Answers at a Glance

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and not of yourself: it is the gift of God: Not by works so that no man should boast.” 

Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes that salvation is by grace through faith, not by our works. Just as a gift cannot be earned, we cannot earn eternal life; it must be accepted freely.

Suppose your best friend were to give you an expensive gift and you immediately tried to pay for it.  That would be insulting to your friend, wouldn’t it? You must accept it freely. If you paid even a penny for it then it is no longer a gift.  It is the same with eternal life.

Man is a sinner.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:23 reveals that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Sin encompasses both actions and words that disobey God’s laws.

When we think of sin we think of really bad things like robbery, murder etc. The Bible tells us that sin is anything that breaks God’s laws and doesn’t please Him. There are sins in deed and in word like lying, cursing, hatred, etc.

Man can not save himself.

Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Matthew 5:48 teaches that to enter heaven, one must be perfect like God. However, even the best human efforts contain imperfections, making it impossible to attain salvation through works alone.

If you were to make an omelet using 5 good eggs and 1 rotten egg that would be unacceptable.  You would never dare serve that to anyone. Even less can we serve up our lives to God, which may have many things in them that men would call good but may still be filled with deeds and thoughts that are rotten. Do you see why it is impossible for anyone to get into heaven by their good works?

God is merciful and does not want to punish us.

1 John 4:8b “…for God is love.”

God’s love and mercy are evident in 1 John 4:8b. Yet, His justice requires punishment for sin, as emphasized in Exodus 34:7b.

God is just and must punish sin.

Exodus 34:7b  “He will by no means clear the guilty.”

Who is Jesus? The infinite God-Man.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

Jesus Christ, the infinite God-Man, as described in John 1:1, became flesh to pay for our sins on the cross and rose from the dead to offer eternal life.

What He did…He died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase a place in heaven for us.

Let’s imagine that you have a book in your hand that has recorded in it everything you did bad and every word you thought or said. Here is the problem, God loves you but hates your sin and He must punish it. To solve this problem He sent His son, Jesus, into the world. God placed all our sins on Jesus Christ on the cross.

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray and have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:6 illustrates that Jesus took on our sins on the cross, and when He declared “it is finished,” the price for sin was paid. When He died, He was buried in a grave for three days; but He rose from the dead and went to heaven to prepare a place for you and me. Now He offers heaven (eternal life) to you and me as a free gift. 

James 2:19 differentiates between mere head knowledge and genuine faith. Authentic faith trusts in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life.

James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God, you do well: the devils also believe and tremble.”

While worldly things are temporary, saving faith rests solely on Jesus Christ for eternal salvation, as affirmed in Acts 16:31.

Acts 16:31 “Believe (trust) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Faith is the hand of a beggar reaching out to accept the gift of a king. Twenty years ago this beggar reached out an unworthy hand and received the gift of eternal life. I didn’t deserve it then and I don’t deserve it now. But, I have it–by grace! So why should I try to live a good life? The reason is for gratitude for this gift of eternal life. I’m not trying to gain something I don’t have by my efforts to be good. Rather, I’m saying “Thank you Lord”; the motive for Christian living is gratitude for the gift of eternal life.

Revelation 3:20 “Behold I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me.”

Revelation 3:20 illustrates Jesus’ invitation to receive Him. To accept this gift, one can say a prayer of repentance and acceptance.

To receive Christ as Lord and repent of your sins by saying this prayer.

Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and can not save myself.  I believe through faith that You died on the cross and paid the price for my sins. I believe through faith that You rose from the dead and are in heaven preparing a place for me.  I am sorry for all my sins, please forgive me. Wash me clean and make me new. Amen.

John 6:47 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

John 6:47 declares that belief in Jesus brings everlasting life.

Now you will need to get yourself a Bible if you don’t already have one.  The book of John is a good place to start reading.  Find and start attending a Bible believing church and start spending time with other believers. They will strengthen and encourage you.

Welcome to the Kingdom of God friend, you are loved.