There are many things we want to be certain about. We want to be sure that:
* there's enough money in the bank to cover expenses
* the tires are in good condition before a big trip
* our kids are getting a good education
* I have job security
* my spouse loves me
* our doors are locked at night
* my loved ones have what they need
* I have time for fun and recreation
* I can afford to retire some day
* We have medical insurance
* I have food and shelter
* Etc.
However, of all the things in our life that we should be trying to lock down, so that we have total certainty, the most important thing to be sure about is our eternal future. This past Sunday I shared with my church what the Bible says about eternal life. For those who missed it let me share with you what just might prove to be the most important bit of information anyone ever told you.
Truth #1 - It is possible to know 100% for sure that when this life comes to an end you will be in heaven with Jesus for eternity.
Truth #2 - If you're "pretty sure," "not sure," or "hoping" that you'll be in heaven one day, then chances are you're banking on the wrong thing to get you there. The reason for this is because when we understand and believe what the Bible says about eternal life there is no longer any doubt. Doubt about eternal life in heaven happens when we are banking on our own good behavior to buy us a spot in heaven. We hope that we've been good enough or that we haven't done anything too bad or that our good decisions will outweigh the bad decisions. So, we live with doubt because we're not ever quite sure if we've been good enough to earn God's forgiveness and acceptance.
Truth #3 - The Bible says that neither you nor anybody else, even the most religious person you can think of, has done enough good things to earn heaven. The saints, the prophets, the disciples, pastors, missionaries, monks, nuns, priests, no person other than Jesus has lived a perfect life. Even if I was able to be perfect from this day forward there's no solution for my past sins and say I only committed 10 sins a day? That's still 3,650 sins per year. No matter how you cut it we're all in trouble.
Truth #4 - Although we could never do enough Jesus did do enough on our behalf. I can't do enough good things to erase my mistakes and sins but Jesus paid the price of my debt to God on the cross. The Bible is very clear that he paid for all my sins in full.
Truth #5 - If I believe Jesus did all the work necessary to get me to heaven and that his sacrifice was enough to cover all my sins then I won't have any doubts whatsoever about going to heaven. Doubt surfaces when I trust myself to get to heaven and doubts disappear when I trust Jesus as my Savior.
There are many verses in the Bible that will reassure you about truth #5. Read: John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8,9, 1John 5:11-13 and tell Jesus that you trust that his death and resurrection was enough to secure your eternity in heaven. God's not impressed by your good deeds. He's only pleased when you choose to trust him, believing that you have eternal life given to you as a gift, thanks to Jesus' sacrifice.
Thank you God for assurance of eternal life...not because I deserve it but because you gave it to me as a gift many years ago when I trusted you as my Savior.
Showing posts with label John 3:16. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 3:16. Show all posts
Monday, November 24, 2014
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Image of God
I recently was asked this question, "Are we are made in God's image or Adam's image?" which is a great question for focusing us on the question of what "image" means in the Bible.
In general, "image" simply means likeness or representation. I like to kid that my four sons were all born with a genetic defect...they bear my image. In other words there's something about them that reminds you of me. Sorry boys ;-)
So with this definition in mind, we know that we are all born with physical bodies and with a nature to sin...so in that sense we're made in Adam's image since we know that God cannot sin and that he is not physical. Of course there are also other things about us that are in the likeness of Adam so the answer is, yes, we're made in his image. Some people squirm or even rebel against the teaching that even our cute little children are sinners, but it's true that we all were born this way whether we acknowledge it or not (read Romans 5 if you don't believe me.)
However, we're also made in the image of God. It is clear from Genesis 1 that God created Man and Women each distinct from each other but each in the image of God. So there is something that is inherently male and something inherently female that is a representation of who God is. It's something that is not possessed by animals or anything else God has created. We are unique in that we (humankind) were created in God's image. Also male and female are equally made in God's image...there is no inferiority of value!
The Bible tells us that every person since the beginning is created in God's image in spite of the sin nature. In other words, we didn't lose God's image because of sin. Would we be more in the likeness of God if we didn't sin...obviously yes. But that's irrelevant since we've all sinned (even the Apostles, the Mother of Jesus, Mother Theresa, Joel Osteen, your Pastor, etc. etc.)
So, what do we possess that correctly and uniquely represents God? That's an ongoing discussion, but I'll toss out some examples that I see: We have an eternal spirit; we can commune with God; we are highly creative; we are able to manage and rule creation; we have a conscience and common sense; we think and strategize at a high level; we understand justice; we can choose mercy; we are able to be faithful when it isn't convenient, etc.
This discussion is important because it relates to our ethical choices. This past weekend our church remembered the MLK holiday and we remembered national Sanctity of Life Sunday. We said that regardless of the developmental state of a person (from pre-birth all the way to hospice care) and regardless of a persons skin color, all people are loved and therefore valued equally by God (John 3:16.)
There is also a second reason why Christians highly value human life...because we're made in the image of God (Gen 1:26, 27; 9:6; James 3:9.)
A follow up question to this then is, when does human life begin (and end?) And the answer can't be "viability" because there are many "people" who are dependent on others for survival.
In general, "image" simply means likeness or representation. I like to kid that my four sons were all born with a genetic defect...they bear my image. In other words there's something about them that reminds you of me. Sorry boys ;-)
So with this definition in mind, we know that we are all born with physical bodies and with a nature to sin...so in that sense we're made in Adam's image since we know that God cannot sin and that he is not physical. Of course there are also other things about us that are in the likeness of Adam so the answer is, yes, we're made in his image. Some people squirm or even rebel against the teaching that even our cute little children are sinners, but it's true that we all were born this way whether we acknowledge it or not (read Romans 5 if you don't believe me.)
However, we're also made in the image of God. It is clear from Genesis 1 that God created Man and Women each distinct from each other but each in the image of God. So there is something that is inherently male and something inherently female that is a representation of who God is. It's something that is not possessed by animals or anything else God has created. We are unique in that we (humankind) were created in God's image. Also male and female are equally made in God's image...there is no inferiority of value!
The Bible tells us that every person since the beginning is created in God's image in spite of the sin nature. In other words, we didn't lose God's image because of sin. Would we be more in the likeness of God if we didn't sin...obviously yes. But that's irrelevant since we've all sinned (even the Apostles, the Mother of Jesus, Mother Theresa, Joel Osteen, your Pastor, etc. etc.)
So, what do we possess that correctly and uniquely represents God? That's an ongoing discussion, but I'll toss out some examples that I see: We have an eternal spirit; we can commune with God; we are highly creative; we are able to manage and rule creation; we have a conscience and common sense; we think and strategize at a high level; we understand justice; we can choose mercy; we are able to be faithful when it isn't convenient, etc.
This discussion is important because it relates to our ethical choices. This past weekend our church remembered the MLK holiday and we remembered national Sanctity of Life Sunday. We said that regardless of the developmental state of a person (from pre-birth all the way to hospice care) and regardless of a persons skin color, all people are loved and therefore valued equally by God (John 3:16.)
There is also a second reason why Christians highly value human life...because we're made in the image of God (Gen 1:26, 27; 9:6; James 3:9.)
A follow up question to this then is, when does human life begin (and end?) And the answer can't be "viability" because there are many "people" who are dependent on others for survival.
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