God's Answer to man's need!
There is no better question to ask than asked by the keeper of the prison in Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And the only answer to his question is that given by Paul and Silas, And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:31. This isGod's answer to man's need. Jesus' answered Nicodemus, Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
Please understand Paul and Silas' answer was not to go do something but rather to believe on Christ. Mankind is not in a position to do anything because we are the ones who have sinned and sinned against God. Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. There is no goodness in us that would commend us to God. Romans 3:10-23 is quite an indictment against one's argument for their own righteousness. "....none righteous..", "...none that seeketh after God." "...there is none that doeth good.." With our throats, our tongue, and our lips we have sinned. All the world is guilty before God. "...all have sinned". There is no reason as to why God would save us except for His love, For 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.
God has provided salvation for us. He gave us His Son as the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29. That means He took away your sin and my sin, all sin.
Christ as the Lamb of God paid our ransom, our debt, it was a redemption price. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Tim 2:6. We are a slave to our own sin nature and our sin. No ransom could we pay, for no act of ours could satisfy for the least of our sin. Every mouth is stopped and our every futile effort ends in despair: "We have sinned".
"Who gave himself" He substituted Himself as our ransom. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:18-19. He paid our ransom with His own body, 1Pe_2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
As our substitute, Christ became our mercy seat. We now have mercy before God and not judgment. "......he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2. You can now say, "...God be merciful to me a sinner.", Luke 18:13.
Christ suffered the wrath of God, the judgment of God, for our sin that we could have mercy. It is we, the sinner, who is forgiven because of Christ, the just One, suffered for us, the unjust. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17.
God is not angry with you! He gave us His mercy, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; Titus 3:5-6.
Reconciliation is God's Word to mankind. It is a word of Grace. In Luke 18:13 when the publican said, "God be merciful to me a sinner." He was saying, "I have sinned. I do not want to die separated from God with my sin". He had no righteousness of his own. His plea was for mercy.
God's word of grace to mankind, in the message of reconciliation: "You have been reconciled". God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,........ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.2 Cor. 5:18a-19
God did not impute your sin to you because He placed your sin on Christ and judged Him in your place, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5:21. You have been reconciled: Col. 1:21 And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
Christ had no sin - He was made sin by taking our sin. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6
Do you have the same question? What must I do to be saved? Or what must I do to be sure? the answer is the same! The work has been done for you by Christ. "....Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved, and thy house"
In Christ, God has provided salvation for you; your debt of sin has been paid. You can experience His forgiveness when you believe the work was done for you and is sufficient for you.
The promise He has promised you is eternal life:"And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." 1 John 2:25. In believing, you pass from death unto life, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
Your response to the LORD is very important to you. If you have a spiritual need or question and will contact me I will answer you back.
Roger Redmond, Pastor/Teacher
N.R.B.B.C
4701, McCahill Road
Red Bank, Tn. 37415
roger.redmond@epbfi.com
423 488 7700
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