Yahushua
('Jesus') has given us some Good News (the 'Gospel') in His Word! But
first, we must tell you the Bad News:
The Bad News
" ...all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God..." (Romans 3:23)
The
above passage tells us that we are all guilty of sin. We are all guilty
of rebellion against our Creator. There is no one who is exempt from this charge. Here is the result of our sin:
"For the wages of sin is death..."
(Romans 6:23a)
Because of
our guilt of sin, we all deserve death. We all are lost, perished, and
are faced with eternal separation from our Creator, because of our sin and rebellion.
There is some good news, however, that can 'cancel' the bad news, for those who truly believe!
The Good News
Now
the good News:
"For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
(John 3:16)
Yahushua
('Jesus') has paid for us ('redeemed' us) by paying the required
payment for our sin. The price He paid for us was His own death, and
the shedding of His own blood. Because of His death, burial, and
resurrection, we can now look upon Him, and be made whole. Because of
the shedding of His blood, we are now forgiven of sins. If we believe
on Him, we too will be resurrected.
Let's see why
this is true.
Throughout Scripture, we learn that
the only acceptable price for sin is the blood of a perfect lamb. Under
the old covenant, this sacrifice for sin was required every year.
Yahushua
('Jesus') is called the eternal Lamb-sacrifice that is acceptable to
the Father (Yahuweh). Now after Yahushua's resurrection, Yahushua
becomes the eternal Lamb sacrifice for us:
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
the world. (John 1:29)
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he
saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (John 1:36)
Yahushua
('Jesus') is the Lamb. His blood gives us forgiveness. But is this the
only way we can be forgiven, and the only way we can approach the
Creator (Yahuweh)?
Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Yahushua
('Jesus') is the Way — the only Way to the
Father. No man can approach the Father except through
Yahushua.
But is there any good thing we
may do to earn our way to the Father? He has told us:
"Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost..." (Titus 3:5)
"...by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God..." (Ephesians 2:8)
So
we see that no matter how good we are, we can not come to him on our
own. It is only by Father's gift, by His own grace, that we can be
saved. Yahushua tells us if we go on to believe Him, we may have
eternal life.
And
this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the
Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise
him up at the last day. (John 6:40)
"But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"...but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23b)
"In
whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace..." (Ephesians 1:7)
Yahushua
('Jesus') has paid the price for our sin, and has set us free from the
death-penalty, and offers us life in exchange.
But
how do we make this forgiveness effective and personal for us?
"...whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
"...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)
Whoever
cries out to Yahushua ('Jesus') shall be saved. If we believe Yahushua
paid the price for us, and that He was resurrected from the dead,
we need only speak the words to Him, to tell Him that we
believe, and to ask Him to save us.
Those who
receive Him as Truth, and believe on Him, are now able to go on
further:
"...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)
The
above passage tells us as many as receive him, may now become His sons
and daughters.
"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)
He
tells us that because our sin fell upon Him, He has given us His
righteousness in exchange. We may now go on to continue in His
righteousness, as long as we remain in Him.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and
will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)
He
not only has forgiven us, but He wants our fellowship and friendship.
He wants to be at home with us, and live within us.
"Much more then, being now justified by
his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we
were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much
more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Romans 5:9-10)
It
is the on-going walking with Him that He desires. Now that we have been
cleansed of sin and filthiness, He now wants to live His life in us,
and walk in us, in obedience. How do we do this?
"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)
"...Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
First, we
see that we start out with a clean slate. All things have become new.
When
we repent ('turn, and walk in another direction'), we begin to walk in
obedience to His Word. He gives us the strength to walk in His way.
The New Walk of Obedience
Here are two things He tells us to do:
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
(Acts 22:16)
He
tells us we are to begin our obedience by being baptised in water
(literally 'dipped' or 'completely immersed') in water. Then we are
told:
"If
ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:
how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them
that ask him?" (Luke 11:13)
"And be not drunk with
wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit..." (Ephesians
5:18)
We are to ask Father to
give us His Holy Spirit. This is one way by which we may be baptised
('filled') with the Holy Spirit. His Spirit is simply His presence
within us, to strengthen and encourage us.
Then
thank Him for saving you!
Read the Scriptures daily,
to learn what Father has done. Begin by reading the books of Matthew,
Mark, Luke, John, and Acts.
Also read Psalms and
Proverbs, one chapter each day, as spiritual 'vitamins.'
Ask
Father to place you among others, who truly believe in Him! Watch out
for His enemies-in-disguise, who would discourage you! There are many
that would try to shipwreck us on our journey to the father. Ask Father
to protect you, and He will do so!
Thank Him often
for His goodness to us! And tell others of the Good
News — pass it on!
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