WHEN IT COMES TO THE LOVE OF GOD, SHOWN TO US THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS ONCE SAID, "I SAW A RIVER OVER WHICH EVERY SOUL MUST PASS TO REACH THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, AND THE NAME OF THE RIVER WAS SUFFERING¡KAND I SAW THE BOAT WHICH CARRIES SOULS ACROSS THAT RIVER, AND THE NAME OF THE BOAT WAS LOVE."
AS JOSEPH LEARNED OF MARY’S PREGNANCY AND WAS TAUGHT THROUGH HIS DREAM IN MATTHEW 1:21, WE LEARN A VALUABLE LESSON THAT EVER SINCE CHRIST STEPPED FROM HEAVEN IT WAS GOD’S LOVE THAT REACHED OUT TO SAVE US. "SHE WILL BEAR A SON, AND YOU ARE TO NAME HIM JESUS, FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS."
WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM OUR SINFULNESS BECAUSE IT IS THAT VERY SIN IN OUR LIVES THAT IS KEEPING US FROM HAVING A PROPER, LOVING, INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. ROMANS 3:23, "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD."
UNLESS WE DEAL WITH THE SIN IN OUR LIVES WE WILL ALWAYS BE SPIRITUALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD. EVEN DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE MAY BE PEOPLE KNOWN AS "RELIGIOUS" BECAUSE WE GO TO CHURCH OR CREDITED WITH BEING KIND, LOVING, AND CARING, WE WILL STILL BE "LOST" IF WE HAVE NOT ACCEPTED CHRIST INTO OUR LIVES AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
SIMPLY PUT: YOU CANNOT BYPASS JESUS CHRIST BY JUST DOING GOOD AND BEING GOOD. SALVATION DOESN’T COME SIMPLY BECAUSE WE JOINED THE CHURCH, WAS BAPTIZED, OR COMPLETED A CONFIRMATION CLASS.
WE RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE BY JUST ONE WAY. JOHN 14:6, JESUS SAID, "I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME."
WE MUST ACCEPT WHERE WE STAND IN REGARDS TO OUR SINFULNESS AND THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM SIN. WE MUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT JESUS CHRIST IS GOD’S ONLY PROVISION TO CARE FOR OUR SINFULNESS.
THE BEAUTY OF THIS TRUTH IS THAT IT IS NOT A CONCEITED DISPLAY OF ARROGANCE FOR GOD TO MAKE HIS SON JESUS THE ONE AND ONLY WAY TO HIMSELF. RATHER IT IS A SUPREME AND GLORIOUS DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S HOLY LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE. ROMANS 5:8, "BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US." GOD DID WHAT WE COULD NOT DO FOR OURSELVES WHICH IS TO PAY THE PENALTY THAT SIN REQUIRES.
GOD PAID OUR DEBTS THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS ONLY SON’S PRECIOUS BLOOD. GOD PAID THE PRICE IN FULL WITHOUT REQUIRING US TO REIMBURSE HIM IN ANY WAY.
BECAUSE OF GOD’S AGAPE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR US, HE DID WHAT WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM POSSIBLE.
JOHN 3:16, "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD [US], THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE." ALSO IN JOHN 10:10, WE ARE REMINDED THAT CHRIST SAID, "I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND MIGHT HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY."
GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THAT HE CREATED US TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL AND VIBRANT LIFE ON EARTH THAT IS FULFILLING AND MEANINGFUL. GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THAT HE WANTS THAT FULFILLED, MEANINGFUL LIFE TO CONTINUE ON INTO ETERNITY WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.
GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THAT HE LOVES US AND HAS ORDAINED A WONDERFUL PLAN FOR OUR LIVES. IN OTHER WORDS, KNOW THAT GOD HAS CREATED US ON PURPOSE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE IN LIFE.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED JESUS CHRIST TO BE THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF OUR LIVES. THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO LITERALLY ASK JESUS CHRIST TO COME INTO OUR LIVES TO FORGIVE OUR SINS AND TO BRING US BACK INTO A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD SO WE CAN FULFILL GOD’S PLAN AND WILL FOR OUR LIVES.
REVELATION 3:20, "HERE I AM [JESUS SAID]! I STAND AT THE DOOR [OF YOUR HEART] AND KNOCK. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN AND EAT WITH THEM, AND THEY WITH ME." CHRIST NOT ONLY REDEEMS US, BUT PERSONALLY OFFERS THE INVITATION TO ACCEPT HIS GIFT OF SALVATION.
TO SAY IT ANOTHER WAY, WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST IS A FREE GIFT EXTENDED TO US. GIFTS ARE NOT PURCHASED BY, WORKED FOR, OR REIMBURSED BY THE ONE RECEIVING THE GIFT.
THE GIFT OF SALVATION IN CHRIST IS AN OFFERING OF GOD’S GRACE TO THOSE WHO, IN FAITH, WILL JUST REACH OUT AND RECEIVE IT INTO THEIR LIVES. EPHESIANS 2:8-9, "FOR IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH -- AD THIS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD -- NOT BY WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST." SALVATION CANNOT BE YOURS UNTIL YOU MAKE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO ACCEPT IT AND MAKE IT YOURS.
IN MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION, IT WOULD SEEM LOGICAL TO RECEIVE GOD’S GIFT OF GRACE. AFTER ALL, THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO SOMEONE WHO LOVES US AND IS OFFERING TO US A GIFT, WOULD BE TO GRATEFULLY ACCEPT IT.
BY ACCEPTING GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION WE ALLOW CHRIST TO PAY FOR OUR PAST SINS AS WELL AS RECEIVING THAT SAME FORGIVENESS FOR ALL PRESENT AND FUTURE SINS THAT WE CONFESS AND ASK TO BE FORGIVEN OF.
IF WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE THAT GOD HAS OFFERED TO US, THEN WE PAY FOR OUR SINS "OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET." WE PAY THE PRICE. WE PAY THE PENALTY.
WHAT IS THAT COST? OUR SCRIPTURE PASSAGE TODAY SAYS THAT "THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH." THE END RESULT OF TAKING ON OUR SINS BY OURSELVES IS MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL DEATH BECAUSE EVERYBODY DIES PHYSICALLY. THOSE WHO REFUSE GOD’S GIFT OF ETERNAL SALVATION DIES A SECOND DEATH.
THE "SECOND DEATH" IS EXISTING IN THE DARKENED PLACE OF TORMENT CALLED HELL. THE REASON IT IS HELL IS NOT DUE TO THE FIRE, DARKNESS, AND TORMENT, BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT ONE WILL FULLY COMPREHEND NOT ONLY WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THEM, BUT THAT IT IS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
THEY WILL EXIST FOR ALL ETERNITY KNOWING THEY ARE PERMANENTLY SEPARATED FROM THE GOD WHO LOVES THEM. THAT IS QUITE A HEFTY PAYMENT TO MAKE. THAT IS WHY PAUL SAID THAT THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH!
THE GREEK WORD FOR "WAGES" IS "OPSƒßNIA" MEANING "SOLDIER’S PAY," "PROVISIONS," OR "ALLOWANCE." IT’S TYPICAL MEANING REFERRED TO MONEY PAID FOR SERVICES RENDERED.
BUT, FROM A SPIRITUAL SENSE, PAUL IS SHOWING US HERE THROUGH THE MILITARY IMAGERY THAT SIN IS THE "COMMANDING OFFICER" OF THE WORLD AND SINNERS ARE THE SOLDIERS. THE PAYMENT THE "SINNER-SOLDIERS" RECEIVES FROM THEIR "SIN-COMMANDER" IS THE WAGE OF DEATH. IN MORE BLUNT TERMS, WE NOT ONLY GET WHAT WE PAID FOR, BUT WE ALSO RIGHTFULLY GET WHAT IS COMING TO US¡KTHAT IS, WHAT WE DESERVE.
IF WE CHOOSE TO PAY FOR OUR SIN BY REJECTING CHRIST, THEN WE GET DEATH. BUT, IF BY FAITH, WE ALLOW THE BLOOD OF CHRIST TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR OUR SIN, WE WILL GET LIFE.
GOING BACK TO THE WORD "OPSƒßNIA," WHAT I FIND UNIQUE ABOUT THIS WORD IS THAT IT IS MORE THAN A MILITARY TERM REFERRING TO A SOLDIER’S PAY. IT ALSO REFERS TO HOW THE SOLIDER IS PAID. THE GREEK WORD REFERS TO "INSTALLMENTS" RATHER THAN BEING PAID IN ONE "LUMP SUM."
WHAT PAUL MEANS BY USING THIS GREEK WORD IS THAT DEATH IS NOT PAID FOR IN ONE LUMP SUM AT THE TIME OF PHYSICAL DEATH ON EARTH.
THIS TYPE OF DEATH IS RENDERED THROUGH ONGOING INSTALLMENTS PAID OUT NOT ONLY BY BRINGING THE CLOUD OF DEATH OVER OUR LIVES WHILE STILL PHYSICALLY LIVING HERE ON EARTH WITHOUT CHRIST, BUT ALSO REAPING DEATHLY DIVIDENDS ON INTO ETERNITY, SEPARATED FROM GOD FOREVER. THAT’S DEATH!
BUT, AS WE KNOW, WE DO NOT HAVE TO PAY THE WAGES OF SIN WHICH IS DEATH. WE CAN LIVE NOW WHILE ON EARTH AND CONTINUE TO LIVE ON INTO ETERNITY IF WE WILL CONFESS OUR SINS TO GOD; ASK GOD TO FORGIVE US, AND TO ASK JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR LIVES TO BE OUR LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR.
THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR THAT GOD WILL FREELY FORGIVE THOSE WHO RENOUNCE THEIR SINS. GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, WILL CLEAR OUR DEBTS AND FREELY GRANT TO US WHAT WE DO NOT DESERVE -- ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS. ALL OF THIS IS WHAT WE CALL "GRACE." IT IS THE TRUE MEANING OF GRACE!
YOU CAN RECEIVE THAT GRACE TODAY IF YOU WILL HAVE THE FAITH. THAT IS THE WONDERMENT OF GRACE IS THAT IT COMES BY FAITH. WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT SALVATION COMES BY OUR FAITH AND NOT BY ANY ONE PARTICULAR PRAYER.
THERE ISN’T ANY ONE PRAYER THAT IS "THE BEST" OR "THE ONE" THAT SAYS ALL THE RIGHT WORDS TO MAKE IT AN "OFFICIAL" PRAYER OF SALVATION. IN FACT, THERE ISN’T ANY PARTICULAR LOCATION OR POSTURE REQUIRED.
THAT MEANS, WE DON’T HAVE TO BE IN A CHURCH SERVICE OR COME DOWN THE AISLE IN ORDER TO HAVE A "REAL" SALVATION EXPERIENCE. YOU CAN MEET JESUS ANYWHERE!
RIGHT THERE IN YOUR PEW! RIGHT THERE IN THE HOTEL ROOM! RIGHT THERE PULLED OFF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD! RIGHT THERE AT THE SINK WHILE DOING DISHES! RIGHT THERE AT YOUR DESK OR IN THE BREAK ROOM AT WORK! ANYWHERE!
NOT ONLY CAN IT BE ANYWHERE, BUT IT CAN BE RIGHT NOW! AT THIS POINT OF OUR LIVES, THERE IS NOTHING, THAT CANNOT BE FORGIVEN. GOD IS WILLING TO FORGIVE YOUR SINS AND MAKE YOUR LIFE BRAND NEW.
IF YOU WISH TO BEGIN A PERSONAL, INTIMATE, LOVING, AND ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST RIGHT NOW, LET US PRAY BY REPEATING THIS PRAYER IN YOUR HEART AFTER ME:
"LORD JESUS CHRIST, I NEED YOU. THANK YOU FOR DYING ON THE CROSS FOR MY SINS. I OPEN THE DOOR OF MY LIFE AND RECEIVE YOU AS MY SAVIOR AND LORD. THANK YOU FOR FORGIVING MY SINS AND GIVING ME ETERNAL LIFE. TAKE CONTROL OF THE THRONE OF MY LIFE. MAKE ME THE KIND OF PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE. IN JESUS HOLY NAME, I PRAY. AMEN."
I HOPE THAT SOMEONE HERE TODAY PRAYED THAT PRAYER. I HOPE THAT ALL OF US HERE TODAY HAVE PRAYED THAT PRAYER AT SOME TIME IN THEIR LIFE. I HOPE THAT ALL OF US WILL LEAVE HERE TODAY KNOWING THAT HAVING ETERNAL LIFE IS A PRECIOUS GIFT BIDDING OUR ACCEPTANCE.
AS MARTIN LUTHER ONCE SAID OF SALVATION, "THE LIFE OF CHRISTIANITY CONSISTS OF POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. IT IS ONE THING TO SAY, ’CHRIST IS A SAVIOUR’; IT IS QUITE ANOTHER THING TO SAY, ’HE IS MY SAVIOUR AND MY LORD.’ THE DEVIL CAN SAY THE FIRST; THE TRUE CHRISTIAN ALONE CAN SAY THE SECOND." DO YOU HAVE CHRIST AND DO YOU HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE?
