Posted by
Ikester on Monday, December 07, 2009 12:05:46 PM
This is the most important question a person can ask. There are potential answers in all religions and even among atheists and agnostics. There is only ONE answer that works out in the end. You see, only ONE offers forgiveness of sins and a heart filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and that is Christianity. But even among so-called Christian groups there is a variety of answers. So where do we find the real answer that will bring these wonderful things into our life? The Bible!
'And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.' Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same." Luke 10:25-37
Salvation comes by turning from our sins and turning to God through faith in Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach. This act frees us from the guilt, shame, fear and all the other weighty things caused by alienation from God by our sins. Once these are gone we find a love for God that was not there before. It is a love that wants nothing more than to please Him in every way and to love Him with the greatest love that a human could only imagine. He does all this work in our hearts the moment we trust in His Son, Jesus, for this forgiveness. Then, as a result of a changed life, we desire to serve others and meet their greatest needs. Christians were the first in so many areas of caring for the needy around the world, hospitals, orphanages, the Red Cross are just a few. Today millions are in remote and difficult conditions just because God has called them to go there and serve Him by helping people.
Salvation is only by faith in Jesus. Service comes because of a changed life and a desire to please our Savior.
"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." Romans 3:28
What is the definition of eternal life? Let the Bible answer this for you.
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3
To know Him is to love Him! This is similar to meeting the person you will marry and falling in love with them. You did not know them before but now you know them and love them deeply. You want nothing more than to please the one you love and serve their every need. Like marriage makes two persons into one physically, a person becomes one with God spiritually and this relationship is etrernal. Christmas is all about the celebration of God's greatest gift to mankind, the birth of His ONLY begotten Son, Jesus Christ or to the Jews Yeshua HaMashiach. May this Christmas find you receiving God's gift because it is one that truly never stops giving.