Not by works
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
Writing to Titus he said,
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:4,5.
We are saved by the grace of God. We get to heaven because of God’s mercy.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans says,
“You see, 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 still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:6-11.
Christians do not believe we can be good enough to stand before a Holy God, simply because we are human and flawed falling short of God’s ideal.
C. S Lewis points out
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” C.S. Lewis
As Christians we do not believe we have to wait for judgement day to know whether or not we will enter heaven. We can know here and now by sincerely accepting the sacrifice of Jesus.
I know to some who are not Christians reading this, this may seem odd event the apostle Paul said,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
I suppose if man had his way God would simply come down and say “here I am worship me.” But I believe Gd realized that, that would not produce true followers. Many would simply worship because they feared what he could do to them.
I believe God in His wisdom knew that those who believed in Him through faith are true followers who would follow Him no matter the cost.
Thus it is a faith thing. Either you believe or you do not. What I would ask you the reader to do however is to take time to read the New Testament. To see what the believers in the time of Christ believed . Then make an informed decision for yourself. After all you have nothing to loose and I believe you have eternity to gain.
Please think about it.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
Writing to Titus he said,
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:4,5.
We are saved by the grace of God. We get to heaven because of God’s mercy.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans says,
“You see, 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 still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:6-11.
Christians do not believe we can be good enough to stand before a Holy God, simply because we are human and flawed falling short of God’s ideal.
C. S Lewis points out
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” C.S. Lewis
As Christians we do not believe we have to wait for judgement day to know whether or not we will enter heaven. We can know here and now by sincerely accepting the sacrifice of Jesus.
I know to some who are not Christians reading this, this may seem odd event the apostle Paul said,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
I suppose if man had his way God would simply come down and say “here I am worship me.” But I believe Gd realized that, that would not produce true followers. Many would simply worship because they feared what he could do to them.
I believe God in His wisdom knew that those who believed in Him through faith are true followers who would follow Him no matter the cost.
Thus it is a faith thing. Either you believe or you do not. What I would ask you the reader to do however is to take time to read the New Testament. To see what the believers in the time of Christ believed . Then make an informed decision for yourself. After all you have nothing to loose and I believe you have eternity to gain.
Please think about it.
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