The Gospel (The “Good News”) is that Jesus Christ, The Eternally Existing Son of God, God The Son, died for all the sins of the entire world (which includes every person who has or will ever live) according to the Scriptures, was buried (proving He was dead), and rose again on the 3rd Day according to the Scriptures for your justification. (1st Corinthians 15:1-4) Those who believe Jesus didn’t pay for ALL their sins past, present & future (and they were ALL future 2,000 yrs ago) and that they still have to pay for their future sins on their own by repenting/confessing don’t believe in The Jesus of The Bible. They have another Jesus. A Jesus who didn’t proclaim, “Tetelestai!” (“It is FINISHED”/”Debt Paid in FULL).
Their counterfeit Jesus only made PARTIAL payment, a “downpayment”…and expects you to perfectly fulfill all remaining installments.
The real Jesus of The Bible warned us MANY would come in His Name (i.e., those who claim to be “Christians”) and “deceive MANY.” (MATTHEW 24, MARK 13). Sadly, the vast majority of self professing Christians (I’d say around 99%) have the wrong Jesus…A counterfeit religious Jesus who expects you to ultimately save yourself by law/commandment keeping (repenting of sins, getting water baptized, regular sin confession to a pastor or priest, regular church attendance, tithing etc…)
If you asked them if they are 100% positive if Jesus paid for all their sins and that they are 100% certain they are saved and going to heaven when they die the most common answers you are most likely to hear include (but aren’t limited to):
“I hope so. If I keep doing good.”
“Yes, as long as I continue living a holy life, repenting of sins and going to church.”
“Yes, as long as I persevere to the end by following the commandments.”
“Yes, as long as I remain faithful to God by serving Him daily.”
And, what do all these answers/statements have in common? All of them conclude that salvation is ultimately based on the actions of the person. Their faith is ultimately in THEMSELVES. They’ve trusted PARTIALLY in Jesus but MOSTLY in THEMSELVES. They say they believe Jesus paid their entire sin debt but in the very next breath contradict themselves by asserting that there are still sins they must repent from, a certain way of life they must live, things they must DO, etc…in order to be completely/fully saved.
And, The Bible teaches that a person MUST trust in Christ ALONE as savior (in HIS finished redemptive work on The Cross ALONE…HIS death, burial and ressurection) to be saved.
100% faith in Christ.
25% won’t do it…
50% won’t do it…
75% won’t do it…
99.9999% won’t do it…
ONLY 100% FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE WILL SAVE A PERSON IMMEDIATELY & PERMANENTLY!!!!!
Lots of people make New Years Resolutions…
In 2023, I’d HIGHLY recommend resolving to make 100% CERTAIN you have trusted (believed/placed your faith) in The Jesus Christ of The Bible ALONE and not in any of the myriad of those whom Jesus warned us would come in His Name and deceive MANY. For narrow is the way and straight is the gate that leads to ETERNAL LIFE and FEW there be who find it. But BROAD is the road that leads to destruction and MANY there be which travel upon it… The NARROW WAY & STRAIGHT GATE that FEW find is 100% FAITH in Jesus Christ ALONE!!!! God promises eternal life to all who trust in Christ ALONE as savior.
Those who believe salvation can be “lost” or must be demonstrated by works believe salvation is conditional, temporary and probationary. They don’t believe they have eternal life and have called God a liar (1st John 5). They may consider themselves to be believers but they can’t call God a liar and be a believer simultaneously…It’s not possible to call God a liar while simultaneously claiming to believe His Word to be true…
Praying this reaches some folks who’ve never trusted in The Jesus Christ of The Bible ALONE to be saved…
God made salvation easy.
The enemy (satan) will do anything in his power to convince you otherwise…
“For it is by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH. This is not of yourselves. It is the GIFT of God. Not by works lest any man should boast.” Epeshians 2:8-9
“BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved.” Acts 16:31 “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would BELIEVE in Him would not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
