God’s word, the Bible, declares this wonderful truth:
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
Are you a sinner?
Simply put, any thought, word, or deed which is not in perfect conformity to the will of God for man’s obedience, as revealed in His word, is sin. By His very nature, God is perfectly, unchangeably righteous and holy. "The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works" (Psalm 145:17). Thus, God can do no other than punish sin.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness."
Romans 1:18
Are you a sinner? The Bible declares what your own experience has shown and own conscience has testified: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23); and "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). All of us have sinned; and so we have all come short of the perfect righteousness which is required for everlasting life in that everlasting heaven of perfect life, glory, and gladness which is spoken of in the Bible.
Yes, we have all sinned; and the Bible warns, in many ways and many places, what is summed up in Romans 6:23: "the wages of sin is death"—that is, as the Scriptures make clear, the eternal, undying death of soul and resurrected body in the hell of which Jesus warned, "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44). God is just and righteous; and His justice and righteousness require eternal condemnation in hell for all and any sin. What Christ Jesus, while on this earth, asked of one group of sinners is a question with eternal consequences for every sinner; and it is this: "How can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Mathew 23:33). Yes, how indeed since "all have sinned" and "there is none righteous, no, not one" and "the wages of sin is death"!
Yes, we have all sinned; and the Bible warns, in many ways and many places, what is summed up in Romans 6:23: "the wages of sin is death"—that is, as the Scriptures make clear, the eternal, undying death of soul and resurrected body in the hell of which Jesus warned, "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44). God is just and righteous; and His justice and righteousness require eternal condemnation in hell for all and any sin. What Christ Jesus, while on this earth, asked of one group of sinners is a question with eternal consequences for every sinner; and it is this: "How can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Mathew 23:33). Yes, how indeed since "all have sinned" and "there is none righteous, no, not one" and "the wages of sin is death"!
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment . . ."
Hebrews 9:27
But God is also "merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6). And, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). In truth, the Son of God came into the world and became one of us. Christ Jesus was, and is, God and, at the same time, true man but "without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Christ Jesus, as the "one mediator between God and men" (1 Timothy 2:5), during His life here perfectly obeyed God’s law in our place in order to provide a perfect obedience—that is, a perfect righteousness—for sinners. Then on the cross, Jesus willingly accepted our sins accounted as His and, by His suffering and death of infinite worth in our place, made a full satisfaction to the justice of God for all of the sins of those for whom He suffered. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). And so it is that God is able to be "just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. But what is required of sinners themselves to be saved from everlasting death in hell? Certainly, there must be a heartfelt confession to God by the sinner of his sins, his just condemnation, and his utter helplessness to save himself from the eternal, righteous wrath of God, from "so great a death" (2 Corinthians 1:10) in hell.
But is there not more required of a sinner to receive "so great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3)? Most certainly, there is. The sinner must believe on the crucified, risen Lord Jesus Christ as the one and only, wholly sufficient Savior of sinners, resting and trusting in His shed lifeblood and His perfect righteousness alone for the forgiveness and cleansing of sins and for justification with God in order to receive the gift of everlasting salvation, be born again—that is, spiritually: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3)—and adopted as God’s own beloved child. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). The crucified, risen Savior of sinners has promised, "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).
Are you a sinner in need of saving? Then look unto Jesus for salvation; "seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Confess yourself to be a justly condemned sinner, who has sinned against God in thought, word, and deed. Believe and trust on Christ the Savior; call upon God in prayer; humbly plead for that gift of faith through which He saves sinners on the basis of the shed blood and perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ who came into the world to save sinners. "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).
Persevere in prayer. Read the word of God, beginning with the Gospel of John. Rest entirely on Christ as your Savior, and wait on the Lord for the assurance that you have been saved and made a "new creature" with the abiding assurance that you are a child of God, with a sure title to the glory and gladness of everlasting life. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Ralph Ovadal, pastor
Pilgrims Covenant Church
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. But what is required of sinners themselves to be saved from everlasting death in hell? Certainly, there must be a heartfelt confession to God by the sinner of his sins, his just condemnation, and his utter helplessness to save himself from the eternal, righteous wrath of God, from "so great a death" (2 Corinthians 1:10) in hell.
But is there not more required of a sinner to receive "so great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3)? Most certainly, there is. The sinner must believe on the crucified, risen Lord Jesus Christ as the one and only, wholly sufficient Savior of sinners, resting and trusting in His shed lifeblood and His perfect righteousness alone for the forgiveness and cleansing of sins and for justification with God in order to receive the gift of everlasting salvation, be born again—that is, spiritually: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3)—and adopted as God’s own beloved child. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). The crucified, risen Savior of sinners has promised, "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).
Are you a sinner in need of saving? Then look unto Jesus for salvation; "seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Confess yourself to be a justly condemned sinner, who has sinned against God in thought, word, and deed. Believe and trust on Christ the Savior; call upon God in prayer; humbly plead for that gift of faith through which He saves sinners on the basis of the shed blood and perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ who came into the world to save sinners. "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).
Persevere in prayer. Read the word of God, beginning with the Gospel of John. Rest entirely on Christ as your Savior, and wait on the Lord for the assurance that you have been saved and made a "new creature" with the abiding assurance that you are a child of God, with a sure title to the glory and gladness of everlasting life. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Ralph Ovadal, pastor
Pilgrims Covenant Church