JESUS

Who is JESUS and what did He do for us?

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. This same Jesus, who was perfect, was sent to the cross to be crucified even though there was no wrongdoing found in Him. This was predestined by The Father who sent Jesus, His ONLY begotten Son, to die in OUR place for OUR SINS. Jesus died on the cross, then was placed in a tomb, but on the third day, His tomb was found empty. JESUS rose from the dead on the third day, triumphing over death and hell (MATTHEW 27 & 28). Jesus did what the law of sin and death could not do; He overcame sin and removed its penalty and its power (ROMANS 8:3). JESUS was the ultimate sacrifice, in that through the shedding of HIS Blood, our sins are atoned and GOD reconciled us to Himself. Now, therefore, by the GRACE OF GOD, we are JUSTIFIED FREELY FOREVER through the rising of JESUS CHRIST from the dead, who now sits on the right hand of GOD (ROMANS 3:24).

SO, WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS? - JESUS!!

The GOOD NEWS is that we are saved through what JESUS did for us. JESUS saved our souls by defeating the law of sin and death, and gave us the law of the Spirit of life (ROMANS 8:2), so that we can have life and have it more abundantly (JOHN 10:10), and so that we may have eternal life (JOHN 3:15; 1 JOHN 2:25). Sin should no longer have dominion over us because it has lost its power, and we are not under the law but under GRACE (ROMANS 6:14). This is the GIFT OF SALVATION, which is the SAVING OF OUR SOULS. We cannot save ourselves, nor can we earn our salvation. For it is written, “GOD SAVED YOU by HIS GRACE when you believed. And you cannot take credit for this; it is a GIFT FROM GOD. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (EPHESIANS 2:8-9).

Salvation is a GIFT. This is GOD’S Grace, His unconditional love in action, in that we are saved through this act of love and through our FAITH. Our FAITH is how we receive this gift. Faith is belief in action. One way we show our belief in what JESUS did for us is through Repentance. Repentance, in simple words, is like having a change of heart. It is the letting go of any practice from conviction that it is not pleasing to God. In simpler words, Repentance is TURNING AWAY from sin.

Why do our souls need saving? Why do we need Jesus?

Sin once departed us from the presence of GOD. As a result of this fallen world, we are born into sin. It’s like our spirit is vulnerable to the evil of this world. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (EPHESIANS 6:12). As I said before, we cannot save ourselves. We need Jesus to get into heaven and not be thrown into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (REVELATION 21:8). But through Jesus, we are reconciled to Him. And we no longer need priests to give sacrifices for our sins for God to forgive us, or to tell us what God is speaking to us. Jesus was the Ultimate Sacrifice, meaning that He died for our sins once and for ALL. We are forgiven through Jesus. Now, we have a great high priest(JESUS) who is able to sympathize and intercede for us so that we can come BOLDLY to the throne of Grace and obtain mercy and grace in our time of need (HEBREWS 4:14-16). Now, His Grace is sufficient and He is only a prayer away! (Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Peter 3:12)

Jesus and God’s Grace is NOT AN EXCUSE to go and sin just because we know God will forgive us (ROMANS 6:1-2; ROMANS 6:15). We are still required to confess and repent(turn from) our sins, then, in return, we are granted our inheritance; eternal life with Him in Heaven, if we endure till the end (1 JOHN 1:9; MATTHEW 24:13; II Timothy 2:12). So instead, we ought to walk in the newness of life we have in JESUS: Putting off our old man and ways of life which are corrupt through deceitful desires and lust, and putting on the new man created after the LIKENESS of God leading to true righteousness and holiness. Not being conformed to the ways of this world, but being transformed by RENEWING of our minds so that through us others can see the good, acceptable, and perfect will of GOD (EPHESIANS 4:22-24; ROMANS 12:2).

And there is more Good News! JESUS is coming back to receive His Kingdom one day, and it may be sooner than we think. AND before you bypass the last sentence because “people have been saying this for years,” I want you to know that there is more good news; THE coming Kingdom and day of judgment is a promise that will be fulfilled, but GOD is patient toward us in this matter because he does not want anyone to perish, He wants all to come to REPENTANCE (2 PETER 3:9).

HOW TO BE SAVED

Before committing yourself to a relationship with JESUS, you do not have to clean yourself up; HE will help you do that. GOD wants you just as you are so that He can transform you into who He created you to be, and so that you can experience the life that He desires for you to have, both on this earth and after (ROMANS 8:29).

SO HOW CAN WE BE SAVED?(BELIEVE, CONFESS, RECEIVE, REPENT)

“BELIEVE in your heart that JESUS has been raised from the dead, and CONFESS with your mouth that JESUS is LORD, then you will be saved(ROMANS 10:9).” “REPENT, and let every one of you be BAPTIZED in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall RECIEVE the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT (ACTS 2:38)”. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the KINGDOM of God (JOHN 3:8).” “He who BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED will be saved; but he who does not BELIEVE will be condemned (MARK 16:16).” “In JESUS we have REDEMPTION through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His GRACE (EPHESIANS 1:7).” “And through HIS NAME, WHOEVER BELIEVES in HIM WILL RECEIVE the remission of sins (ACTS 10:43).” “REPENT therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (ACTS 3:19).” This Salvation is available to ALL PEOPLE, and GOD wants ALL of us to be saved (I TIMOTHY 2:3-4).