This message has a two-fold purpose. If you are like I was, when I first went to a church, you don’t what people are trying to save you from, your asking yourself, “do these people think they are better than me,” and the big question is, “Why do church people think they have the right to judge others.
The second reason for this message is to show professing Christians how to witness to those who don’t know the way.
I have some bad news to share with you this morning. Everyone in this room will one day die. I think it would be safe to say that you already knew this to be true; right?
Have you ever wondered what comes next? Do we just lie in the ground and rot away, or is there something else? This morning let’s just assume the Bible is correct. There is a God and He created us. Even if you aren’t sure this is true; just this morning let’s assume it is.
The Bible says there are 2 places where we might go. A place called Heaven & a place called Hell, and one of these locations will be our home when this life ends. And this will be our home for the rest of eternity.
Lu 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
So the question I want to ask you this morning is; where do you think you will end up?
Since the Bible is our basis for discussion let’s look to it for the answer. The Bible says we can know our heart by the law of God, more commonly known as the Ten Commandments. If I were ask each person in this congregation today, “Are you a good person?” Most of us can find others whose lives are really horrible and from this judge ourselves to be in more control so we assume we are good, because there are others who are not as good. But the important question to ask ourselves is this, “does God think we are a good person?” Good enough to go to Heaven?
How can we know? We go by the Ten Commandments
1. Have you ever told a lie?
2. Have you ever taken anything that didn’t belong to you?
3. Have you committed Adultery?
4. Have you ever murdered anyone?
5. Have you ever used God’s name as a cuss word?
Now based on your answers to the questions, where would you go if you died today?
1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
You might answer me “well I broke 1 or maybe 2 of the laws, surely He won’t judge me in the same category as someone who violated all 10.”
The Bible say’s in James 2:10 … Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Hell is going to be filled with nice people and evil people … all together forever and ever. If you end up in hell you spend rest of eternity with Hitler, Stalin, the Boston strangler, Jack the ripper, and other very evil people, and let us not forget Satan and his demons. The Bible says those in Hell will be tormented forever and forever. Does that concern you?
The good news is; you don’t have to go there. There is a way of escape.
Today in the eyes of God you would stand before Him guilty and your punishment will be Hell. It’s like being in a court of law and you have been found guilty of a serious crime and you are not able to pay the price necessary for your freedom. And as the Judge is about to pronounce sentence, a stranger burst into the courtroom and offers to pay your fine and set you free.
That’s exactly what Jesus Christ did for us.
The Bible says, “That while we were yet sinners; Christ died for us.”
He sent His son Jesus to live on this earth and to suffer and die for our sins; then raised Him from the dead, to offer us deliverance from our crimes.
Galatians 3:24… The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
What does that entail, this faith in Christ? Do we just mentally assent to the possibility that this true? Jesus said to a religious man, “Except a man be born again, he shall not enter the Kingdom Of Heaven. John 3
And the question is how can I be born a second time?
Ro 10:9 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.
You ask ”how can I accept this offer?” The Bible says to put on Christ! Parachute
Jesus said “we must be born again.” How do we do this? We confess the sins that we have committed and ask Him for forgiveness. An someone would ask “Is that all that he requires?”
No! I must repent. Which means to turn away from our sins and live in obedience to God’s Word.
Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Eph 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
You are going to respond, “I can’t live that way,” I know I did. But you haven’t met grace yet. When you repent the Holy Spirit will empower you to live this way, he will change your heart, and you will be a new creature in Christ.
Galatians 3:25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
