Got Jesus?

Have you ever considered what will happen to you after you die? Many people believe since they are basically "good people" that they will be going to heaven. You might think, "I've never killed anyone!" so why shouldn't I go to heaven? Or perhaps you have killed someone and feel there is no way that you are going to heaven. If you think you are going to heaven but aren't sure why or if you believe you are just not good enough, please read on.

In the Bible we read that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). I truly believe that deep down inside, we all know that this is true. You may feel that you are pretty good, or maybe you believe God uses some sort of cosmic scale with the good things on one side and bad things on the other...but it doesn't quite work that way. If you stood before an earthly judge, convicted of murder, how many good deeds could you possibly have done to justify a pardon? In the same way God, who is just and fair cannot ignore any amount of sin simply because we have done a few good things. Even if we have done many good things the penalty cannot be erased for the bad things, regardless of their magnitude.

In Romans 6:23 we read, "For the wages of sin is death,..." This means that since we have sinned, we deserve death. Death is the eternal separation from God or what we commonly refer to as hell. So if "all have sinned" and "the wages of sin is death" then it is plain to see that we are all headed for a place other than heaven. This sounds pretty dim and grim doesn't it? But wait...it gets better. If we continue to read the rest of Romans 6:23 we read "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This is truly Good News!

The Good News or "Gospel" of Jesus Christ is this..."While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8b). In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read, "God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." This means that when Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins. Our penalty or fine has been paid in full. In fact, we have been declared completely innocent and justified in His sight (that means just-if-I'd never sinned).

You might be thinking, "Can God really forgive me?" or "Did Christ die for my sins too?" The answer is a resounding YES...if you recognize the fact that you have gone your own way and acknowledge that God's way is the right way. If you would like to do that today, say the following prayer to God. Remember, He knows everything you have done in the past and He will hear the sincerity of your heart at this very moment as you say this prayer.

"O God, I have gone my own way and I'm sorry for what I have done. I am willing to turn from my sin but I need your help. I receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior and accept the sacrifice that He made on the cross. From now on I want to follow You and do what is right in Your eyes. Thank you for making a way for me to have eternal life. In Jesus' name...Amen"

If you have just prayed this prayer for the first time, we would like to welcome you into the family of God. Please contact us and let us know about your decision. We would like to help you grow and understand more about what God's salvation means for your life as it is found in the Bible. The church is here to help us learn about God and His ways and to provide fellowship with other's who have made the same choice for their lives.

If you feel you are not ready to say that prayer, that's OK. We would still like to hear from you so we can help you further understand what this is all about. Remember, God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you now. Who can say how many days we have left. Many people think they are going to heaven when their time is up. Our question is, "If you are going to spend eternity in heaven with God, why not take some time to get to know Him now?"

To contact us, click here to find our church address, telephone number and email address. Please check our schedule and stop by anytime for a Sunday service or Bible study.

God bless you from the family of believers at New Hope Chapel.