These people are gathered around the foot of the cross where Christ was crucified. Notice that there are still nails on the ground and some are even still holding the the hammers used to nail Him to the cross. Can you see yourself in this picture?
A Step Of F.A.I.T.H.
Over the years adult Sunday school has meant many things to me. It isn't just a weekly bible study that's geared to providing small doses of biblical knowledge. It's a place where I've made life-long friendships. When life has presented one of it's "bumps-in-the-road" that has affected a family member or loved one, there have been fellow Sunday school members who rallied around to supply meals, moral support and most importantly, prayers. Sunday school is where I've often witnessed Christ in the lives of my friends and I am grateful to have the spiritual role models I've found there. The weekly association with fellow believers helps me balance the stress of every day life.
When I was young I honestly didn't give much thought to religion. I was raised with an elementary exposure to the Methodist church. As a young adult I was like many my age, just self absorbed and bumping along fat dumb and happy. In 1969 I was drafted and sent to Vietnam where that changed radically. I returned home having gone from age 21 to 40 in just 12 months. I had a lot of emotional baggage about where I'd been, what had gone on there and where I was going. But then I had a life changing experience. Now, 30+ years later I am more convinced than ever that the change I experienced is the best thing that ever happed to me.
I sometimes ask others,
"In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to go to heaven?"
More often than not I hear a response that indicates the person asked is unclear or has no opinion. Sometimes I'm told that one has to treat others with love and respect and do good deeds/works to get into heaven. Some have even mentioned pergatory where one can wait for their loved ones to promote them into heaven by buying "indulgences" from the church.
I'd like to share with you how the Bible answers this question, if it is all right. There is a word that can be used to answer this question:
F.A.I.T.H .
F is for FORGIVENESS
We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's Forgiveness.
"In him[meaning Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins" - Eph 1:7a, NKJV
"If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared" - Psalm 130:3-4, NASB
A is for AVAILABLE
Forgiveness is available. It is -
AVAILABLE FOR ALL
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" - John 3:16, NKJV
"'To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him'" - Daniel 9:9, NASB
BUT NOT AUTOMATIC
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven" - Matt 7:21a, NKJV
"'Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt'" - Daniel 12:2, NASB
I is for IMPOSSIBLE
It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven.
GOD IS LOVE -
John 3:16, NKJV
"'The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin'" - Exodus 34:6-7, NASB
GOD IS JUST -
"For judgement is without mercy." - James 2:13a, NKJV
"'He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished'" - Exodus 34:7, NASB
MAN IS SINFUL -
" For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23, NKJV
"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, NASB
Question: but how can a sinful person enter heaven, where God allows no sin? That brings us to -
T is for TURN
Question: If you were driving down the road and someone asked you to turn, what would he or she be asking you to do? ( change direction ). Turn means repent.
TURN from something - sin and self
"But unless you repent you will all likewise perish" - Luke 13:3b, NKJV
"'Say to them, "As I live!" declares the Lord God. "I take not pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Isreal?"'" - Ezekiel 33:11, NASB
TURN to Someone: trust only Christ, God's Messiah
(The Bible tells us that) "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He arose again the third day according to the scriptures" - 1 Cor 15:3b-4, NKJV
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe In your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" - Romans 10:9, NKJV
(Scripture tells us that Messiah) "was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him" - Isaiah 53:5-6, NASB
H is for HEAVEN
Heaven is for eternal life
HERE
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" John 10:10b, NKJV
"You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy" - Psalm 16:11, NASB
HEREAFTER
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" - John 14:3, NKJV
"In Your right hand there are pleasures forever" - Psalm 16:11, NASB
"God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me" - Psalm 49:15, NASB
HOW
How can a person have God's forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus, His Messiah, as a personal Savior and Lord?
"He[Abraham] believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righeousness" - Genesis 15:6, NASB
"'The Righteous will live by his faith'" - Habakkuk 2:4, NASB
"'It will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Will be delivered'" - Joel 2:32, NASB
Take a look at this photograph.
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These people are gathered around the foot of the cross where Christ was crucified. Notice that there are still nails on the ground and some are even still holding the the hammers used to nail Him to the cross. Can you see yourself in this picture? |
Another way of looking at the word F.A.I.T.H. is to say
"Forsaking All I Trust Him".
".. God so loved the world.." (John 3:16,
NKJV)
".. Christ died for our sins..." (1 Cor.15:3b, NKJV)
".. if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
(Romans 10:9, NKJV)
Jesus was not ashamed to die on the cross for you. "Whosever believeth on Him(Jesus) shall not be ashamed" (Rom. 10:11)
You can commit your life to Christ and so begin a wonderfull journey of faith. Understanding what has just been shared, would you like to receive this forgiveness by trusting in Christ as your personal Savior and Lord? You need only to Pray to accept Christ,
SALVATION PRAYER - "Dear Lord Jesus, I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and that you arose from the grave. I now ask you to forgive me of my sins and to save my soul. amen."
I Am Not Ashamed "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38, NKJV)
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before Men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before Men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32-33, NKJV)
God's plan is for each Christian to grow. Ways to grow in your journey of faith are to-
God's Place for doing these things is His church and the Sunday school. Here you will make friends, enjoy fellowship, and grow in your faith. You will learn more about how God wants you to live each day. Begin your search today for a church fellowship where you can publicly profess your faith, begin to serve Him and continue to grow in your faith.
Much of the above was derived from materials provided by LifeWay Press, © Copyright 1998 and is used here by permission. Scriptures marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version, © Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982. Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers Illustration by Stephen S. Sawyer