DO YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?
How can you be sure of having eternal life?
You must know four things:
1. YOU HAVE SINNED
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
From the sin of the first man, Adam, in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1) and therefore "your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you." (Isaiah 59:2)
While you may think that you are a good person, the standard required by God to merit eternal life is perfection.
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
According to God's word, you have not met that standard:
"There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
Sin is defined as "the transgression of the law."(1 John 3:4)
If you have ever lied, stolen, taken God's name in vain, lusted, coveted or dishonored parents then you have sinned. It only takes one sin to make you a guilty sinner before God, and in all truth, you have broken God's commandments countless times.
God's word says, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." (Galatians 3:10)
Compared with the holiness of God, you are a great sinner and under a curse. Because of your sin, the "wrath of God abideth on you" (John 3:36), and you are "condemned already." (John 3:18)
2. THE PUNISHMENT OF SIN IS DEATH
"For the wages of sin is death;" (Romans 6:23)
"Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Revelation 20:14)
The justice of God demands a penalty for sin. The punishment for your sin is death - both physical death, and eternal death in the lake of fire.
The Lord Jesus described hell as "everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" (Matthew 25:41)
The question arises: "how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Matthew 23:33)
3. JESUS TOOK ALL YOUR PUNISHMENT
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6)
The eternal Son of God, who is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7), took upon Himself the nature of man, and came to earth, being both fully God and fully man. (John 1:1,14)
As "God manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16), He lived a sinless life, then suffered and died upon the cross for the sins of the world. (1 John 2:2) He then rose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven, from whence He will soon return to judge the world. (Acts 17:31)
In love, God sent His Son to die in your place, as your substitute, suffering the wrath of God that you deserve for your sins.
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" (1 Peter 3:18)
4. YOU MUST REPENT OF YOUR SIN AND BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
Repentance means you agree with God that you are a sinner and deserve the eternal flames of hell for your sin. You must turn from your sin unto God, receiving Him as Lord of your life, submitting unconditionally to His will, regardless of the cost.
"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Mark 8:34)
Believing in Jesus Christ is not merely a mental assent to the facts of the gospel, but a complete trust in Him alone to save you.
The faith that saves is that which places no reliance on good works or religious acts like baptism and church membership, but depends solely upon the blood of Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it isthe gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
If you will receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, He will deliver you from sin's penalty and power, giving you the free gift of everlasting life that can never be taken from you.
Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)
You must turn to Christ and receive Him immediately to save you from your sin. He promises, "him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)
Repent and believe in Him today - tomorrow may be too late.
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