A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day (November 17, 2017)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:16-20)
The greatest decision a person will make in their entire life is whether or not to become a Christian. This one decision will determine your destiny for all eternity. If you choose to become a Christian (saved, born again) you will live forever. If you reject Jesus and decide not to become a Christian, you will be separated from the presence of God and doomed to live in hell for all eternity.
In the Bible, God said, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). It seems strange that God would have to tell us to choose life, but there are many who, when faced with a choice, choose death.
In the beginning God created man. Adam was created in the image and likeness of God. God and Adam fellowshipped together until the day Adam sinned (Genesis 1:26; 3:8). At that point, there became a separation between God and mankind.
The Bible tells us in John 3:16 that God loved the world so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to live on this earth and eventually suffer and die for us so we could be reconciled back to God. Jesus is and was the Son of God (Ephesians 4:13), but lived on this earth as the Son of Man (John 12:23). He gave His life and took on the sin of the world. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He made a way for us to have everlasting life and fellowship with Him again.
Jesus was the once and for all perfect sacrifice for the sin of mankind. By His blood we have cleansing available for all sin. The price has been paid that we could not pay. To receive everlasting life, all we have to do is believe in our heart that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and make our confession align itself with that belief.
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10).
It may sound simple to become a Christian, but that’s because it is. God has already done the work and He made it so it would be easy for us to move into His kingdom. Remember, He has done the work. Our part is to believe and receive.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
