Repent and Be Saved

There is a book which is of great importance to each one of us, because it has to do with life and death. It is the Bible, which is God's Word. Let us hear some truths from it. First, listen to a story which Jesus Christ told; Luke 15: 11-24 - The Prodigal Son. [Read this.]

By this story, Jesus Christ has shown us the sinfulness of our hearts, and also the love of God, the Father, for us. What does God think about sin? Listen to what His Word says:

Rom. 3:23 - All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Mark 7:21-23 - From within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from within and defile the man. I Cor. 6:9a - Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Whether the sin is great or small, God says: Rom. 6:23a - The wages of sin is death. Heb. 9:27 - It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

This does not mean the death of our bodies. This death means the separation of our souls from God, with eternal punishment after our bodies die. But God's love for us is so great that He wants to spare us from this punishment. The Bible says:

Acts 17:30b - God now commands all men everywhere to repent. II Pet. 3:9 - The Lord is long-suffering towards us, and is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. I Tim. 2:4 - (God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Isa. 55:7 - Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever - that means you - and me- whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. I Cor. 15:3b, 4 - As it is written in the Scriptures, Christ died for our sins; He was buried, and He rose again the third day. John 3:17 - God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. Acts. 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. I Tim. 2:5 - There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes unto the Father but by Me."

The Word of God tells us: Rom.10:13 - Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom. 6:23b - The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Matt.11l:28 (Jesus said) "Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jn. 5:24 - Jesus said, "Truly, truly I say unto you, he that hears My word and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life."

This is the great message the Bible has for us. Jesus died to make the payment for our sins - for your sins and mine. If you believe this in your heart and confess your sins to Him, He will forgive you. You can pray to Him right where you are. Then forsake the way of sin. His Spirit will come and live in you, and change you. When you die, you will go directly to Heaven to live with Him. God's Word says: II Cor. 5:17 - If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. I Jn. 5:11-13 - This is the record, that God has given unto us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God, has not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

If time, the following may be added to fill the record: Luke 15:4-7 - The Lost Sheep.