In 2019 a friend of mine died. He wasn’t a Christian. While he knew where I stood and that I was a Christian as well as why, I still never shared the Gospel in a meaningful way. Much to my shame. Looking back I ask myself why that was? One answer comes to mind. He knew the Gospel and could articulate it nearly as well as I could have. He simply refused to believe it. That however does not excuse my disobedience to Christ. I will live with that until I die.

I bring that up to point out the urgency of sharing the Gospel. I know I didn’t cause his death. But because I didn’t act, he is in hell. I will never see him again. It was then that I said, never again. I love you too much to not share the salvation I’ve been given. I’m literally committed to loving you past death. But more importantly I am committed to loving you into forever life.

Why do I believe the Bible is the word of God?

Well honestly there are several reasons. I’m going to give you 2 of the top reasons.

1. The Bible was written over the course of more than 1400 years by 40 different authors who didn't necessarily have access to each others work. The message is consistent throughout and I can link every book. Man isn't smart enough to pull that off with the resources we have today let alone what they had back then. The Bible had to be inspired by God. It literally tells us how it happened.

2 Timothy 3:16 CSB  

[16] All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,  

2. Biblical Christianity (the message reflected in and by the Bible) is the only religion that isn't based on my merit. That's because it's not a religion. It's a relationship wholly initiated by God himself. If He is God, what could I possibly do to get to Him? He had to come to me.  

Ephesians 1:4-5 CSB  

[4] For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. [5] He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  

There are many more reasons but these are 2 of the biggest.

The message of the Bible.

The Bible is a love story. Specifically God’s love for us. It can be summed up in 4 points. It’s the most simple message (because man has proven over and over again that he can’t handle complex or complicated) written with a level of love we can scarcely comprehend this side of heaven. The points.

1. God made everything. The creation story in Genesis 1 and 2 details the events.
2. Man messed up God’s creation. Genesis 3.
3. Jesus was sent as the means of restoring the relationship between God and man. John 3:16, the book of Romans. There are too many references to list for this point. At least in a blog.
4. When the restoration is complete we will reside with Christ Jesus for eternity. Revelation 5:8-10 and many more.

Revelation 5:8-10 CSB  

[8] When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [9] And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. [10] You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth. 

For the duration of the blog I’m going to focus on points 2 and 3.

Point 2. Man messed it up. In Genesis God tells Adam that everything green in the Garden is for him to eat. However he can not eat from the tree in the midst of the garden. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It’s important to note that up to the point where point 2 starts God is walking with them in the garden. The relationship is right. Then Adam and Eve eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The very tree that God had told them if they eat of it they will surely

DIE.

We can blame the serpent here but if we’re honest the decision to disobey was on Adam and Eve. The Bible makes it clear that sin and a Holy God cannot exist in the same place. When God said they would surely die He meant much more than just physical death. That’s part of it but the biggest part was the separation from Him. After disobedience they contained sin and couldn’t exist in the same place with God. They were removed from the Garden. Throughout all of this God still loves them. The removal from the Garden was so that they would no longer have access to the tree of life. They had demonstrated a willingness to disobey. They are in sin. The tree of life acts in its nature. If they remained there they would live forever in sin not being able to be with God. The relationship had been broken. This was true death. Separation from God.

Point 3. Jesus came to fix the relationship. Now for the relationship to be restored Sin must be Cleansed. To do that the price must be paid. What’s the price?

Genesis 2:17 CSB  

[17] but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”  

We were informed. It’s reiterated throughout the Bible but it was disclosed from the beginning.

Romans 6:23 CSB  

[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Who is Jesus?

John 1:1-3 CSB  

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning. [3] All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.  

John 1:14 CSB 

[14] The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  

John 1:18 CSB  

[18] No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side  — he has revealed him.  

Jesus is God! He came and lived a sinless life. He was crucified suffering death having no sin. He was raised on the 3rd day defeating death proving He is the Son of God having power over death validating His offer of eternal life. Having died, He paid the price for sin. 

John 3:16-17 CSB  

[16] For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

It’s important to understand that Jesus wasn’t accepted back into heaven because He was God’s son but because he met the criteria for entry. He was sinless. We however are not. This is why the offer exists.

Most people look at the ten commandments as a list of do’s and don’ts. That’s not what they are at all.

Romans 3:20 CSB  

[20] For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.  

It’s a list of you’ve already done’s.

Romans 3:10 CSB 

[10] as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. 

Are you a good person? Yeah. By whose standards? Let me asked a few questions to see if that’s true.

Have you ever told a lie? What’s that make you? Come on, it starts with an L.

A liar. (That’s a title. We all get them throughout our lives. They are there for our whole life. Just because I don’t lie now doesn’t matter. I have lied. I am a liar.)

Yeah, me too.

Have you ever stolen anything? Even small things or maybe unintentionally? What’s that make you? A thief.

Yeah, me too.

What about lust? Ever look at someone that way? Jesus equates lust to adultery.

Yeah, me too.

Let’s do one more.

Have you ever used God’s name flippantly or as a curse? That’s Blasphemy.

Yeah, me too.

By my own admission. I am a lying, thieving, alulterous, blasphemous person at heart. Those are just some of my titles. That’s just 4 of the ten commandments. If God judges you by that standard. Are you innocent or guilty? We all need the offer of salvation Jesus has offered. It’s easy. (Remember. Man complicated. Not capable.)

Admit that you’re a sinner and you need Jesus to save you.

Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died, rose again, and now sits at the right hand of God.

Confess that Jesus is Lord and your Savior asking him to live in you.

Just talk to God. Call out to Him.

Lord Jesus, I know I’m a sinner and I need a savior. Please forgive me.  I believe You died and rose to become that savior. Please come and live in me. Help me follow you. Help me to love you and praise you all my days. Amen.

If you prayed that and meant it with your heart. Find a Bible believing Church and start living. Because you were dead in your sins and He has made you alive.

Love in Christ

Colby