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© 2004

Why do I need saving?

If you aren't a Christian, I ask you now to come on a journey with me. We're going to have a look at who Jesus is, what Christianity is, why you need to be saved, and what you need to be saved from. Many reject Christianity out of hand, without ever taking the time to find out just exactly what Christianity is. Please give me a little of your time, and I'll show you a few passages from the Bible (scriptures), and show you some things you may not have thought of before. Some of the things that I shall talk about are fairly basic, but I want take a fresh look at some of these things, so please bear with me. If you like, why not grab a Bible, so you can see these passages for yourself.

Firstly and most importantly, let me introduce you to the good guy, and He's God. Yeah I know you've most likely heard that before, but let's have a good look at what being the good guy really means. God is all good, and in Him there is no darkness at all ( 1 John 1:5)(That's right toward the end of that big dusty book that's been sitting on the shelf for years). When you really think about that, it's an awesome statement. He is completely good. That means no compromise whatsoever. One little compromise and the whole deal falls apart.
God has a place that He calls His own. that place is, yep you got it, Heaven. (I did warn you that it was pretty basic stuff, but please stay with me). Now in much the same way, Heaven is a good place, full of all the good guys, and they're called Angels. This place Heaven is all good as well. It has to be, because if there was so much as one little compromise, well then there would have to be another one and then another one, and finally Heaven would wouldn't be Heaven any more, it would be just like Earth - full of compromise.
One day, one of the Angels decided he didn't want to play second fiddle any more. He wanted to be top dog. He schemed to overthrow God who created Heaven. He lost. He got thrown out. He's the bad guy, and his name is Satan. He has his own place too, it's called Hell. I have some bad stuff to tell you about Hell, forget what people say about meeting all your friends there, it just isn't going to happen like that. Hell is bad, actually it's worse than that, it's worse than either you or I can imagine, but hey don't just take my word for it, read about it in Revelation ch.9. the star falling from the sky represents Satan's demise from Heaven - read on a few verses for a description of Hell. If I scared you, I'm sorry, but hey it scares me too. Keep reading through what I'm telling you here though, the good part is toward the end.
You see Satan can do or say anything, and one of his biggest lies is having you believe that he doesn't exist, because by the time you find out for sure that's a lie, it's generally too late. He tells little lies, big lies, and some real whoppers! Like there isn't a Heaven or a Hell, or that if you are a "good person" you'll be OK. ( Titus 3:5) God can't do any of that, He can't lie and He can't deny Himself.
So why should I even believe in God at all, far less that He created the Earth? Well it's like this, pure and simple. There is only one historical record that's been around since the start of time, that explains how we came to be here! Think very carefully about that. Just one. Scientists came up with another theory, that we evolved from an "organic accident" What the scientists aren't telling us anymore is that the theory of evolution is still to this day, just that - a theory. It hasn't been proven, and as time goes by, the evidence is getting thinner, not more substantial. There are major gaps in the fossil record, and every major species changed has occurred around the face of the earth at exactly the same time! Yet Scientists and the Bible agree on two crucial issues, 1) The universe was actually formed in a very short period of time, and 2) The Earth and everything in it were created in exactly the same order. How does such an ancient book get that right without Modern scientific research?

What does any of this have to do with me as an individual? Well modern life is very complicated and we regularly deal with some complex "issues". However let me get straight to the heart of some very fundamental points. On an average we will spend around 70 something years here on earth, and then we will die. Time on the other hand will just keep going and going and going. What happens after we die? Well we are going to one of two places, Heaven or Hell. It's as simple as that, the good place or the bad place. Which one do you want to go? Eternity is a very very long time. Given my choice I'll have Heaven thanks. But you guessed it there's a catch.
I have some bad news for you (don't worry too much though, this is the second last bit of bad news, it gets better after this) Do you remember that I mentioned Heaven is all good? Well the bad news is that folks like me and you, well we just don't belong there. You see if you have ever done one wrong thing (and who hasn't?) then you've had it. Doesn't matter when it was, or how minor it was, God just can't have any compromise in Heaven at all. If He makes an exception for you or me, then He has to make an exception for everyone, no matter what they've done, and that would have to include Satan. After that it's just not Heaven anymore.
Let's face it, we've all messed up at some stage, whether we meant to or not. The book of Romans ch3 verse 23 tells us that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" So that's it we've had it, we just worked out that we're not going to Heaven.
I have some good news for you
Despite the fact that God is all good and we are not, despite the fact that we haven't done anything to please Him at all, He still holds an incredible love for us. ( 1st John 4:16)
All of us, the whole human race, are created in His image, and that includes you. ( Genesis ch. 1 vse 26) As God watched the whole human race turn away from Him, and embrace more and more wickedness and evil, He turned His face away from us and cried. His love for us was such that He yearned for a way to allow us into Heaven, despite our sin, without compromising Heaven, and allowing Satan to make a claim against Him.
Then He came up with a way.
You see, when I say He loves you, I mean He really really loves you.( John 17:23  The only thing keeping Him from showing you exactly how much is that He won't force Himself on you, because to do so is not really love at all. Also because He is all good and has to stay that way, he can't say come in to Heaven. It's not that He doesn't want to, He just can't. The only way would be if a perfectly pure sacrifice was made specifically to cover your sins (mine too) no matter how large or small.
The major piece of good news that I have for you is that HE MADE THAT SACRIFICE! He loves both you and I so much that He sent His ONLY son, to die on the cross, so that whoever believes in Him, can join Him in Heaven and have everlasting life! ( John ch. 3 verse 16) (1st John 4:10)
So what do we have to do to receive this incredible gift of everlasting life? Relax this isn't the last piece of bad news I have, it's actually very easy. It's so easy that people become very sceptical, after the trouble and effort we go through just to live our lives, how can the most important point be so easy? Well I'll tell you straight, it's because God's done all the work for you. All you have to do is receive, the good sacrifice that He has made, specifically with you in mind. All that is necessary is to believe and confess that Jesus died for your sins, (remember the size of the sin does not matter), and that you don't want to live your life in sin any more.
That's it.
That's all you have to do to receive eternal life.
That's what you do to know that you're going to Heaven.
This is called being "Born Again" John ch.3 vse 3 - 7
Your life starts anew from this point
But before you do .........
Did I mention there was one more bit of bad news? (I promise you this is the last bit)
Many people have a false impression that if they give their hearts to Jesus, that life will be smooth sailing and happy ever after without a care in the world. The real truth is that Christians are turning from the Lord each day because of this mis-conception. He never promised that we wouldn't be tested, quite the opposite. He did promise to see us through the tough times though. You see to be a Christian takes enormous courage. Yes people will laugh at you. Yes people will turn away from you, but at the end of this life where are you going? Are you off to the good place, or the bad place to spend eternity? Eternity, if you think about it for just a minute is a very very long time, and given the choice, I know which place I want to go to.
Would you like to come with me to heaven?
Read on and pray with me now:
Dear heavenly Father, I now realize that my ilfe up until now has been sin. Father I have learned now how and why sin displeases you. I want to pray right now to say that I am sorry for my sin, and that I wish to turn away from sin and start again. Father I believe that you sent your only son to rearth to die, that I might have life. I confess that only through Jesus will I be saved. Right now I ask you Jesus to come and live inside my heart. I will strive to make you the Lord of my life.   I ask you to guide me and teach me, so that when I die, I may enter in to the Kingdom of Heaven and be with you in happiness forever. amen.
Congratulations!!!
Let me tell you some things
You are a completely new person (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
God's plan is for you to prosper (Jeremiah 29:11)
He can do more for you than you can imagine (Epesians 3:20)
He will comfort you through times of trouble (2nd Corinthians 1:4)
.... And the last thing I need to tell you? Well as you no doubt realize, you've just made a stand for God, and chosen which side of the fence you want to plant your feet. This means that you just got right up satan's nose! You've upset the enemy big time! Beware though because he goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. ( 1st Peter 5:8) BUT there is help every step of the way. If you give them a chance, churches are amazingly friendly places. They aren't perfect and don't claim to be, but they are there to help you grow in Christ and become a stronger Christian.
You can't do this on your own, many have tried and failed. Find a church, be bold and go and ask for the pastor, then introduce yourself to him. Tell him about this web page, and ask him what to do next. I hope and pray that you will have every happiness in the future. I hope also to meet you in Heaven.
God bless you.