Have you heard any good news lately? It seems like most of the news sources today report a daily stream of shootings, robberies, rapes, the latest terrorist attack, or the current, monstrous amount of the national debt. Talk about discouraging.
Or how about the latest celebrity drip gossip about who’s divorcing who, who’s wearing (or not wearing) what, and who’s in rehab.
I get the impression that mankind has a serious self-control problem. And it’s not just them out there: the criminals, the politicians, the celebrities. It’s all of us. And it’s me. I have a self-control problem. That’s why I want to share with you the gospel, the good news from the Bible to sinners.
It’s like this:
In the beginning, God made man in His own image and declared him good (Gen 1:31). But the first man, Adam, disobeyed God and brought sin into the world so that now all of mankind is sinful by nature.
The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). God is all powerful, all knowing, holy, just and good, but no one seeks after Him. The Bible says that we, all like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). It says that we suppress the evidence of God and deny His authority over creation. We are subjects in His kingdom, yet we reject Him as king because we want to be in charge. We are law breakers and rebels (Romans 1:18-32).
The Bible also says that the consequences of this rebellion and unbelief is death and punishment (Romans 6:23). A just and holy God cannot tolerate sin. Hell is not a popular topic, but some people think that it’s a popular place because folks are just dying to go there :) However, hell is not a place to party with all the bad boys from the planet who prefer the devil over God. It’s a place of separation from all that is good. It’s a place of isolation and loneliness, of unquenchable fire and of eternal torment beyond mercy (Revelation 20:7-20).
But here’s the good news: The Bible says that God shows His great love for us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Jesus took the punishment we deserve. He came to save His people. Are you one of them?
The Bible says if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Christ is Lord, you will be saved (Romans 10:9) It says that no one comes to God the Father except through Jesus the Son (John 6:44), and that no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him by His Spirit (John 14:6). We are saved by grace, through faith, which is a gift from God, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8).
Is God calling you to repent of your sin, and believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord? Think about that. Jesus saves sinners like you and me from hell. That’s good news.
Or how about the latest celebrity drip gossip about who’s divorcing who, who’s wearing (or not wearing) what, and who’s in rehab.
I get the impression that mankind has a serious self-control problem. And it’s not just them out there: the criminals, the politicians, the celebrities. It’s all of us. And it’s me. I have a self-control problem. That’s why I want to share with you the gospel, the good news from the Bible to sinners.
It’s like this:
In the beginning, God made man in His own image and declared him good (Gen 1:31). But the first man, Adam, disobeyed God and brought sin into the world so that now all of mankind is sinful by nature.
The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). God is all powerful, all knowing, holy, just and good, but no one seeks after Him. The Bible says that we, all like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). It says that we suppress the evidence of God and deny His authority over creation. We are subjects in His kingdom, yet we reject Him as king because we want to be in charge. We are law breakers and rebels (Romans 1:18-32).
The Bible also says that the consequences of this rebellion and unbelief is death and punishment (Romans 6:23). A just and holy God cannot tolerate sin. Hell is not a popular topic, but some people think that it’s a popular place because folks are just dying to go there :) However, hell is not a place to party with all the bad boys from the planet who prefer the devil over God. It’s a place of separation from all that is good. It’s a place of isolation and loneliness, of unquenchable fire and of eternal torment beyond mercy (Revelation 20:7-20).
But here’s the good news: The Bible says that God shows His great love for us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Jesus took the punishment we deserve. He came to save His people. Are you one of them?
The Bible says if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Christ is Lord, you will be saved (Romans 10:9) It says that no one comes to God the Father except through Jesus the Son (John 6:44), and that no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him by His Spirit (John 14:6). We are saved by grace, through faith, which is a gift from God, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8).
Is God calling you to repent of your sin, and believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord? Think about that. Jesus saves sinners like you and me from hell. That’s good news.
