Thursday

Redeemed of God in Jesus christ! Amen.

Do You Think You're a Good Person?

Yes, I'm a Good Person.

Have you ever told a lie?

Even for a good purpose?

Yes, I've told a lie.

What does that make you?

If someone lied to you, what would you call them?

That makes you a liar.

We might not like that word - we like to say we're 'just human', or that we 'stretched the truth'. But the truth is - if we've told a lie, we're a liar.

Okay, I'm a liar.

Have you ever taken anything that did not belong to you?

Even something small?

That makes you a thief.

It sounds harsh, but the - if we've ever stolen anything, we're a thief.

Have you ever looked at another person with lust or desire?

Jesus said, that makes you an adulterer.

Jesus said in Matthew 5 that to look at someone with lust is to have committed adultery with them

Have you ever been angry with another person?

Jesus said, that makes you a murderer.

Jesus said in Matthew 5 that whoever is angry with his brother without cause is guilty of murder.

Okay, according to God's standard, I'm a murderer.

Have you ever taken God's name in vain?

Have you ever used God's name as a curse word or to express disgust?

The Bible calls this blasphemy.

According to God's standard, the Bible, that makes you a blasphemer.

Okay, according to God's standard, I'm a blasphemer.

You may not realize this...

...but those are of the Ten Commandments.

By your own admission and the standard of God's law, the Ten Commandments, you are lying, thieving, blasphemous, murderous,adulterer at heart.

"And you have to face God on judgment day!"

If God were to judge you by His law, would you be innocent or guilty?

Be honest with yourself and God !

I would be Guilty.

Based on your guilty verdict, would you go to heaven or hell?

The Bible says that all murderers, adulterers, thieves, and liars will have their place in the lake of fire - Revelation 21:8.

I guess I would go to hell.

"There is hope!"

"The Bible offers hope."

II Peter 3:9 says that God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

Imagine you are standing in front of a judge, GUILTY of serious crime. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt of your guilt. Your apologies and good works cannot erase your crimes; therefore you must be punished. The fine for your crime is a very large amount, and you have no money.

The judge is about to pass sentence when someone you don't even know rushes in and pays your fine for you! The court accepts the money and declares that you are free to go.

That is exactly what God did for you on the cross 2000 years ago.

Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Jesus loved you so much that he paid the penalty for your sin, so you wouldn't have to!

God has provided a way of escape.

And that is through Jesus Christ.

"You need to Repent"

"Repent of Your Sin"

That means turning away from your sins and asking God in Jesus Christ to forgive you for breaking His law.

Jesus said in Luke 13:3

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

"You need to Refuse Your Own Efforts"

"Refuse Your Own Self-Effort"

Realize that there is no way you can work your way to heaven or somehow be "good enough" to earn heaven.

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by GRACE ye are saved through faith and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT of works, lest any man should boast."

"You need to Believe in Jesus Christ"

Trust in Jesus, like you would trust a parachute if you were jumping out of an airplane. You wouldn't just believe in the parachute, you would put it on (trust it) and jump (act on it). That is how we must put our faith and trust in Jesus as our only hope of sin forgiveness.