A Matter of Life or Death

Are you 100% sure that when you die you will be in Heaven with the Lord? You can be!

1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

How Do You Become a Child of God?

There is a misconception that says everyone is a child of God. This is not true. We are all creations of God but not all children of God. We are separate from God because of our sin. We must be adopted into the family of God.

Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Death separates. Physical death separates body from soul. Spiritual death separates us from God. Because of our sin we are separated from God or spiritually dead.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;

If we die separated from God, we will stand guilty before God and die the second death which is eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire, a place of eternal judgment.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The law of God teaches us that we are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

There are none who are right with God (Righteous). The best person walking the earth right now is not right with God. Everyone has done wrong and by doing right we can’t erase the wrong that we have already done. If you lie and then tell the truth about that lie it doesn’t erase the fact that you lied.

We need God’s forgiveness, but forgiveness cannot be extended to us without the price for sin being paid.

It’s like this: If you steal something the law says you are guilty and must pay the penalty for your crime. A judge can’t just forgive you just because you are sorry. If he did that, it would make him unjust.

God is perfect in every way. He is perfect in his justice, so the payment for our sin must be paid.

This is where Jesus comes in. God put on human flesh and lived a perfect life so that He could pay the penalty for our sin. When Jesus (The Son of God or God the Son) died on the cross He satisfied the just demand for the payment for our sin

1Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Quickened means alive from the dead or made alive. Jesus paid for your sin and my sin when He died on the cross. Then three days later Jesus rose from the grave and by so doing, He is able now to offers us all forgiveness, reconciliation to the Father and eternal life.

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God offers us a gift. He offers us forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. Like every gift we must receive it. You must personally receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. He is the gift of God.

In other words, we must come to God humbly. We must admit that we are undeserving of God, that we have sinned against God and lived our lives contrary to His will. We must want to be reconciled to God, which means that we are willing to surrender our will for His will. This is called repentance.

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

So, if you will repent and trust that Jesus is the only reason you can be forgiven then God says…

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Saved refers to being saved from the just wrath of God on the day of Judgment.

If you will receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour God promises that He will, not only take you to Heaven when you die, but He will come into your life and make Himself known to you now.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

My friend there is nothing better than being in a real relationship with God. The peace and the love that you will know will be greater than anything you can imagine.

If you will turn to God and humble yourself to Him and ask Him to forgive you in the name of Jesus, He promises you that He will. Trust Him today. Bow your head and speak to God from your heart. He will hear you.

If you have any questions or want someone to talk to about these things or anything, you can reach Pastor John Flowers at (843) 450-3027 or email him at brojohn1611@aol.com