God’s Plan of Forgiveness and Restoration
The Holy Bible is God’s Message to us
The Holy Bible is unique, a one of a kind book. It tells us how we got here, how things got messed up, and where we are heading. It gives great insight into who God is and how we can be restored to a relationship with Him. It contains 66 books written by 40 different men in several different languages over a period of 1,500 years. And even though they wrote on many controversial issues, they did so with remarkable harmony and continuity from the beginning to the end. How did they do it? “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (II Peter 1:21)
God’s Creation was Very Good
According to the Bible, in the beginning God created everything and it was very good. Man was made in the image of God and lived in perfect harmony with his Creator. It was a perfect place. But our very first parents disobeyed God’s only command – not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They chose to disobey God. (Genesis 3:1-6) Any relationship involves trust. Through their decision they expressed distrust in God and His word.
Disobedience Separated Mankind from His Creator
When Adam and Eve sinned they knew they were naked and they hid from God. They had experienced something that they had never experienced before – fear, guilt, and shame. Their disobedience brought death to their relationship with God. Man became a sinner separated from his Creator.
God is Holy; man is not
Sin is anything that one does in thought, word, or deed that goes against God’s commands. For example, the Bible says that you shall not bear false witness (lie)? Have you ever lied? If you are honest with yourself, you have broken many of God’s laws. We all sin – do wrong things. And because God is infinitely HOLY, the smallest wrong is infinitely offensive to Him. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)
Sin brings Eternal Death
“The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) If you die in this condition, you will spend eternity separated from God in a place the Bible calls the Lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (II Thessalonians 1:9) THAT’S BAD NEWS!
The Holy Bible is unique, a one of a kind book. It tells us how we got here, how things got messed up, and where we are heading. It gives great insight into who God is and how we can be restored to a relationship with Him. It contains 66 books written by 40 different men in several different languages over a period of 1,500 years. And even though they wrote on many controversial issues, they did so with remarkable harmony and continuity from the beginning to the end. How did they do it? “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (II Peter 1:21)
God’s Creation was Very Good
According to the Bible, in the beginning God created everything and it was very good. Man was made in the image of God and lived in perfect harmony with his Creator. It was a perfect place. But our very first parents disobeyed God’s only command – not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They chose to disobey God. (Genesis 3:1-6) Any relationship involves trust. Through their decision they expressed distrust in God and His word.
Disobedience Separated Mankind from His Creator
When Adam and Eve sinned they knew they were naked and they hid from God. They had experienced something that they had never experienced before – fear, guilt, and shame. Their disobedience brought death to their relationship with God. Man became a sinner separated from his Creator.
God is Holy; man is not
Sin is anything that one does in thought, word, or deed that goes against God’s commands. For example, the Bible says that you shall not bear false witness (lie)? Have you ever lied? If you are honest with yourself, you have broken many of God’s laws. We all sin – do wrong things. And because God is infinitely HOLY, the smallest wrong is infinitely offensive to Him. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)
Sin brings Eternal Death
“The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) If you die in this condition, you will spend eternity separated from God in a place the Bible calls the Lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (II Thessalonians 1:9) THAT’S BAD NEWS!
God Provided the Way to restore our Relationship
Adam and Eve tried to make things ‘right’ by covering themselves with fig leaves. However, their self-effort could not restore their relationship. God would require a sacrifice for sin. He provided for them clothes made from animal skins as the very first sacrifice. (Genesis 3:21) Now man would need a substitute and sin bearer for his sin. God would provide the complete and final sacrifice in the person of Jesus Christ …“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) THAT’S GOOD NEWS!
Jesus came to Save Sinners!
The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins! (I Timothy 1:15) He came to restore man’s relationship with God. Jesus as God became man (John 1:1-14; Philippians 2:5-7). He is the God-Man, fully God yet fully Man. Because He is infinite He is the only One who could make the infinite payment that God demands for the sins of all people. “Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures …was buried …and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (I Corinthians 15:3, 4) “…He by the grace of God tasted death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9)
God Loves You
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) In His love He offered up His Son as our sin bearer, our Substitute. “In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
Jesus overcame Death
Jesus defeated death. His bodily resurrection proved that God was satisfied with His death as payment for our sins and because He lives He will impart eternal life to anyone who receives Him by faith. Jesus told His disciples who believed in Him, “Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19)
Eternal Life is a Gift from God
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life cannot be earned. No religious rituals or good works can deliver you from eternal death, the penalty of sin nor can it restore your relationship with God. Eternal life is God’s gracious gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:23)
Adam and Eve tried to make things ‘right’ by covering themselves with fig leaves. However, their self-effort could not restore their relationship. God would require a sacrifice for sin. He provided for them clothes made from animal skins as the very first sacrifice. (Genesis 3:21) Now man would need a substitute and sin bearer for his sin. God would provide the complete and final sacrifice in the person of Jesus Christ …“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) THAT’S GOOD NEWS!
Jesus came to Save Sinners!
The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins! (I Timothy 1:15) He came to restore man’s relationship with God. Jesus as God became man (John 1:1-14; Philippians 2:5-7). He is the God-Man, fully God yet fully Man. Because He is infinite He is the only One who could make the infinite payment that God demands for the sins of all people. “Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures …was buried …and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (I Corinthians 15:3, 4) “…He by the grace of God tasted death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9)
God Loves You
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) In His love He offered up His Son as our sin bearer, our Substitute. “In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
Jesus overcame Death
Jesus defeated death. His bodily resurrection proved that God was satisfied with His death as payment for our sins and because He lives He will impart eternal life to anyone who receives Him by faith. Jesus told His disciples who believed in Him, “Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19)
Eternal Life is a Gift from God
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life cannot be earned. No religious rituals or good works can deliver you from eternal death, the penalty of sin nor can it restore your relationship with God. Eternal life is God’s gracious gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:23)
God’s Gift is received by Faith
For one to receive the benefit of a gift, it must be received. God’s gift must be received by faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9) Faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ is the only condition for receiving eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. In the Bible the words believe, faith and trust have basically the same meaning. It’s confidence in God and His word.
Jesus is the only Way to God
Do not be deceived into believing that all roads lead to heaven. They do not. There is only one way. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Heaven is Sure for the Believer
Jesus said, “Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” (John 6:47) YOU CAN KNOW YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN BY TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD. For the believer in Christ, no one can snatch you out of His hand (John 10:28).
For one to receive the benefit of a gift, it must be received. God’s gift must be received by faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9) Faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ is the only condition for receiving eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. In the Bible the words believe, faith and trust have basically the same meaning. It’s confidence in God and His word.
Jesus is the only Way to God
Do not be deceived into believing that all roads lead to heaven. They do not. There is only one way. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Heaven is Sure for the Believer
Jesus said, “Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” (John 6:47) YOU CAN KNOW YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN BY TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD. For the believer in Christ, no one can snatch you out of His hand (John 10:28).
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!
Through His death, burial, and resurrection Jesus did all that is necessary for the forgiveness of sins, to restore our relationship with God, to give us everlasting life, and to make us fit for heaven by clothing us in His righteousness. If you understand who Jesus is and what He did, WHY NOT TRUST IN THE LORD JESUS TODAY AS YOUR SAVIOR, not trusting in anything that you do, and then thank Him for His most indescribable gift! “…For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)
What to do next
Faith in Jesus is the beginning of the Christian life. Like any relationship, growing takes time. It requires learning to yield to the Spirit of God by faith through the word of God (the Bible) to become the functional and fruitful person God intends for you to be. For help to grow in grace as a disciple check out the sermon series How to Live the Impossible Life. For additional help contact the church. There are many here who would be happy to come along side you to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Through His death, burial, and resurrection Jesus did all that is necessary for the forgiveness of sins, to restore our relationship with God, to give us everlasting life, and to make us fit for heaven by clothing us in His righteousness. If you understand who Jesus is and what He did, WHY NOT TRUST IN THE LORD JESUS TODAY AS YOUR SAVIOR, not trusting in anything that you do, and then thank Him for His most indescribable gift! “…For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)
What to do next
Faith in Jesus is the beginning of the Christian life. Like any relationship, growing takes time. It requires learning to yield to the Spirit of God by faith through the word of God (the Bible) to become the functional and fruitful person God intends for you to be. For help to grow in grace as a disciple check out the sermon series How to Live the Impossible Life. For additional help contact the church. There are many here who would be happy to come along side you to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.