Over the centuries, Christianity has acquired an encrustation of mistrust. Many have brought a sort of cultural corruption to the Christian Faith, causing others outside of their culture to reject what on the surface seems like mere religion.

The purpose of this message is to express the beliefs of the Christian Faith in its simplicity, without all the unnecessary baggage with which it has been encumbered over the years.

Humanity has a tremendous knack for excusing its mistakes, but if each of us were to honestly examine himself, we would recognize that we have made grievous errors in judgement. We have caused others to suffer. We have harbored bitterness in our hearts. We have broken laws intended for everyone as if we should be allowed to be the exception. We have followed the group in denial of the truth. This missing of the target is what the Judeo-Christian God calls 'sin'. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Jesus Christ told us that unless our righteousness exceeded the righteousness of the Pharisees we would not see Heaven. Paul wrote, "the wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23. We all will be held accountable for the inequities we have committed. We may think that our excuses are adequate to assuage a holy God, but we can never atone for our sins. God told His prophet that all our righteous acts are as "filthy grave clothes in His sight," Isaiah 64:6. Yet in Romans 6:23 Paul continues, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Jesus was no mere man. He is God incarnate. The prophet Isaiah also wrote of Israel's coming Messiah, "and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." for it would take the God of the Universe to atone for man's sin. Paul wrote, "at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, Though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

We are all sinners. "There is no one righteous no not one;" King David wrote. We deserve death and eternal separation from God as punishment for our many misdeeds. But God in His mercy and deep love for us has provided a way out. He has sent His only begotten Son to die as a sacrifice in our place. Paul continues in Romans, chapter 10, 'if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.' "Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Joel 2:32

This gift is free and cannot be earned. Paul writes in Ephesians, chapter 2, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not of works, so that no one can boast." Jesus told us that those of us who have heard His voice and follow Him would NEVER perish, that no one could snatch us out of His hand, John 10:25-30. We are finally free from sin and death, and no one can take that away from us.

In Sunday School, we teach the children a simple prayer, "God, I know that I have sinned, and that this separates me from you; but I know that Jesus has payed for my sins on the cross, and then rose from the grave to prove that He is God. I turn away from my sins and receive Your gift. I receive Jesus as my Savior and King, so that I can spend forever with you. Thank you. Amen." As long as you live, salvation will be your decision to make. He will not force you. You are free to accept or reject Him as you will. What I humbly and fervently ask is that you will receive Him and the joy He has for you.



Life's difficult questions are gladly answered at the Christian Research Institute
Return to Silverdale

Please e-mail me if you have any questions.

E-mail--Silvrdal@Oklahoma.net

Web -- http://www.Oklahoma.net/~Silvrdal/