My birthday is 3/31. You can make me a really good dinner if you like!
I thought about posting this in one of the other threads that's ongoing, but decided to post it here instead. And what this is about is plain and simple, salvation.
Misunderstandings about how to get to heaven abound. But basically, every person on this earth has 1 of 3 beliefs.
1. This earth is it. I'm going to eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow I die. Therefore, I will take no thought about the hereafter, because it does not exist.
2. I believe that there is a hereafter, and I want to spend eternity in heaven. Hell may or may not exist, but I'm sure heaven does, and I want to go. So, I will try to work my way into heaven, and hope that I do enough good works to earn my way there.
3. I believe that there is a hereafter, and I want to spend eternity in heaven. Hell may or may not exist, but I'm sure heaven does, and I want to go. So, I will place my trust in the one true God.
For many, they think that simply believing in God is good enough. But what they fail to realize is that that's not enough. James 2:19 states. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well. The devils also believe, and tremble. This is nothing more than a head knowledge of God, and will not save anyone. I've heard it said on more than one occasion that some people miss heaven by 18"-or the distance between their head and their heart.
Others think that doing good works will get us into heaven. All they need to do is obey the 10 commandments, or do more good than bad. This doesn't work either.
James 2:10 and 11. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, h e is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Romans 3:20 Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Titus 3:5a Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.
Revelation 20:13,15 And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead that were in them, and they weree judged every man according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
These are just a few of the verses I could use.
The only way to heaven is thru Jesus. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Romans 10:9,10, 13 That if thous 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. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Or to put it all in a nut shell, the message of the gospel is this:
God loves us and gave His
Only begotten Son because of our
Sin. He shed His
Precious blood for us, and we can have
Eternal life, if we
Let Him in.
I'm sure he'll be glad when it's off. I know when I got my cast off, it felt like I had spaghetti for a leg.
, Deb, better days tomorrow!
, taking her to her favorite local Mexican restuarant.
