due you because of your sin.
THE BIBLE ALSO CALLS FOR "FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" Faith
is putting "complete trust in Jesus Christ" as your only means of clearing our
guilt and delivering your soul from the punishment of hell. The Bible says,
(Acts 16:31 KJV) "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.."
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