Message

Dear friend, I sincerely hope that this finds you well.

I truly believe that there is life after death and my concern for your soul is that often the good news of the gospel is not clearly communicated. Thus, I aim to make it plain for you here so you may know and have eternal life.

My ask is that you would please take this seriously as this is not my message but ‘according to the word of God’.

Creation

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth

– Genesis 1:1

Just as a building is the handiwork of a builder and art is the expression of an artist, all the complexity, beauty and majesty of creation proclaims God’s glory as the creator.

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

– Hebrews 3:4

For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.

– Romans 1:20

Human life is sacred and valuable above all the rest of creation because we are made by God to bear His image.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

– Genesis 1:27

Whilst, God constantly provides our needs, He makes the sun rise, the rains fall (Matthew 5:45), gives us every breath in our lungs (Isaiah 42:5), God does not exist to serve our wants and desires. Rather, we are made to love, honour, and glorify Him.

whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

– Isaiah 43:7

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen

– Romans 11:36

Rebellion

God gave us laws which when followed are good for us, for society and for His glory:

To have no gods other than Him, not make idols of false gods or dishonour His name.

To rest from work on the Sabbath and honour your father & mother.

Not to murder, commit adultery, steal, lie about others or covet others belongings.

However, rather than trusting Him and His laws, we think we know better and defy God’s laws when we want to and live for ourselves.

We all like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way;

– Isaiah 53:6(a)

Breaking God’s law is what sin is, ‘sin is lawlessness’ (1 John 3:4). This rebellion against God is so offensive that ‘the wages of sin is death‘ (Romans 6:23).

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death

– Proverbs 14:12

After death, God calls everyone to account for every word and deed in judgement (Matthew 12:36, Ecclesiastes 12:14).

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.

– Hebrews 9:27

Consequences

God does not judge by cultural standards of right and wrong but by His absolute and perfect standards as He is Holy. Going beyond the outward action, God judges the heart.

For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

– 1 Samuel 16:7

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

– Matthew 5:21-22

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

– Matthew 5:27-28

If we are honest, we know that we have sinned. We are self-centred, putting ourselves and our interests before God, we have lied, been angry with others and insulted them, looked at other people like they are objects rather than honouring them as made in God’s image. Therefore, we all fall short of God’s perfect standards.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

– Romans 3:23

Though many think lightly of sin, because God is infinite and eternal, the punishment for sinning against Him is eternal. The Bible describes Hell as eternal punishment, eternal fire & eternal destruction.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God

– Hebrews 10:31

In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

– Matthew 25:30

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest

– Revelation 14:11

Good News

The good news (the Gospel) is that whilst we were dead in our sin, God came to deal with our sin on our behalf.

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

– Romans 5:8

Jesus, the one and only eternal Son of God, left the glory of His Father’s presence took on flesh and dwelt among us. Many witnessed Jesus heal the sick, raise the dead, walk on water, still the seas and cast out demons. In doing so displaying that ‘in Him the fullness of deity dwells bodily‘ (Colossians 2:9). Yet He also knew true humanity, labouring as a carpenter, needing food and rest, feeling sorrow and pain.

He was tempted to sin as we are, however, He did not sin (1 Peter 2:22).

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

– Hebrews 4:15

Jesus was the only one who could to pay the wages of our sin in our place and clear the debt. He chose to suffer an agonising and humiliating death on the cross for our sin, bearing God’s wrath against sin in our place.

For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

– 2 Corinthians 5:21

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God

– 1 Peter 3:18

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

– 1 John 4:10

Resurrection & Reconciliation

Not only did Jesus die, after three days He rose again, defeating sin and death.

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he has risen!

– Luke 24:6

[…] which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

– 2 Timothy 1:10

After appearing to many, Jesus ascended to the Father where He reigns at His right hand.

At the end of time He will return and raise all who have died to eternal life or condemnation. (John 5:28-29)

Instead of being condemned for our sin like we should, because Jesus died for our sin in our place, all who trust in Him are united with Him and immediately receive eternal life and peace with God.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

– John 11:25-26

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

– John 5:24

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

– Romans 5:1

Response

In response to this, the call is to repent and believe. All who honestly turn to God find Him to be merciful and Christ completely sufficient to save. We are saved by faith in this good news with nothing of our own works contributing towards our salvation as Jesus Himself is our eternally living righteousness and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)..

For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.

– 2 Chronicles 30:9

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

– Romans 10:13

All who come to Him are never cast out (John 6:37). God forgives all of our sin and indwells us by His Holy Spirit who unites us with Christ and leads us to do God’s will. It is because of our union with Christ by the Spirit that we can know no condemnation.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

– Romans 8:1-2

By His Spirit we are adopted and can come to God not as fearful slaves but as beloved sons & daughters.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

– Romans 8:15

He calls us to be baptised and go forth rejoicing in what He has done for us, with a restored relationship with Him, bearing His image for His kingdom and His glory.

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honour and glory and blessing!”

– Revelation 5:12

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