The Authority of The Bible
The Bible is a collection of 66 books written over several thousand years by about 40 different human authors. What makes the Bible unique is that God is the true author, the One who inspired each man to write. This act of God breathing out His word through a man is referred to in the New Testament book of Second Timothy, Chapter 3 and verses 16 and 17: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." I believe these verses and take it very seriously. Are you willing to consider that the Bible may actually be the Word of God and that it's message is true?
Salvation
In the third chapter of the Book of John (who was a man who travelled with and was taught by Jesus) the account of a religious leader coming to Jesus by night is told. Nicodemus was a very religious man and a leader of the Jewish people. He had heard Jesus teaching and had come to talk with Jesus, but being fearful of other leaders he approached Jesus under the cover of night. Jesus told Nicodemus that to enter God's kingdom a person must be born again. This confused Nicodemus, after all can you enter your mothers womb to be born a second time? No, Jesus was talking about a spiritual birth because He knew that all men and women are born separated from God by sin. God did not and does not want this but it is still true.
Each of us, no matter how good our lives look on the outside have fallen short of God's standard. This standard is one of perfection. How many times in your life have you lied? Only once, that is great! But by God's standard you still broke His law. This applies to each of the commands we find in the 20th chapter of one of the oldest books in the Bible, Exodus. It is here that God gave mankind the Ten Commandments. It is likely that you have heard of these, but before you discount them try reading them in Exodus Chapter 20, they are easy to understand and if you have ever broken one then you have fallen short of God's standard as God states in Romans Chapter 3 verse 23. The penalty for this is death according to God in the Book of Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 23 (Romans 6:23). It has to be this way because God is Holy, Just and Righteous. But God takes no pleasure in the death of a person who does not know Him as He states in a book written about 2500 years ago by a prophet named Ezekiel.
Even though we have come up short and can't make the grade, God in His Love has provided a solution. It is so simple too. First you need to recognize that you have sinned (to sin is to do those things God said are wrong in the Ten Commandments and other places in the Bible). If you now know that you have sinned and you want to be saved from the punishment for these sins, then all you need to do is believe that Jesus is God's only Son, that He lived and died for your sins and that He was raised again from the tomb. Simply believing this is all that is needed to receive the gift of eternal life. This simple answer is found in the Book of Acts, chapter 16 and verses 30 through 34 which was written by a doctor by the name of Luke, in this example a jailer was saved because of simple belief (or faith).
If as you have read this you have recognized your own need and believed what the Bible says than you are already a Christian, a Believer and you will go to Heaven. Nothing else required. If it is helpful you can say a prayer that goes something like this: "God in Heaven, I recognize that I have broken your law and am a sinner, I believe that Jesus is Your Son and that He paid my penalty for sin. Thank you for saving me and giving me eternal life." You might want to call a friend or family member who is already a Christian and talk with them, they will be so excited to hear from you.
If you are a Believer in Jesus Christ, now you come to the purpose of this website, learning to live a life pleasing to God. Not to earn your salvation, eternal life is a gift from God (as it says in Ephesians 2:8) and cannot be earned. But to make your Father in Heaven proud of you.
Each of us, no matter how good our lives look on the outside have fallen short of God's standard. This standard is one of perfection. How many times in your life have you lied? Only once, that is great! But by God's standard you still broke His law. This applies to each of the commands we find in the 20th chapter of one of the oldest books in the Bible, Exodus. It is here that God gave mankind the Ten Commandments. It is likely that you have heard of these, but before you discount them try reading them in Exodus Chapter 20, they are easy to understand and if you have ever broken one then you have fallen short of God's standard as God states in Romans Chapter 3 verse 23. The penalty for this is death according to God in the Book of Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 23 (Romans 6:23). It has to be this way because God is Holy, Just and Righteous. But God takes no pleasure in the death of a person who does not know Him as He states in a book written about 2500 years ago by a prophet named Ezekiel.
Even though we have come up short and can't make the grade, God in His Love has provided a solution. It is so simple too. First you need to recognize that you have sinned (to sin is to do those things God said are wrong in the Ten Commandments and other places in the Bible). If you now know that you have sinned and you want to be saved from the punishment for these sins, then all you need to do is believe that Jesus is God's only Son, that He lived and died for your sins and that He was raised again from the tomb. Simply believing this is all that is needed to receive the gift of eternal life. This simple answer is found in the Book of Acts, chapter 16 and verses 30 through 34 which was written by a doctor by the name of Luke, in this example a jailer was saved because of simple belief (or faith).
If as you have read this you have recognized your own need and believed what the Bible says than you are already a Christian, a Believer and you will go to Heaven. Nothing else required. If it is helpful you can say a prayer that goes something like this: "God in Heaven, I recognize that I have broken your law and am a sinner, I believe that Jesus is Your Son and that He paid my penalty for sin. Thank you for saving me and giving me eternal life." You might want to call a friend or family member who is already a Christian and talk with them, they will be so excited to hear from you.
If you are a Believer in Jesus Christ, now you come to the purpose of this website, learning to live a life pleasing to God. Not to earn your salvation, eternal life is a gift from God (as it says in Ephesians 2:8) and cannot be earned. But to make your Father in Heaven proud of you.
