Jesus Is The Lamb
Many people think they will go to heaven because they have lived a good life. Perhaps, they treat all of their neighbors fairly. Maybe they volunteer for charity work and have never broken the law. Maybe they were even baptized or go to church regularly. But the Bible, God’s Word, says that no one can live up to God’s standard of righteousness.Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one ….”Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ….”Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”Salvation cannot be earned. Everyone is a sinner and deserves death, but God gives eternal life. So how can we receive God’s gift of eternal life?Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ….”To be saved, we must believe the gospel. The word “gospel” means “good news”. But before we can believe the good news, we have to know what it is.1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel … that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures ….”This is the gospel which we must believe in order to be saved. Now, how does believing this gospel save us?Romans 5:8-9 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”Romans 3:22-26 “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (appeasing sacrifice) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”We can be saved from the wrath of God, because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins and rose from the dead. He paid the price for us, and we are justified in God’s eyes through our faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast.”There will be no boasting in heaven. We cannot be saved by our own righteousness, but only by God’s grace, through faith.Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”Once we believe the gospel, we are sealed with God’s Holy Spirit. This is God’s deposit, that guarantees He will redeem us, whom our Lord Jesus Christ “purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).GRACE! This is why this wonderful word brings great joy to the believer. Matthew Henry wrote that, “Grace is the free, undeserved goodness and favor of God to mankind.” Christianity cannot be understood apart from an adequate grasp of grace. Grace is that part of the character of God, which is displayed by His GIFTS to men. He “predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:5 – 6)”But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:4 – 9)Some have supposed that the God of the Old Testament is someone other than the God of the New. But we know that God’s grace is frequently evidenced in the Old Testament Scriptures. “They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellions they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.” (Nehemiah 9:17)God’s attribute of grace was the very excuse Jonah gave for fleeing from immediate obedience to His command: “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” (Jonah 4:1 – 2)The gracious character of God was fully manifested in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the revealer of the Father (John 1:18), and His exact representation, (Hebrews 1:3): “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) In both His words (Luke 4:22) and His works (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; Mark 6:31) Jesus demonstrated grace. He did not come to judge or to condemn, but to forgive and to save. (John 3:16 – 17; 8:10 – 11) We can do nothing else but conclude that God is, was, and will ever be a God of grace. That is His character, and it is therefore the ultimate cause of His graciousness toward men.Grace is God showing His love to mankind even though they didn’t deserve it. God shows His grace by saving people from sin’s punishment when they trust in Jesus as Savior. We call this, “Saving Grace”. But God also demonstrates His grace by giving His saved children strength and guidance to handle the challenges of this present life. Receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior doesn’t guarantee we will never again suffer in this life. The world is a fallen place, and Christians are not exempt from adversity. The good news is, His grace enables us to face life challenges with confidence and assurance. We call this, “Sustaining Grace”.”But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10)”And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)Let’s give thanks to God again for His wonderful GRACE towards us! To Him be praise forever!