I once heard that a pastor entered the pulpit and exclaimed "I'm preaching the entire Bible tonight, so just hang in there". Can you imagine the unheard "sighs" from the congregation? After a long moment of silence, the next words he spoke was; "For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
Salvation is the great theme of the Bible. The central focus is the truth that God saves sinners.
Sin separated us from God. Sin created a barrier between us and God that no human effort could ever overcome. Isaiah 64:6 teaches us that we all have become unclean (with sin) and our righteousness (the best we can do on our own) is as filthy rags before God.
An all-knowing God knew that mankind would never be able to rescue, ransom, or purchase his way back to him on his own. He had a plan, a substitution if you will.
Back in time, under the law, the high priest made atonement for sin through the sprinkling of the blood of sacrificial animals. God sent his son Jesus, who was without sin, to be the ultimate and final sacrifice for the atonement of all sin. Jesus became our Great High Priest and paid the penalty for our sins with his own blood, through his death on the cross, becoming the ultimate and final sacrifice. Christ became the substitute for you and I by taking our place and paying the penalty for our sins. (1 Corinthians 15:3)
Accepting Jesus Christ as your savior is the most important decision you will ever make in this life. Every day we get up and immediately begin to make decisions whether we're aware of it or not. As a matter of fact, our every waking moments are spent making decisions. Sure, we can determine that some of these decisions are more important than others, but there is no decision more important than the salvation of your soul.
Take a moment, clear your mind, really think on this; Are you sure you've taken time to consider your eternal soul? If you have never made the decision to accept Christ as your Savior I ask that you consider the simple plan and prayer of Salvation:
For God love the world so much that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life. (John 3:16) God gave his Son to be the ultimate sacrifice. To perish is to spend eternity in Hell, an everlasting place of torment, pain and suffering. The alternative to perishing is an everlasting life in the presence of God, a place he has prepared for us called Heaven. There will be no pain, suffering, or torment in this everlasting life.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) We were born with a sin debt to pay. This debt can only be paid by the acceptance of Jesus and his death on the cross.
So, Christ was offered once (as a sacrifice) to bear the sins of all. (Hebrews 9:28) But this man (Jesus) after He had offered one sacrifice, sat down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:12) This is proof that he became the ultimate and final sacrifice and that he died and rose again.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10: 9-10)
A prayer of Salvation:
Dear God, I believe in your son Jesus, I believe he died for my sins, I believe he rose again. Forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and save my soul. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Deacon Kevin