John 14:6; “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (any emphasis mine)
Acts 4:12; “And there is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 8:1; “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:4-5; “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ; by grace you are saved.”
Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”
Today, during these very trying times with people “fainting with fear and with foreboding” (Luke 21:26), there is One we can turn to who knows exactly how we feel. Today is a good time to refresh our minds as to just what was done for us about 2,000 years ago.
Jesus the “Christ” (anointed one – Wikipedia), one third of the Holy Trinity, came to this earth as a lowly human (Hebrews 2: 7-9) to pay for sins He never committed, nor would He ever commit. From the beginning of earth’s creation until our Savior’s crucifixion, humans had to make sacrifices regularly in order to receive temporary relief from sins. However, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin” (Hebrews 10:4).
There was only one sacrifice that would be made once for all, that would appease the Father. It had to be the perfect, sinless blood of the “Lamb of God” that was not tainted by any human blood. All humans carry the sin nature that was first introduced to the world in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Although Jesus grew in Mary’s womb, His perfect blood did not come from Joseph, nor did it mix with Mary’s. From birth through Calvary, Jesus never sinned, even once, even though He was tempted in person by Satan in the wilderness.
Jesus knew every emotion and experienced every one except hate and carnal lust. He loved everyone, even those who caused Him great pain. He just didn’t like some people because of their earthly beliefs. In fact, He had the biggest problems with the so-called religious leaders of His era.
Before Jesus ever came to this earth, He knew exactly what He would have to endure. Isaiah and others wrote that He would be killed. Yet, in John 10:11;15-16;18, Jesus tells us, 11“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep…. 15just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold [This includes everyone]. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, One Shepherd…. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
In the John 3:16 “For God so loved…” verse, Jesus has the same love for us. Because of His unselfish grace, we are offered a gift we definitely do not deserve. Instead, we are given mercy from the Father to keep us from the punishment we do deserve.
One question stands out here; if anyone rejects the wonderful gift that the Son of God suffered and died for us lowly humans, would you expect those people to receive grace and mercy? All who reject Jesus will have blasphemed the truth that the Holy Spirit has provided, and they will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. This is pointed out in Revelation 20:11-15.
It’s either Jesus in our hearts, or Satan and his lies. Sadly, it’s becoming more obvious daily that Satan is gaining numerous followers. We were told there would be a turning away from the Truth in the last days, and it is here right now. Matthew 7:13-14 gives us the paths of the saved and the condemned. Yes, there are those who are still calling out to Jesus and being saved (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13), but a substantial number are going the other way. False prophets and antichrists are here and even have entered some previously Bible-based churches. They are pulling souls away from the Savior in service to their master – Satan. God will not put up with this much longer.
We’re just about at the end of this age, and soon the true believers will be removed. Those who are left behind will still be able to call on Jesus, but the cost will most likely end in martyrdom.
We have a “Grace Greater Than Our Sin” as given in a hymn by Julia H. Johnston (1849-1919) in 1911. Please consider the words, and especially the last line of the last stanza.
(1) Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt. Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
(ref) Grace, Grace, God’s Grace; Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, Grace, God’s Grace; Grace that is greater than all our sin.
(2) Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss. Grace that is greater – yes, grace untold – points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
(3) Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can we do to wash it away? Look; there is flowing a crimson tide. Brighter than snow you may be today.
(4) Marvelous, infinite, matchless Grace, freely bestowed on all who believe. All who are longing to see His face, will you this moment His Grace receive?
Today would not be too early and could possibly be just in time before He calls up His true believers to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
Jesus came “willingly” to save us (John 10:18), and He would like us to “willingly” call upon Him (Romans 10:9-13). It is the only way to be kept from the coming wrath/tribulation that will soon be here. Your choice; please choose wisely.
Come, Lord Jesus.