Most of us like to receive gifts, especially this time of year. There’s a joyful spirit in the air and everyone seems more generous. Giving and receiving gifts are expressions of love.
And that’s what I want to give you today. The greatest gift and expression of love ever given.
From God to you.
That’s right. The God of Heaven, Creator of all, giver of life, loves YOU. He created you, He knows everything about you, even things that others may not know, and He loves you more than you can imagine!
God gave us the Bible, His very words, so we would know Him. One of the things He wants us to know is found in John chapter 3 verses 16 and 17. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 KJV
He also wants you to know “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 KJV
And finally, a promise from God: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 KJV
He loves you so much that Jesus died on a cross for you. Jesus died and rose again so you could have eternal life. He wants to save you. He wants to be Lord of your life. He wants you to be in heaven with Him when you die.
Why did God have to give His only son? Because we had a sin debt we could not pay. His only son is Jesus Christ. Jesus died a cruel death on the cross many years ago for you and me. We are all sinners. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Jesus paid our sin debt because sin must be paid for, but we could not make the payment ourselves. A perfect sacrifice is the only thing that can cover our sin, and Jesus is that Perfect Sacrifice. Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus knows everything you have ever said or done that was sinful, yet died for you anyway. Knowing all the wickedness in our hearts, He chose to love us and pay our sin debt so that we may live free from the bondage of sin. Only Jesus could satisfy this price of sin. He is the only one who can save us.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” We can’t earn or work our way to Heaven. God has shown us how to receive Jesus as our Saviour.
Romans 10:9-10 “That 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.”
If you are willing to place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you can pray a simple prayer. You must believe these truths fully and pray from a sincere and believing heart. These are not magic words. The prayer alone will not save you; you must trust that the Bible is right, believe you are a sinner, deserving of Hell, and believe Jesus paid your sin debt so you can go to Heaven. If you believe that, here’s a simple prayer you can pray right now, wherever you may be. “Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I know I deserve Hell for my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I am placing my faith in You alone to save my soul and forgive me of my sins the best I know how. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”
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