StephenNeufeld.com
"Jesus Changes Everything!"
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved”
In "The End", Jesus will return to rule and reign eternally over a New Heaven and New Earth.
(Acts 1, Revelation 21 & 22)
But, we will all meet Jesus when we die, regardless of when Jesus comes back. Christians know Jesus will judge each person who ever lived and designate a place in Heaven or Hell based on choices we made in life.
Are you ready for judgment?
"10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
It doesn't matter what we think, it only matters if we will be found a "good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23) by the Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus alone is the Faithful and True judge. His perfect righteousness qualifies Him and His resurrection from the grave is proof that His perfection defeated death for Himself and on our behalf, to those who receive Him.
The Bible explains that it is only through the "blood of Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 10:19) by which we gain entrance into the presence of God. There is no other way!
In the Book of John, Jesus explained to "The Twelve", Jesus' closest disciples, that He was not "a" way but, He is "the" way. Using the definite article in the original Greek language, "the" in English, means that there is only one way, no other:
6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The problem is sin:
"23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
The "Good News" is that God provided a solution to sin:
"23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Here is the solution:
"9...confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
It is only the sacrifice of Christ's perfect life which is acceptable to God. This was proven by the resurrection of Jesus, which was witnessed by over 500 people over a 40-day period, before Christ's ascension to Heaven (Acts 1). Likewise, we can do nothing to earn God's approval to cover or remove our own sin:
"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
So, please take this invitation to “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). It is only the perfect sacrifice of Jesus which pays for the forgiveness of our sin. And, it is only through accepting Jesus Christ and following Him that we have salvation.
There is no other way to Heaven except through Jesus!
Ask Jesus into your heart by repenting of your sin (turning away from sin) and receiving the Holy Spirit of God to make you a "New Creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
"6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
We are not alone. God has promised, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."
Jesus gives us new purpose in life:
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus was absolutely clear when He explained the Final Judgment:
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
The Book of Revelation explains, as well:
"11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
From the Book of John, Jesus said:
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Trust in Jesus and Follow Him
If you haven't already, commit your life to Jesus Christ. After you commit to following Jesus, several things will be necessary to become a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ:
Read the Bible each day to learn God's Word and His Ways;
Fellowship with other Christians in a Bible-believing Church; and,
Pray for God's guidance by His Holy Spirit!
Welcome to God's forever family!