The Bible, the Word of God, is clear,
Jesus Christ:
• who is God, became a human being
• became a man fully obedient to God
• performed many miracles
• taught about God and eternal life
• was crucified, died, and was buried
• rose from the dead and spoke to over 500 people
• ascended back to heaven
Jesus in heaven spoke through the Apostle John in the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. Jesus said, "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book…..
Worship God!
Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near……”
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the heavenly city……….”
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches……… Yes, I am coming soon!"
Jesus rose from the dead and we celebrate Easter!
Jesus went back to heaven but He said, He will return soon to earth!
How soon? It could happen today!
We celebrate His resurrection, but are we ready for His return?
We read in 1 Peter 4:5, Every person will have to give account to Jesus Christ who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
You and I will soon be judged by God Jesus Christ.
It could happen today!
How will Jesus judge?
Jesus gives us a clue in His last words in the Bible.
Those who will be blessed forever are the ones who:
- keeps the words of the Bible!
- Worship God!
- have washed robes!
How will you and I be judged by God?
The first question we need to ask ourselves is,
“Are we keeping the words of the Bible?”
In other words, are you and I reading the Bible daily, believing it, and following what it says?
You know, I was convicted the other day about my devotions to God and His Word.
I met the owner of the gas station a few blocks from the church. He asked me what I do for a living. And when I told him I am a minister, he immediately asked me a spiritual question. I was able to share with him the Gospel of Jesus Christ but as far as I could tell he didn’t accept Jesus as his Savior and God and I think I know why. You see, his question was, “why do so many Americans say they believe in God but they don’t pray, they drink too much, they’re too sexual, and if they believe God truly speaks from the Bible, why do they treat it like just any other book?”
One of the reasons why people are not listening to Christianity is that most “Christians” are not living it.
You see, true Christianity is not a religion but a relationship, but this does not mean Christians are not to be religious!
Jesus tells us to read and follow the Bible and worship God daily! How religious are you with your relationship with Jesus Christ? Jesus calls us to be religious! But like I told that religious man at the gas station, “it is impossible to get to heaven by religious works alone!”
I shared with him that trying to get to heaven by good works alone is like trying to swim from America to India! He laughed and he agreed! And even though he did not accept Jesus Christ that day, he wishes to talk to me some more in the future!
Now, if we are to be religious but religious good works can not get us to heaven, how can it be done?
Jesus said one more important thing about being able to get to heaven. Only those with washed robes can enter the eternal heavenly city of God.
Here’s the most important question to ask in life:
How do you get a washed robe to get to heaven?
Please open your Bibles, the Word of God, to the Letter to the Romans chapter 5. Read along with me v9-21………
Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Why did Jesus Christ die on a cross, was buried, and on the third day rose from the grave? Why do we celebrate Resurrection Sunday?
Because, if Jesus did not suffer, die, and rose from the dead, no one can come to life again and go to heaven! Look again at v12 of Romans 5………
No matter how good and religious a person is, they are stained with sin and have sinned against God. Every time a person only thinks about self and not God have sinned against God. Do we always think about God?
We have all sinned against God and every sinner is forever dead unless…….. Look again at v15-17…………..
Sins can be forgiven by God!
Every person, even though they have sinned, can have washed robes and be right with God!
The forgiveness of sins against God is a gift from God!
And what do you do with a gift??
You receive it and treasure it!
Have you personally received this gift of forgiveness of sins by believing in Jesus Christ as your only Savior and God?
Please take a moment to pray to Jesus. Receive His forgiveness. Commit to follow Him. Read God’s Word and worship Him daily!
