There are numerous people around the world who worship imperfect man-made gods. From the time these deities were supposedly created, they were said to require numerous works and other contributions in order that they may be “pleased” with their followers. Not keeping up with all the requirements could result in some very serious consequences. (ESV – all emphasis is mine)
Our God is the only true Heavenly Father, creator of all the heavens and the earth, and He understands us far beyond anything that we think we know about ourselves.
First of all, a review of Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”
To have this gift, there is a very simple but strict requirement; we must receive and accept the fact that our gift was provided by a part of the Father Himself. Jesus is called His Blessed Son, and through the terrible sacrifice He made for us on a cruel cross at Calvary, we are able to look forward to an eternity with Him in Paradise.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three entities that make up our triune Godhead. Only the blood sacrifice from a perfect, sinless human could have ever met the Father’s standard for perfection in order for Him to fully forgive the sins of imperfect humans, which we all have been since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3.
Looking at Hebrews 10:4, “for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” God allowed the early sacrifices as a “temporary” measure until a permanent solution could be made. Jesus was, and will be, the only sinless “human” to ever live on this earth.
Going next to Hebrews 10:12-18, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering, He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us, for after saying, ‘This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord; I will put My laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds.’ Then He adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
The fact that we have a loving Father who is willing to forgive us for our sins did not just start at Calvary. All who were in His will prior to the crucifixion were covered, as given in the words of David in Psalm 103:10-12; “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”
The blood shed by our Savior not only covers everyone from Calvary to the end of this earth but also reaches back to all who, prior to His sacrifice, were in the will of the Father.
His true followers were referred to as sheep in John 10, and in verse 11, Jesus declared, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” In verse 16, He explains that His sacrifice would be for everyone, not just the Jews. “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd.”
John 10:18 makes it clear that our Savior was not forced to make the sacrifice for us. “No 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.”
Our Savior submitted to the will of the Father; however, His love for us was just as strong. Why else would our Creator be willing to give so much just to give us an opportunity to be with Him forever? Please remember, at any time, He could have stopped His ordeal, but He didn’t.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) wrote a song in 1740 called “Jesus Lover of My Soul.” The words apply just as much today as they did almost three centuries ago.
1.) Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly while the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high. Hide me, Oh my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past. Safe into the haven guide; Oh receive my soul at last.
2.) Other refuge have I none; hangs my helpless soul on Thee; leave, Oh leave me not alone; still support and comfort me. All my trust on Thee is stayed; all my help from Thee I bring. Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
3.) Plenteous grace with Thee is found; grace to cover all my sin. Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within. Thou of life the Fountain art; freely let me take of Thee. Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.
Considering all the man-made human gods, they are still in their graves and will face judgment with the one true Heavenly Father. His Son is very much alive. Jesus truly died as a human and was placed in a grave. He was then raised from the dead, just as He said would happen. When we finally leave this earth either by death or Rapture, we will see Him and will receive immortal bodies and have a mindset such as He has.
Paul said in Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.”
Is it any wonder that Jesus is the only way to the Father? This is stated in several places in the Bible, but John 14:6 and Acts 4:12 are very specific. John 14:6, “And Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” 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.”
There will only be one other alternative, and that’s given in Revelation 20:11-15. This will be the White Throne Judgment, and everyone who ends up there is already lost forever. Satan, his ultimate antichrist and the false prophet, will already be the first occupants of the Lake of Fire. All who go before the White Throne will join them forever. No one will be able to call out for forgiveness and be saved there, as that privilege ends with our last breath on this earth.
Romans 10:13, “All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This must happen while we’re still alive. Saying, “I really meant to get around to it,” will not be acceptable. Sadly, there will be more in the Lake of Fire that was made for Satan and his demons (Matthew 25:41) than will enter Heaven and be with Jesus forever (Matthew 7:13-14).
Our Father really wants everyone to reach repentance and call on His Son to save them (2 Peter 3:9). However, He will not force anyone to do so. It’s a free-will choice that each individual must make for themselves.
Some may say they’ve sinned so greatly that they can’t be forgiven. That’s Satan at work with his lies. There is no one that can’t be reached through the blood of our Savior. When God says, “All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved,” He will forgive the sins of all who truly call on His Son.
We will all sin to our last day here, but God gave us 1 John 1:8-10 for the pathway to receive forgiveness. What each of us must do is trust in the Father that His word is true and pure. As I stated previously, He knows us far better than we know ourselves, yet He loves us in spite of ourselves. Jesus Loves us, and so does the Holy Spirit. Call out today and become a part of the Savior’s precious flock.
Hope to see you at Home soon!