What is most important?

In a world filled with contradictory claims, what could possibly be more important than truth? This is because being deceived about the true nature of reality during this life that we get only one chance to live is truly terrible. In an age when social norms are constantly changing and information is widely accessible, truth is the most important thing. What is truth? Truth is what corresponds to reality. Jesus Christ said: “…To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) Consider these questions- both need a truthful answer:

Where did we (human beings) come from?

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”(Psalm 19:1)

An ancient book (the Holy Bible) claims to be the “Word of God”- it has been miraculously preserved for thousands of years. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16 ) This book gives a stunning description of reality in its very first lines; Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Time, space, and matter were created by the eternal and self-existing God.) The most basic component of life is information. Information must come from an intelligent sender. Life cannot come from non-life! The Bible clearly reveals the true origin of human life in Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” According to the Bible, all people are descendants of the first man and woman that God made. “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things…” (Acts 17:24-25) The Scriptures describe the one true God as an immaterial, eternal, self-existent, all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent, triune (one God eternally manifested in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit), just, righteous, holy, loving, and personal Being. “But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king…” (Jeremiah 10:10) This one true God is a maximally great Being— He is the Creator of all things!

 

What is our ultimate destiny?

The Bible says in Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Despite the frailty of life and the certainty of eventual death, it is obvious that human beings are more than the sum of their parts. We are eternal beings. What is our ultimate destiny? God’s Word (the Bible) clearly explains that human existence does not end with physical death. “… it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27) The Bible also explains that there is a way for you to know God and experience eternal life. What if the Bible is telling the truth about your origin and destiny?  Please carefully consider these Bible truths-

1. You have broken God’s perfect law.

The Creator of the Universe (God) has revealed Himself to mankind. The Bible says in Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” God is completely righteous. The Bible says in Psalm 145:17 “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” In Ecclesiastes 12:13, the Bible says: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” The Bible says in Romans 3:10, 23 “…There is none righteous, no, not one:”  “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Everyone has sinned by disobeying God’s commands. In James 2:10, the Bible says: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” No matter how good you consider yourself to be, you are a sinner, guilty before the Holy God.

2. There is a penalty for your sin.

The Bible says in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…” Not only are you a sinner, but there is a penalty for your sin. God is completely righteous. He is totally just. He cannot allow sin to go unpunished. God’s holiness demands that sin be judged. The penalty for sin is spending eternity separated from God in a real place of fiery torment. In Revelation 21:8, the Bible says: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Because of your sin you are headed for eternal separation from God in a real place of fiery torment. Your good deeds cannot provide an escape from God’s judgment. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”  (Isaiah 64:6)

 

3. The Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty of your sin and made it possible for you to have eternal life. 

The true Lord Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. The Bible says of Jesus Christ, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3) “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”  (Colossians 1:17) The Scripture says in Philippians 2:7-8 (speaking of Jesus Christ): “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” The Lord Jesus Christ left the perfection of Heaven and came to this earth to provide a way for you to experience eternal life with Him.  Jesus Christ said of Himself: “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) The Bible says in Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The Lord Jesus Christ (being God) is totally perfect; yet He willingly gave Himself to pay the penalty of your sin. He suffered, shed His precious blood, and died on the cross for the sin of every human being. Referring to Christ, the Bible says in Romans 3:25 “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood…” The Scripture also says of Christ in I Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” Three days after He died and was buried, the Lord Jesus Christ bodily rose from the dead. “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:6) “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs…” (Acts 1:3) The wonderful truth is that “…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; …he was buried, and …he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (I Corinthians 15:3-4) Because the Lord Jesus Christ (who died for your sin, rose again, and then ascended up into Heaven) is alive today, you can have eternal life. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ made it possible for you to escape eternal punishment and spend forever in the presence of God. Jesus Christ said: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Eternal life cannot be earned or obtained by any amount of good deeds. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”(Romans 4:5) Eternal life is a free gift offered to you by God. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” There is one thing, however, that must happen in order for you to be able to take possession of this eternal life.

 

 4. You must place your trust in the true Lord Jesus Christ for salvation in order to receive eternal life.

The Bible says in Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” You can be reconciled with God and experience eternal life! All you must do is make the decision to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) Head knowledge of these facts will not save you. There must be a definite time when you recognize your guilt before God and then place your trust in Jesus Christ, receiving Him by faith as your only way to have eternal life. Genuine faith in Christ is not wishful thinking nor simply accepting a proposition– it is a conscious decision to trust the true Lord Jesus Christ alone as your only hope of salvation because of His actual death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord Jesus Christ offers you forgiveness of your sin and eternal life as a free gift. “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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) This eternal life cannot be received from a religious system or an organization (church). It cannot be obtained through performing religious rituals or doing good deeds. It can only be received by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. If you realize that you are a sinner deserving eternal punishment, but that Jesus Christ died for you and rose from the dead, then why not trust Jesus Christ as your only Savior today? You can make this most important decision right now! Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and trust Him alone for your salvation! Receive Him as your personal Savior from the penalty of sin! The Bible says in John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” If you make the decision to place your trust in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation, the Bible says that you will be immediately reconciled to God and receive eternal life that cannot be lost! The Lord Jesus Christ said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” (John 6:47) The Bible clearly teaches that you can know for certain that you have received eternal life. Therefore, every person must decide how they are going to respond to Christ and His Gospel. The only proper response is to make a conscious choice to trust Him alone for your salvation because of His vicarious death and actual resurrection. Whoever trusts the true Lord Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation will be immediately reconciled with God and receive eternal life that cannot be lost! The Bible says this “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17) According to the Bible, receiving salvation from God is the definitive start of the complete transformation of a person’s life.

Because the true God actually exists, that fact has major implications for every aspect of life. Now the truth is that there are many religious books in this world that make unbelievable claims. Whatever a person believes, the most important thing is whether that belief is actually true or false. Down through history many people have tried to twist the true meaning of the Bible and use it for their own selfish gain. However, that unfortunate fact cannot negate the truth and trustworthiness of Jesus Christ’s Gospel. When anyone objectively examines only the facts, one will have no choice but admit that the evidence supporting the Gospel of Christ and the teachings of the Bible is very convincing. Everyone should seriously consider the claims of the Bible at least once. Because the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and actually rose from the dead, through Him alone every person can be reconciled with the true God and receive eternal salvation. Life is short, tomorrow is promised to no one. Today is the day of salvation. Simply by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ who died for you and rose from the dead, be reconciled with the true God and receive the eternal life that only He gives.