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Finding Jesus

 
For those of you who are interested in learning more about Jesus, we would like to present a short Bible story.

A long time ago, before the foundation of the earth, God dwelled in heaven with his sons, the angels.  One of the most favored angels, a handsome fellow, became obsessed with pride and vanity, and fell away from God.  He started a rebellion, and he, and 7000 other angels fought against Michael (Another most favored angel) and his angels.  You can read about that war in the twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation.  Michael and his angels prevailed, and Satan, was defeated, and he and his angels were cast from heaven onto the earth. One third of the remaining angels had followed Satan, although they may not have fought in the war.  Perhaps rather than condem one third of his children, everyone has been born into the flesh, innocent of past sins, to be given a second chance.  The bible does mention that God knew several people before they were in their mothers womb.  We are born with free will, God does not impose any choice on us.

The true purpose of life is to make one choice, whether to follow God or Satan.  There are no gray areas, you either choose good or evil.  If you choose not to follow God, Satan wins your soul by default.  Can you change your mind?  Absolutely.

Most people believe in God.  Many people live good clean lives, and are of good moral character, and they hope this is enough.  It isn't.  You have to make the choice.  The bible tells us that if a person lives as if he had the law, he will be judged by the law.  All have sinned and fallen short. What is sin?  In the begriming, the only law, was that given to Adam and Eve, not to partake  of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Which they broke.  Later, the law was given to Moses, and it is found in the Old Testament.

Paul, the apostle, said before the law there was no sin, as sin is a transgression of the law. Sin is defined by the law, and the law is very strict.  The law is the old covenant that God made with man.  Perhaps the reason the law is so strict is that God intended for the Jews to become a nation of priests, and he holds priests to a higher standard.

In many places in the old testament, it was predicted that a messiah would come, bringing salvation to whoever would accept him.  The Messiah is Jesus.  He did come, and for three years, preached a message of repentance, and salvation, and then died on the cross in atonement for the sins of all men.

On the third day after his death, Jesus was resurrected by God, and was seen by many people.  So the price of your salvation and repentance, was paid by Jesus.  When Jesus came, the law was made obsolete. We Christians (Those who have accepted Jesus as their savior) are under the new covenant, and no longer are bound by the law.

If you have not accepted Jesus and the new covenant, you will be judged by the law, the old covenant.  If you think you have not sinned, that you have lead a good, moral life, read the old testament.  All have sinned and fallen short.

So we are all wanders on the earth, on a pilgrimage, as our fathers were, to seek the truth, and to make a choice.  How do you become saved, and gain eternal life?  Billy Graham say's that the entire gospel is contained in John, chapter 3, verse 16, which gives the requirements for salvation:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 10, 9
That  if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that  God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

To be saved you must believe that Jesus was the son of God, that his purpose on earth was to preach the gospel, and to die in atonement for our sins.  That he died and was raised from the dead, if you believe this you only have to confess your sins to God in prayer to be saved.  All of your past sins are forgiven, and are blotted out of God's record, the book of life.  God already knows what your sins are, he wants to be sure you know.

When you are saved all of your sins are forgiven.  You have a new life, a clean slate.  Have you ever wished that you could have a fresh start in life, put all of your mistakes behind you and start anew?  You can.

Does Christianity put you in bondage?  No, Christianity frees you from the hardship of the law.  Your salvation brings God's help in your daily life, as God loves all of his children.  You may also discover that most of your problems will seem smaller, and that you have a new joy in your life, that is not dampened by life's trials and tribulations.  God will never leave you or forsake you, and though you may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil, for your salvation has also given you eternal life. After your time on earth has passed, you will be resurrected into a new life that has no end.

Many people say they are too weak, that they will sin again.  If you do sin, just ask God to forgive you, and he will.  Once you are saved you only have to repent to have a clean slate again.  Even if it has been years since you talked to God, and you have more sins than you can count, if you have been saved, all that is required is repentance.

To find out about salvation, and Christianity, read the gospel of John, in the new testament. If you  have made your choice, we haven't written this message to antagonize you, it is intended only to help those folks who haven't made a decision.  Just tuck this information away in your survival kit.

Many people have made their decision on the battle field, in the heat of battle, or on a hospital bed.  While there is life there is hope.  However, this is the most important decision you have to make in this life, so don't put it off.

You can read the bible online.  The link below will take you to an excellent online bible, that can be read in several different versions, and is complete with a computer concordance.

New Blue Letter Bible

 
   

 

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