God So Loved the World

All you have ever known is an existence on earth. The Bible says that your time on earth is a very short time

Psalm 89:47 KJV 1900

Remember how short my time is: Wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

James 4:14 KJV 1900

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

In a second of time your life could be at an end. Do you know where you will be after that last breath? Many millions do not know where they will be and some do not care. The Lord has provided a way for us to be with Him forever. There is a real and perfect heaven that is being prepared for those that are saved

John 14:1–6 KJV 1900

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

There is also a real Hell that all people that are without Christ must go when they die. This will be an eternal place without God while heaven is an eternal place with God. God makes all the difference. Jesus told Nicodemus who was a religious man that he needed a spiritual birth to enter God’s kingdom. We must be born again to be with God in heaven, referring to a second spiritual birth as well as the first physical birth

John 3:7–8 KJV 1900

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Where will you spend eternity? How about the people that you know? There are some things that must be known to be saved and help others to be saved.

I. All People Have Sinned (Rom. 3:11).

Romans 3:10 KJV 1900

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

A. Mankind has a serious sin problem (Rom. 3:11-18).

Romans 3:11–18 KJV 1900

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

B. God does not see one person more righteous than the next (Rom. 3:19-23).

Romans 3:19–23 KJV 1900

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

C. The payment for sin is eternal death (Rom. 6:23).

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Death is not ceasing to exist. Death means a separation (Gen. 2:17).

Genesis 2:17 KJV 1900

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Adam was told that he would die in the same day that he eats of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam did not cease to exist that day. Adam was separated from God that day as evidenced by hiding himself from God for the first time in shame. It is also seen in God seeking for Adam after his sin.

He had to seek for Adam because Adam had died to Him. Death is sin’s payment or reward. The problem with mankind is that they are separated from God and dead in their sins.

Isaiah 59:2 KJV 1900

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Ephesians 2:1–5 KJV 1900

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

While living on earth in our physical bodies we exist dead in our sins until we receive spiritual life from God. If we do not receive spiritual life through Christ before we are separated from this physical world, we will immediately find ourselves in the place of eternal separation or death which is called Hell (Rev. 6:8; 20:13).

Revelation 6:8 KJV 1900

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Revelation 20:13 KJV 1900

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

II. Christ Offers Himself To Be Saviour To All .

A. Jesus Christ came to reconcile mankind to God (Luke 19:10; II Cor. 5:17-21; Isa. 59:2).

Luke 19:10 KJV 1900

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Isaiah 59:2 KJV 1900

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

1. In order to reconcile us to God Jesus had to pay sin’s penalty of death (Rom. 5:8; Heb. 2:9).

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Hebrews 2:9 KJV 1900

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

a. The good news is that Jesus Christ who is God came to earth to die for our sin (1 Cor. 15:1-6).

1 Corinthians 15:1–6 KJV 1900

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

b. Jesus Christ freely gave His life for us (John 10:18).

John 10:18 KJV 1900

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

2. In order to reconcile us to God, Jesus Christ had to defeat death and Hell by His resurrection (Rev. 1:18; John 11:25–26).

Revelation 1:18 KJV 1900

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

John 11:25–26 KJV 1900

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Without Christ’s resurrection there is no life. One must believe the resurrection to be saved. Jesus Christ died and was raised from the grave. This declared Him to be the Son of God with power (Rom. 1:4).

Romans 1:4 KJV 1900

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

This power will raise every man that is in Christ Jesus (I Cor. 6:14; 15:21–22; II Cor. 4:14; Eph. 1:18–21).

1 Corinthians 6:14 KJV 1900

And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

1 Corinthians 15:21–22 KJV 1900

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

2 Corinthians 4:14 KJV 1900

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

Ephesians 1:18–21 KJV 1900

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

III. All People Come Into God’s Family The Same Way.

A. Only God can justify (Rom. 8:30–33).

Being justified is being “declared righteous” before God. Only God can declare someone righteous. We can say we are righteous and convince everybody on earth we are righteous, we can even believe that God has declared us righteous, but it is only God that justifies and He justifies based upon His criteria not ours.

1. Keeping the Law does not justify us (Rom. 3:20, Acts 13:38–39).

Romans 3:20 KJV 1900

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Acts 13:38–39 KJV 1900

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

The law was given to us to show us that we are not good enough to be justified. Many people look to the law and somehow are deceiving themselves to believe that they will enter heaven based upon keeping the law. The law cannot save a man no matter how we try to keep it. A person must come to the place where there is no justification of you based upon anything in yourself.

2. Justification is achieved through our faith in Christ and maintained by the faith of Christ (Rom. 3:21–28; 5:1,9–10; Gal. 2:16; 3:24).

Romans 3:21–28 KJV 1900

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 5:1 KJV 1900

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 5:9–10 KJV 1900

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Galatians 2:16 KJV 1900

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 3:24 KJV 1900

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

God chose to justify us through faith in His Son who completely and perfectly kept the law and fulfilled the requirements of God’s holiness. Above that He gave His own perfect body as a sinless sacrifice. This action appeased God’s holy wrath against sin. This made it possible for every man to come to God by faith in Christ’s sacrifice (Isa. 45:24–25).

B. When God justifies us we stand before God as never having been a sinner (I Cor. 6:9-11, Titus 3:5–8).

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 KJV 1900

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Titus 3:5–8 KJV 1900

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

We are reconciled to God by our faith in Jesus Christ, having His righteousness applied to our account while our sin was transferred to His account. When we stand before God in Christ we stand before Him as His own Son stands before Him, perfect without sin.

C. Have I come to God by faith in Christ (Luke 18:10–14)?

Luke 18:10–14 KJV 1900

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Many people believe that Jesus came from heaven and died on the cross for our sin, but do not believe that faith in Christ alone will save them. Faith in Christ means to place all of your trust in what Christ has done for you in His death, and resurrection to reconcile you to God. To have God justify, you must come to God His way, without any trust in yourself. Mercy must be your basis for salvation and a call to God for mercy must be your method. If you have never trusted Christ to receive Him as your Saviour, are you willing to call to Him today?

Dear Lord Jesus, I am sinner separated from you by my sin. I trust your sinless sacrifice as the complete payment for my sin. I trust your resurrection from the grave as a declaration of your power over death and Hell. Please forgive me by your grace as I place all of my faith in you today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.