“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is” (Jeremiah 17:7).
Why do so many people complicate salvation? Salvation isn’t hard, but too many religious groups misrepresent Scripture and confuse many people.
Things like infant baptism aren’t Scriptural. “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” (Romans 10:9-10).
I’ve never met an infant who can understand what sin is, believe he is a sinner, repent, and ask for forgiveness. An infant only knows to cry when hungry or when he is in need of a diaper change. The infant can only understand asking to feel better, and not what it means to tell a lie or steal. The choice to believe in Jesus has to be a decision each person makes for themselves; parents cannot make the decision for their child, only guide them. Unfortunately, it’s more important for many parents to be sure their children believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny than to believe in Jesus.
Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ, so no matter where you attend services, if you haven’t personally accepted Jesus Christ and repented of sin, then you need to do that now.
God didn’t complicate salvation but actually simplified it. Scripture makes it clear as to what God considers sin, and the Jewish Law was a bit complicated. God made a covenant with Abraham, which was evidenced by circumcision. Then came the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai. It took work in order to perfectly keep the law, and nobody was able to keep it perfectly. The sacrifices would cover sin but couldn’t take sin away. Why? The blood was not human blood, and God never requires spilling human blood for a sacrifice. Besides, human blood is tainted by sin, and sin cannot remove sin. Sin could not be removed by the blood of animals, only cover it.
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).
To take sin away, the sacrifice would have to be a human without sin-tainted blood. That sacrifice was Jesus, who was fully human and fully God. Mary was just a normal human, so Jesus was human because of her. If she were anything other than human, Jesus could not be our Kinsman. On the other hand, God was His Father, which means that Jesus did not inherit the sin-tainted blood that fathers pass on to their sons. Jesus’ blood was pure. Because of that, He qualified as our Redeemer. According to the Law, a kinsman-redeemer had to be willing, and Jesus willingly shed His blood to redeem humanity.
If you reject this free gift, you’ve chosen your eternal fate. If you have made the all-important decision to accept the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus, then you are forever sealed with the Holy Spirit, and your eternity is very bright.
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).
That’s so reassuring.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and just like a flock of sheep know the voice of their shepherd, Christians need to know the voice of our Shepherd. We learn to hear His voice and follow Him by studying Scripture.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:27-30).
Sometimes Christians begin to doubt their own salvation. This verse should put aside all doubts. If you were sincere when you accepted Jesus for salvation, your salvation is secure.
Sin is a part of our human failings, but that isn’t an excuse to keep sinning. We need to confess our sins, not to a priest or any other human, but confess to God.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Only Jesus can forgive sin. No amount of saying “Hail Mary” or doing penance will forgive your sin. Only Jesus can and will forgive. Once you ask forgiveness, then it’s time to turn from the sin.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).
Living sacrifice? That means you need to represent our Lord in a way that pleases Him. He desires more than lip service from us.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of Good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
That word “peculiar” comes from the Greek word “periousios,” which means a people selected by God for his own possession. It might be easier to understand by reading a modern translation.
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14 NKJV).
Good works won’t bring salvation, but they should be a result of our faith.
Can your friends see a change in you since you accepted Christ? Other people watch Christians, mostly to mock us when we fail, but if you live your life as a living sacrifice to God, you just might influence someone to accept the Lord before it’s too late. It’s important to study Scripture because there’s a good chance a friend will ask questions about why you don’t join in the party scene like you used to.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
You probably have questions of your own that can only be answered through Bible study.
Why do I talk so much about salvation? I feel an urgency to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others. Time passes quickly, and we will either die like so many before us, or the Rapture will happen.
I’m watching signs of the times and can see prophecy is being fulfilled quickly. If you’re waiting until tomorrow to share the Gospel with a friend, don’t wait; tomorrow may be too late. Even young people die unexpectedly.
Biblical prophecy can be trusted to be true. It may not be crystal clear how it will all play out, but you can be sure that it will all happen just like Scripture says. For instance, prophecy made it clear that Israel would be back in the land that God gave to them. Men who thought they knew more than God came up with the false teaching that the church has replaced Israel. God will never completely turn against Israel, and He promised that they will be back in their land. In 1947, it happened, just as Scripture says.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:11-12).
There are many other prophecies that are being fulfilled, and it’s very clear that we are living in the very last of days. Pray for Israel. Other prophecies tell us that there is coming a time when Satan will rule and Great Tribulation will grip the entire world, worse than anything the world has seen. Technology is being put in place that will allow the mark of the beast to be a reality. Anyone taking that mark will not be able to be saved from damnation.
The good news is that none of the final judgments will happen until Christians are Raptured. We will be taken to Heaven prior to the onset of the final seven years of life. Demons will be released, and God’s wrath will be poured out on the entire world. Now is the time to talk to your friends and family about Jesus. Now, before it’s too late. Today, the Holy Spirit is living in Christians and restraining the evil. Now is when salvation can be obtained by sincerely asking for it.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:13-14).
How indeed? You need to speak up and not be ashamed of your faith in Jesus Christ.
Time is short. Share the Gospel before it’s too late.
God bless you all
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).