By:
Edited by Algernon J. Pollock
TODAY there are many views of how one can “get to heaven.” All seem more or less anxious to reach there, and yet there are many who are profoundly ignorant of this matter of vital importance.
Some actually imagine that burning candles before the image of the Virgin Mary, doing penances, fasting and giving alms will suffice, and so they pursue this course with zeal, and a false sense of assurance.
Others think that praying each night, and daily reading of the Bible, going to church on Sunday, and giving away a little money to some deserving institution will make them inheritors of Eternal Life, so they, with the best of intentions live their lives in a good Christian way, as they think, and leave the issue in the hands of God.
These ways are human ways, but God has supplied a divine way at great cost to Himself, and He will not be content with man’s way, even his very best.
THE BIBLE is our only standard, so let us see what it says.
Firstly, why do we need to be saved at all, what have we done that God should judge us, why does He not let us alone? We answer that we are God’s creatures, the work of His own hand, brought into being for an express purpose, even for His own glory; but man has sinned, and God cannot look upon sin. He is so holy that He must judge and condemn sin, and yet, while hating the sin He loves the sinner. The Bible plainly states that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), and “The soul that sinneth it shall die” (Ezek. 18:2020The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Ezekiel 18:20)). The penalty of death rests, therefore, on all of us.
Apparently, in ourselves ours is a hopeless case, but the apostle John tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
Let us analyze this wonderful verse― “God so loved”―think of the wonder of this, that God loved, and still more wonderful that He loved “the world,” which had rebelled against Him. Whenever God loves there is always a result, and as He could not definitely pardon sin apart from doing it righteously, He found a Substitute to settle the question of sin, and thus God can righteously pardon as many as accept His offer and believe on His Son.
Let us continue: “That He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever” that includes you— “believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We believers, are more than saved, we are enriched with eternal life as well. You may ask, How is it that just because God’s Son came we can be saved? We answer, Having lived a perfect life as a man, in dying He Paid to the uttermost the penalty of sin.
All that is necessary to be saved is to believe that the “blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)), accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour.
Remember, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). You must die. Are you prepared?
If you are not saved by the blood of Christ, you may be on the brink of death with a God to meet, and your doom sealed.
There can be no other way. God would not let His Son die unless it were absolutely necessary. If you reject or neglect Him how great will be your punishment.
Will you not believe before it is too late?
A. F. S. P.