Is Something Missing?

Here’s What’s Missing

When God created mankind, He did that, so that we might love Him in response to His love for us.  One day, that first man, Adam, blatantly disobeyed God’s Word. God called that sin.  The penalty of sin death was then put upon ALL of mankind.  Look at Romans 5:12 (page 50).  Do we all die?  The answer without question is YES. So we know then the Bible is true.  We die because we sin or do wrong against God’s Word.  We cannot escape it. It is an inherited trait passed on to every one of us from generation to generation.

God, being the loving God that He is, provided a way in which all of mankind might be “saved” (a term used many times in the Bible).  Saved from what you might ask?  Saved from the penalty of sin. You see, God told Adam that if he disobeyed Him he would sadly die, both physically and spiritually.  That spiritual death was that the soul of mankind would be put away from God for all eternity.  To show the severity of sin, God told man, that the soul that refused God and His Word would spend eternity in a place created not for mankind but for those that followed after Satan and Satan himself.

God’s penalty for sin HAD to be paid for the price, the shed blood of an innocent lamb.  Man, as is his usual way, made the sacrificial system of the Old Testament of little worth.  God’s plan then allowed for one final sacrifice for sin.  A substitutionary sacrifice so great it would end all need of further sacrifice.  It would be the death of His Own Son, Jesus.  John called Him the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world in John 1:29 (page 2).

Jesus died for YOU, a sinner, to pay YOUR penalty for sin. And all He asked in return is that you believe by faith, accept Him as Saviour, and live the Christian life.

Jesus said in John 14:6 (page 26) “I am THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by ME.”  That indicates that there may be thoughts of other ways or other truths to obtain eternal life in Heaven.  Jesus makes pretty clear that ANY OTHER WAY is the wrong way.

Some think that by being GOOD they can appease God.  Some think that their good deeds will outweigh their bad or that God will overlook the sin of their lives and let ALL into Heaven.  That is not what you just read… is it?

Some believe baptism, church membership, a denomination or family heritage will give them salvation.  Some think by keeping the ten commandments, but NO ONE is able to keep them all. Most can’t even name them all. Can you? John 14:6 does not list one of those things as an accepted way… does it?

For ALL Have Sinned And DIE Because Of That.

The first three passages you read show that all of us are sinners. As much as you may hate to admit it, YOU are a SINNER.  But so is every person around you, that has been before you and that will come after you.  Those passages also make very clear that there is a penalty for our sin and that it is DEATH. 

Jesus Came To Pay OUR Penalty For Sin

Imagine if you had done something so bad a judge sentenced you to die for it as the only way to satisfy justice.  From the back of the courtroom a man stands and says, “Your Honour I know they are guilty but I will take their place.  I will die FOR them.”  That is EXACTLY what Jesus did when He died on the cross; He paid YOUR penalty for sin.       

Salvation Requires Repentance

To “Repent” means to “turn away from”.  When someone realizes they are a sinner and that Jesus Christ alone can rescue or save them from the penalty of sin, they then must make a conscious decision to turn TO the Lord Jesus Christ as their ONLY hope of eternal life.  In turning to Christ, we turn away from willfully disobeying God and choose rather to OBEY His Word to the best of our ability.  We still sin, even after being saved, but we view sin differently; we hate it and are sorry when we commit it, rather than just letting it go on.

A great verse that talks about repentance is found in another part of the Bible 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Salvation Is An Act Of FAITH

Everyone puts their trust in SOMETHING or someone.  Most often, we trust in OURSELVES.  “I am the Master of my own destiny”, some say and most think.  God tells us repeatedly in the Bible that we must put our hope and trust in HIM … by FAITH.  We cannot see, or touch God, so it must be an act of faith.  Ephesians 2:8-9 say, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

Many struggle with the idea that salvation is so “easy”.  If you think about it, God wants ALL of mankind to be saved.  Why then would He make it HARD for people to be saved?   

Christ Bridges The Gap

Remember on the very first page you read the question asking, “Is there just something missing?”  Well, here it is.  Sin puts a gap between mankind and God.  God is so holy that He cannot allow sin into His presence.  Since we are sinners, we cannot come into the presence of God, thus putting a GAP between us.  What’s missing in your life is that SPIRITUAL bridge between you and God.  When Jesus died on the cross, He made it possible for you to fill that gap, by asking Him to forgive you of your sin, trusting in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of your soul.  By asking Christ to come into YOUR life and save you, the missing piece of the puzzle is put into place and your life becomes both physically and, more importantly, SPIRITUALLY complete.  Since Jesus is THE way, THE truth and THE life, there is nothing in this life that can fill that void but JESUS.  John 3:16 (Page 4).  Jesus bridges that gap!

Now It’s Decision Time

Let’s take a moment to review what you’ve read:

1. Committing one sin makes you a sinner & all sin.
2. The penalty for that sin is death both physical & spiritual.
3. God loves you so He sent Jesus to die for your sin.
4. You must accept Jesus as the ONLY way of getting to God.
5. You must by FAITH ask God to forgive you and ask Jesus to come into your heart and life and save your soul.
6. You need to repent (turn away) from a life of sin.
7. Once you ask God to save you, you can never lose your salvation. You receive ETERNAL (without end) life.

NOW … what will you do?  The decision is yours.

You have come to the place in your life where you must make a decision.  If you choose to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you need to bow your head wherever you are, and in your heart, with all the faith you can muster, pray and ask God to save you.  Here is just an example of what you need to say to God, “Dear God, I KNOW that I am a sinner. I admit that to You.  I am sorry that I have sinned against You.  Please forgive me of my sin.”  “Dear Jesus, Thank You for dying on the cross to pay MY penalty for sin.  I realize You took MY place for the sin I commit.  Please come into my heart, and my soul right now and give me the hope of eternal life.  Help me now to live my new found Christian life!  Direct me to a good church that will help me know more of You and grow in this Christian life.  In Your name, I pray … Amen!”

If you choose to reject the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, that is indeed your free will choice, but the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 “… behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the day of salvation.”

If you did ask God to save you, please let us know about it, we would love to hear from you and would like to send you a great book to help you learn even more about your new found faith.

We would love to hear from you!