Welcome!! I am glad that you are checking out my blog! If you want to know more about God and desire to experience true peace and joy, then please read through this article I wrote to help you.
I am going to use all of my proofs for my belief from the Bible, so in order to believe that what I have said is true, you must believe that Scripture is God’s Word. However, even if you are unsure about that, I encourage you to read through this just to see what I believe.
Here is the logical chain of progression that a person needs to understand in order to be saved, born again, redeemed, justified, on your way to heaven, etc. etc. however you want to put it.
A – Man was created in the Image of God unlike any of the animals (man is not evolved) in order to bring glory to God.
Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV)
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
[27] So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
B – Man gave up that image because of pride and independence (i.e., he sinned); man wanted to bring glory to himself.
Genesis 3:1-6 (ESV)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" [2] And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, [3] but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.' " [4] But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. [5] For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Romans 1:18-25 (ESV)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] 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. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
[24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
C – When man sinned and ate the fruit, he destined all humans to be born totally depraved. Totally depraved means that there is no good in man… even people who look like they are doing good deeds are really doing it out of selfish ambition if they are not “reborn of God” (i.e., saved)
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 3:10-12 (ESV)
as it is written:
"None is righteous, no, not one;
[11] no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
[12] All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one."
Romans 1:28-31 (ESV)
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. [29] They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, [30] slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, [31] foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
D – God’s punishment for man’s sin is death because God is righteous
Romans 6:23 (ESV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 – physical death – everything (including humanity) on earth now dies because of man’s sinfulness
2 – spiritual death – there must be a way of atonement. God is just and righteous, he is like a judge that cannot let a rapist or murderer go free without some kind of payment. That payment is eternity is hell. Isn’t that kind of harsh? Think of it this way… God is eternally good and holy and loving and perfect, so when we sin against an eternally perfect God, we are deserving of an eternally long punishment (i.e., the punishment fits the crime)
Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV)
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' [22] 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.
God hates sin so much that even when someone hates a person in their heart, it is like killing that person and deserving of hell
Rev. 20:11-15 (ESV)
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. [12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. [13] And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. [14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Someday, everything that everybody says and does will be judged by God, and even if you have never killed or raped anyone, just thinking angry or lustful thoughts will condemn you and you will spend eternity in hell… no matter how good you are. If you have broken just one law, just ONE, you are guilty of sin, and sin deserves death.
James 2:10-11 (ESV)
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. [11] For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
E – Humanity is screwed without any hope – they must spend an eternity in hell atoning for their sin
Well, we might as well go eat, drink, and party for tomorrow we will die an eternally long death… right?... wait a second, keep reading…
F – However, God already had a plan set out for humanity because God is LOVE
God loves you so much that He was willing to die for you!! He loves you!!
G – The only way for sin to be atoned for (i.e., taken care of) is through death (i.e., the shedding of blood)
Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
H – Because God is without sin, He alone can take the penalty for all of humanity and die for it
The flesh is a term used in the Bible to describe our sin nature, that which we are born with… those who are of the flesh are sinful and cannot choose good or redeem themselves. What they need is a Savior!!
Romans 8:1 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
John 3:16-17 (ESV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
[17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
I – Therefore, Christ (Who is God) came to earth, was 100% man but also 100% God, felt everything that man feels except without sinning, and was crucified (i.e., put to death) for the sin of humanity
Hebrews 4:14-15 (ESV)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15] 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.
Romans 6:9-11 (ESV)
We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. [10] For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 5:6-9 (ESV)
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— [8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
J – Because of this, humanity simply has to place their faith in the work of Christ (not their own works), repent of their sins, and trust that Christ paid their penalty… and then they are “reborn” (or saved) and on their way to heaven!!!
Romans 5:1-2 (ESV)
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Ephes. 2:3-9 (ESV)
among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
A person cannot be saved by something he/she does whether it be good works, baptism, even forcing yourself to believe in God just to escape hell. Salvation comes only when you let go of your pride, confess your sin to God, and trust that Christ died for you and will save you like He promised.
K – The Bible says that there is no other way one can be saved apart from Christ because He sacrificed so much, and because the sin penalty would not be taken care of had Christ not died for humanity (since a blood atonement was required) Someone had to die for everyone, but that someone had to be sinless… so Christ was the only option!!
Acts 4:11-12 (ESV)
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. [12] And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Please understand that this is the most important decision you will ever make. Someone once said that what you believe about God will shape the way you look at life… That’s the understatement of the century! What you believe about God will literally change your life (whether good or bad) and determine where you will spend the rest of eternity (whether heaven or hell) – after all, doesn’t it just feel like there is more to life than just going to work, raising your children, and dying?
Once you accept Christ as your Saviour (simply by believing what He wrote in His Word (some of which I shared with you above), He will change your life. He does this by giving you His Holy Spirit to come in your life and provide the power to change. Are you ready to stop living for yourself and other people and start living for Him? If so, humbly confess your sin to Him and trust Him for taking it away on the cross… and get ready for a life-changing revolution to take place!!!
And That's The Way I See It From The Captain's Chair...
