Leader: Katrice Bell-Jefferson
A. The Bad News
- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:22b,23)
God created the heavens and the earth. He spoke, and everything that is came into being (Genesis 1). On the 6th day he created man (Genesis 1:27), placed him in the garden and asked him not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). Man sinned: he did eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Through Adam, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12).
In the same way that Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, man has continued to sin. We have violated God's law and ignored him as the source of what is right and wrong.
Take a moment to examine yourself. Do not compare yourself to those around you because if you look hard enough you will find someone who is has done more wrong than you and you will also find another who has done less than you have. Examine yourself, use God's law as the standard of perfection. Where have you disobeyed God?
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
- ​​The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)
​The Bible teaches us that God, in the righteous judgment, has declared that the penalty for sin is death. This is seen in the 6th chapter of Romans. The word wage literally means price or reward. That is, Romans 6:23 tells us that the reward for our sins is death. We are all deserving of death because as sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, all have sinned.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned – Romans 5:12
Therefore, we have all earned for ourselves an eternal punishment: we can only pay for our sins if we suffer eternally.
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." - Matthew 25:46
- ​Man is eternally separated from God (Isaiah 59:2)
Because of our sin, we are eternally separated from God.
But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die – Genesis 2:17
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear – Isaiah 59:2
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior – Colossians 1:21
B. The Dilemma
- Sin entered the world through Adam and death entered the world through sin (Romans 5:12)
- Man cannot atone or pay for his sins and live. The only way man can atone for his sins is to suffer eternally for them. Since all have sinned, none can live. However, because God is a God of love, he created a plan for redemption: one would pay the price for another so they may live.
C. The Good News
Thanks be to God that our story does not end here, that all will not perish in eternal punishment.
The greatest act of injustice happened on the cross that all might live. Christ Jesus lived a perfect life: He was blameless in the sight of God. He did not sin nor break God’s command.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:21
Yet, the wrath of God was poured out on his Son that all might live! Jesus did not only suffer the physical pain of the cross. He incurred God’s anger, God’s justice on the cross, not just for one, but for all. He paid the price for all your sin, past, present and future. For the first time in history, God the father was separated from God the Son.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matt 27:46
When Jesus said that it is finished (John 19:30), salvation was secured for all those who believe. Here is a list of some of the thing Jesus accomplished on the cross
D. How can I be saved?
- Believe
You must believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins to be saved. It is only by his saving grace that you are saved.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved – Romans 10:9
- Repent
​We have to confess our sins. This means that you acknowledge that you have sinned and do not meet God’s holy standard and then you turn from your sins. You no longer walk in the ways that you once did. If you stole before, stop it. You lied, committed adultery, whatever it was, confess it and move from it. Do it no more.
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, Acts 3:19
- Follow Jesus
It is just that simple. Find a Bible, read it and obey what God says in his word. It is also important to find a church home, a body of believers where you can fellowship and worship.
Some Common Questions about Salvation
I am a good person; I don’t steal, lie or cheat: I do the right thing. Therefore, I am going to heaven...
There is no such thing as a good person. Everyone on this planet is capable of doing great evil.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell – Matthew 5:27-30
What then is good? Where does our definition of right and wrong come from?
The bible says in Proverbs 14:12 that: there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Is right what society has deemed appropriate or what you have decided is ok? Remember that the heart is deceitful above all things!
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
We can easily justify our sinful desires. Society is constantly changing! Just pay attention its standard of beauty throughout time. If you base your moral standard on society, it will change and it is flawed
But the Word of God is ETERNAL! God’s word does not change. His standard is eternal. It does not matter what society says is right, what you believe to be true nor what your opinion is. God’s word is eternal! Is your definition of truth based on his word? If not it will come and go, society will come and go, but God’s word will not change
So, it comes down to this: being a ‘good person cannot get you into heaven. Salvation is in Christ Jesus and him alone. We cannot earn our salvation by being good enough. God created the heavens, earth and man. He gave his perfect standard. His law and made following his law completely the only way to get to heaven. However, no one has ever been able to live up to this perfect standard. Yes, you do not commit adultery; do you lust over a woman in your heart? Yes, you don’t steal but have you lied? No one except Jesus has ever been able to fulfill the Law. Salvation is by faith through Jesus alone!
You can never be good enough! If you have ever broken God’s law and commands, then you are responsible to God to pay for that sin. A sin is a sin is a sin. While the earthly consequences for our sins might be very different, all sin has the same eternal consequence: separation for God and spiritual death.
Can God forgive me for what I have done?
The bible says that God gave his people the law i.e. the 10 commandments, so that man might know what it means to be holy. This means that the law is meant to show us that we do not meet God’s holy standard. It shows us that we fall short. Romans 5:20 – 21 shows us this
“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
See Galatians 4:19 as well.
However, this same bible verse shows us that God’s grace abounds all the more. It does not matter what you have done! Christ paid it all on the cross when he died for your sins. All you have to do is believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, confess those sins and follow him.
If you have accepted Jesus as your LORD and savior, God sees his son’s blood when he looks at you, not your sin. Christ is the propitiation for our sins. Propitiation is a big fancy Christian word that means to appease . In obedience, Christ satisfied the wrath of God. Christ was a substitute for our sins on the cross. In other words, he took our place and paid our debt for us. This is amazing and good news of the gospel, we were unable to pay for our sins, but Christ paid it all. Through Him we are reunited with God. We are justified through Christ Jesus. This doctrine is seen in scriptures like
Hebrew 2:17
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Romans 3:24-25
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins
Justification is another fancy Christian word that means that Christ removed the guilt and penalty of our sin. In his death Christ proclaims those who believe in him as righteous through his blood.
Do not live your life as though what Christ did on the cross was not sufficient to remove your sins. It does not matter what you have done. Christ paid it all on the cross! Do cheapen what he has already done for you. Always remember that Jesus’s last words before his death were “it is finished” John 19:30. Jesus forgives you.
I said a prayer when I was younger at a youth conference. I must be saved.
o Matthew 7: 22-23 says: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness”
o In our world today, there exist so many people who proclaim to know God, yet do not know him at all. We are always to examine ourselves to make sure that we are in the faith. Saying a prayer at youth group when you are young does not make you a Christian. Learn from the parable of the sower in the 8th chapter of Luke
o And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience Luke 8:13-14
Yes perhaps you heard the word at youth camp and you received it, but what was the condition of your heart at the time? Did the word fall on the rock of your heart or have thorns come in a chocked the word in your life? Is there evidence of salvation in your life at the moment?
In fact, going to Church and a life filled with religious activity cannot save a person either. Although the young rich man in Matthew 19 lived a religious life, he missed out on heaven because he was unable to part with his possessions. We are saved only by the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ.
And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions Matthew 19:16-22
What do you have in your life that is keeping you from a relationship with Christ? What great possession is worth your eternal salvation?
- Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).
- Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! Know that you will be going to heaven if you were to die today.
Is there true genuine evidence in your life that you know God? Do you produce fruit? Do you love God?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires Galatians 5:22-24
Have you turned away from your sin?
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10
Are you obedient to God’s word?
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked 1 John 2:3-6
Do you hunger and thirst for his righteousness and word?
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3.
Do you have a new life? Have you been transformed by his word?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come 2 corinthians 5:17
Can I lose my salvation?
No, it is not possible to lose one’s salvation! When every believer first accepts Christ, they receive the Holy Spirit of God. The following verses explain this...
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. (2 Corinthians 1:22)
We cannot lose our salvation because if we are able to lose our salvation we ought to work to keep it. This is false doctrine and un true. The idea that we can lose our salvation is based on a works based theology that is false. The bible does not teach this. The bible is clear that salvation by the grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God
God’s love for us is not based on how good we are, how much charity work we do or do not do nor is it based on how many times we go to church! If this were true, Christ’s love would be no different than the world’s love. God has an unconditional love for us. The Greek word for this love is Agape. It is a love based on truth. It is an unchanging love that exalts others above ourselves. It is a love of sacrifice and service.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.
That being said, should there be sin in our lives, we ought to truly examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. That is examine yourselves to see if you are saved! (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Jesus says in Matthew 7: 22-23: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness”
A genuinely saved Christian cannot lose their salvation, however, today there are many deceived people who believe they are saved but have no knowledge of Christ. Are you one of these people? Do you know for sure that if you were to die today you would go to heaven? Does Jesus know you? Is your faith filled with religious activity, but no obedience to the word of God?
Do you know God? Do you have an intimate relationship with Him? Examine yourself! Do not be that person in Matthew 7.
When we are saved, we become a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are a new creation in Christ Jesus, however, we are still stuck in a body that wants to satisfy the desires of the flesh. It is very possible for a Christian to sin. However, for the Christian this will not be a continuous pattern of sin. If there exists a perpetual pattern of sin in your life, repent! Bring it to the cross of Christ, he will wash you clean.
We fall short, but God’s grace abounds all the more (Romans 6:1-6:4). If we confess our sin, Christ will forgive us! We cannot lose our salvation.
