Reading: John 3:1-21

Today’s verse:

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

If you think yourself too good for hell, you are dearly mistaken. After we die, we must all stand before Christ. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Heb 9:27) The judgment of the unsaved is hell. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

Those who are born again are no longer under condemnation according to John 3:18. We have been set free from the punishment of hell because Jesus paid our sin debt on the cross of Calvary. Those who believe in the work of the cross must repent from their sins and believe it is so. JESUS said we must repent, not some man. “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)

Repentance AND Faith – the two sides of the coin of salvation; both must be together. Without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (trusting in His shed blood and finished work on the cross of Calvary), grief for sin is just human reformation, trying to clean yourself up, trying to lift yourself up to Heaven by your own good works – by your own bootstraps – and it will never work! BUT without repentance for your sin – a desire to turn from it in the heart – without seeing your lost condition in the eyes of God – turning to Christ is just being religious, just saying a prayer, just getting your “fire insurance”, with no saving value! Both must be together: you must see your sin in the light of the Word of God and turn from it in your heart to the Saviour to save you from them and from the punishment due you because of those same sins – believing in your heart that Jesus can and will save you. THEN the Holy Spirit gives you eternal life, makes you a new creature in Christ Jesus, and begins to change you from the inside out. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Won’t you set aside any theology you have been taught up to now? Won’t you turn to the Bible where the truth is simply laid out for you? Allow the Holy Spirit of God to reveal the simplicity of the gospel to you. There is no other way to heaven. Neither Buddha nor Allah will get you there. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Dear God…
Show me the way that leads to You
Let my path not be darkened with lies
Of those who choose to deceive and distract
But clearly guide me to eternal life!