New Life In Christ

  If you didn't grow up in an evangelical church you might wonder at some of phrases used by Christians to talk about their beliefs.  Perhaps you have heard terms like, "getting saved," "being born again," "knowing Jesus," or "asking Jesus into your heart."  The goal of this page is to cut through some of the jargon and explain the most important message you will ever hear; it's what the Bible calls the gospel. It is the message of God to mankind of how we may know Him and be accepted by Him into a relationship that will last forever. This is a summary of what the Bible teaches.  While various Christian groups may disagree over less important matters of beliefs, this is the central core teaching that all true Christians will agree upon.  Read carefully: it may change your life, forever.

 The word gospel means "good news," but before you can appreciate the good news your must understand the bad news.  The bad news is that we all began our lives with a nature that is opposed to God's will.  As a result, as soon as we are old enough to make choices, we start making bad ones, decisions that are contrary to God's perfect Law. These choices (not just what we do, but even what we think) are what the Bible calls sin. Sin separates us from God.  The Bible tells us that to be separated from God is to be spiritually dead, incapable of any good work.  God requires absolute moral perfection in His creatures.  Even one sin (and, of course, we have committed many) is cosmic treason against the God who created you.  The Bible is clear that the just punishment for rebellion against God is death- eternal death in Hell, separated from the love of God and exposed to His unmitigated wrath.  Since God is eternal and infinite, His perfect justice requires that any sin committed by one of His creature must be punished with an eternal and infinite punishment.  Anything less would would violate the just character of God. There is literally nothing we can do to "pay" for even one of our sins, much less the multitude we commit on a daily basis.  That is why it is bad news.  We are helpless to overcome our sin problem.

  That is where the Good News comes in.  While righteous and just, God also is full of love and mercy.  Knowing full well that the people He created would rebel, in His wisdom and mercy He determined on a plan to save many of them from their bondage to sin.  No mere man could take on the sin of any other because he could not pay for His own sins let alone anyone else's. Yet, justice demanded that man's sin must be paid for by man's life.  Therefore, Jesus, who was fully God, became fully man.  This is, of course, a great mystery, but was absolutely necessary.  As a man He could justly pay the penalty for man's sin.  As fully God, with a infinite and perfectly righteous nature with all power in His hands, He would be capable of taking on the infinite punishment justly deserved by all those He would save.  So Jesus, fully God became fully man, lived a perfect life, and was crucified upon a Roman cross as a payment for His people's sin.  He then rose again, proving that He was Who He said He was and conquering death and Hell by proving the grave had no real power over Him.  He ascended back to Heaven where He is now ruling and empowering His church until He shall return to judge all who have ever lived.

  So, how can you know that at that final judgment that you will be welcomed by Christ into His eternal kingdom rather that sent forever into eternal Hell?  The Bible tells us that the work of Christ on the cross is made beneficial to anyone who will recognize their  helpless condition before God, turn from their sinful lives and trust in Christ alone to be forgiven of their sins. 

  If you have heard this gospel message, realize your need for a Savior because of your sinfulness, and desire to live the kind of life God wants you to, then God has commanded and invited you to embrace the person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Remember this isn't about earning your way to heaven, you simply can't do that.  This is about admitting that you need someone else  to earn your way for you and to empower you to live for God.  That person in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who has died for all those who will trust in Him.  Go to Him now in prayer, fall upon His mercy and begin a new life in Him