2000 years ago, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ ushered in beginning of the end of humanity’s, vain, futile and feeble attempts at covering its sin, and its hopeless aims to ameliorate its fallen, wicked nature. The sacrificial lamb had finally been divinely provided. Jesus Christ, being fully God and fully man, remained sinless, and obedient unto death. He was the one and only means of atonement who would willingly shed His blood on that old rugged cross for all sin; past, present and future for those who would willingly accept His payment. He humbly entered into a dark world, that today, is as dark as ever. Through a feed trough, He entered this world and left through an empty tomb on His way out. That Holy night, the demise of the deceiver, the destroyer, along with the demonic was finally at hand. Although today we at times may languish, we know now how the story ends.
As a result of the longstanding promise of Almighty God with a strong arm and an outstretched hand to those created in His image, unto us a child was born, unto us a Son was given, unto us a Savior is given even to this day.
On this Christmas day 2014, as we continue to battle the forces of darkness for the souls of men and women created in God’s image, and as we fight for the God-given reproductive rights of our children and their children, please take the time out of this day which has been so brazenly hijacked by Madison Avenue, and those who remain diametrically opposed to humanity’s divinely foreordained plan of salvation, to remember what happened that night in Bethlehem. Unto all of us, the power over darkness and the victory over sin and the grave was freely given.
2000 years later, while every last one of us was born into sin, we still find ourselves falling into sin, struggling with sin, or even living in sin. Thank God, the means of escape from, the victory over and the payment in full for the pardon was provided to all who would freely accept it from Him.
John 3:16- 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.
Yes, the battle was epic and against all odds, the path of salvation was finally laid for us all. Let us strive to walk that narrow path that leads to life as we attempt to guide those who unknowingly run the wide path that leads unto death, into a new direction. Let us never be afraid to tell the truth about what matters most. Truth in 2014 is way beyond being called politically incorrect. It is now, ever increasingly being labeled as outright dangerous.
On this 25th of December, it is my sincerest and heartfelt desire that you would all come to accept the undeniable fact that we all need to humble ourselves as we turn our eyes inward. Let us examine ourselves, repent of our sin which means to turn from it, and accept what no one can deny and live for what so many still die for today-The One who paid it all:
-Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Fullerton Informer.
#1 by the plan of salvation on December 26, 2014 - 12:41 pm
My friend: I am asking you the most important question of your life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die?
God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”
In the Bible, God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?
First, my friend, you must realise you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to die. “For the wages [payment] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell.
“… it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
But God loved you so much he gave his only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “For he hath made him [Jesus, who knew no sin] to be sin for us … that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus had to shed his blood and die. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11) “… without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon]” (Hebrews 9:22).
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and he died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true. God cannot lie.
My friend, “God … now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).
This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the cross.
In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: “… Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved… .”
Simply believe on him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected.
His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Saviour.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved.
Surely, you realise you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, lift your heart to God in prayer.
In Luke 18:13, a sinner prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.”
Just pray:
“Oh, God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when he died on the cross. I believe his shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. I now receive him as my Saviour. I thank you for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of your merciful grace. Amen.”
Just take God at his word and claim his salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it!
God’s simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on him as your crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and his gift of eternal salvation by faith.
You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive him as Saviour today.
If his plan is not perfectly clear, read this tract over and over, without laying it down until you understand it. Your soul is worth more than all the world.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let God save you this very moment.
God’s power will save you, keep you saved and enable you to live a victorious Christian life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God’s promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practise daily for spiritual growth: Pray you talk to God. Read your Bible God talks to you. Witness you talk for God.
You should be baptised in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord …” (2 Timothy 1:8).
“Whosoever therefore shall confess [testify of] me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
Additional Helpful Verses
John 3:16, 1 Peter 2:24
Isaiah 53:6, James 1:15, Romans 10:9-10
Ephesians 2:8-9, Proverbs 27:1
1 Corinthians 15:3-4, John 10:27-31, 1 John 5:13