(…continued)
The Choice—Accept or reject God’s gift of salvation in Christ:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Yet to all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13)
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:12-13)
The brevity of life and the need to repent and accept now God’s gift of salvation in Christ:
The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:10-12)
You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions. (Psalm 39:5-8)
No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death. (Ecclesiastes 8:8)
The Lord . . . is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Final Thoughts to Consider:
When I kept silent [about my sin], my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. . . . Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:3-5)
Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me.” (Matthew 12:30)
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17)
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Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a poor sinner.
–The ancient Jesus Prayer
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The Gospel in four simple points: #1—You are a sinner, and because of sin, the world is a sad mess, and you are not right with God. #2—You are going to die, and then you will face the judgment of God. #3—God has forgiven your sins by the death of his son Jesus on the cross, and offers you eternal life. #4– Believe in Jesus and you will be saved, and will live forever in God’s perfect home.
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Tim Keller on what the Gospel means for us: We are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, yet more loved and accepted in Jesus than we ever dared hope… We are sinners loved by Christ; so loved that we don’t have to despair when we do wrong, so sinful that we have no right to be puffed up when we do right… The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone.
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John Piper: It’s like when my son Karsten visited Dick Teagan at age six. There was this big German shepherd who met him eye to eye in the doorway, and Karsten was very much afraid. Dick said, “Don’t be afraid; she’s very friendly.” We sent Kasten to the car to get something we’d forgotten, and he went trotting out. The dog came loping up behind him with a deep rumble in her voice. It did not then look like this dog was safe. Dick hollered out to him, “Oh, Karsten, better not run away from her. She is friendly and safe, but doesn’t like people to run away from her.” That is exactly the way God is! He is a very friendly God. He just doesn’t like people to run away from him. And he will lope after you with a deep rumble in his voice. And if you don’t heed that rumble and turn and hug his neck, it will not be good for you—forever.
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