The Good News

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)

 

For God so loved the world…

God loves every person with a love so passionate that He sent His Son to die so that all people can know Him.  He would have died even if you were the only person alive.  God loves everyone with an eternal love. He will never stop loving you, and He wants to be close to you.

That He gave His only Son…

God desires to have every person spend eternity with Him. True satisfaction and peace can only be found when we turn to our Creator Who lovingly formed us in His own image. Nothing else can replace the role of our Creator in our lives. Many try to fill their spiritual emptiness with worldly pursuits, but only God can satisfy the deepest longings for significance and acceptance within the human heart. God created mankind to reflect His infinite glory by worshiping Him with a spirit of reverent obedience.

This is where humanity failed. When the first couple, Adam and Eve, were tested, they failed. God called their failure to obey His commands “sin.” Because of sin, all of humanity lives in an unnatural separation from God. Our sin caused us to be alienated by God, as He can not dwell in the midst of sin. But, because of His great love for people, He put into place a plan for humanity to return to Him. To accomplish this plan, He would enlist the help of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies were displayed in their full beauty in the birth, life, words, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Through Jesus Christ, God took on human form and lived among us. He lowered Himself to be cursed for our sake.

Jesus was sent by God to earth to be born, to live, to die, and then to live again, in order that men, women, and children could be accepted by God. Jesus lived a perfect life without sin. Jesus was the greatest prophet and preacher in all of history. He provided all men with a perfect example of how to live in a way that pleases our Creator God. Because Jesus was perfect and had no sin, His death would serve as a sacrifice for all of humanity’s sin. Amazingly, the sin that separates us from God can now be wiped away on the day that we place our faith and trust into the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross. Jesus laid down His life to cleanse men from their sins. He was whipped, beaten, tortured, and nailed to a tree, one of the cruelest deaths a man could suffer. He was buried in a tomb, and three days later, He rose from the dead!

Like His birth, and His entire life, His death was an act of extreme humility. Through His death upon the cross, Jesus has provided you and I with a way of escape from a life filled with sin and separation from God. You don’t have to live in pain and suffering any longer. You can be set free.

Because of His sacrifice, all people have the opportunity to be reunited with God. God wants you, and He’s calling you to Him, but you have to move toward Him. He is not forcing anyone to love Him. You have a choice to accept God’s gift of eternal life or reject it.

Through an act of amazing grace, Jesus has become your perfect sacrifice to God. Simply by trusting and believing in Him, you can experience God’s salvation.
 

That whoever believes in Him…

God will accept and receive anyone who trusts Him. He doesn’t care who they are or what they’ve done in their lives. If any person decides to trust God, He will change them and make their lives complete. He has mercy on broken humans who turn to Him. Trust Him and experience it for yourself!

The Bible says, “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.”  (Revelation 3:20)  Also, “The spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power,…and you will be changed into a different person.” (1 Samuel 10:6)  God is all-powerful, and He will change your life if you only ask.

Should not perish…

Everyone desires eternal life, and God wants to give this gift to all who ask.  God demands that all people make a decision about how they will live.  Will they keep living the old sinful way, or will they repent (turn around) and began to live a God-directed life?  You must be willing to change the way you live to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Without Christ, a person is not strong enough to turn from their sin and turn toward God.  But, just ask God for help. He definitely has the power and will give it to you.

God doesn’t want to judge you, He just wants to love you.  Accept God’s free gift for you while you can.  No one knows if they will get another chance.  God will totally change your life if you let Him.

But have eternal life.

God knows who you are, He loves you, and He wants you to know and love Him.  How do you do that?

Admit that you are a sinner and that you deserve God’s judgment.  Believe that Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, died for you and then rose again.  Trust that the sacrifice Jesus made for you is enough to find forgiveness from God and begin a relationship with Him.

Take a step of faith today. Simply talk to God (pray) something like this:

“Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask Your forgiveness and now turn from everything which I know is wrong. Thank You for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. Please come into my life and fill me with Your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank You Lord Jesus, Amen.”