Good News, Bad News

Zig Ziglar once said it this way: “The good news is there is nothing we can do that is bad enough to keep us out of Heaven; the bad news is there is nothing we can do good enough to get us into Heaven.“

Believing in what Jesus Christ has done for you on Calvary’s cross is exactly how your life will finally change, your sin will be forgiven, and at your death you will escape hell and enter into the eternity of Heaven.

Here are five things to know so you can understand and accept through faith God’s plan for redeeming you.

1) Man has a problem…

You know that every one of us has our own share of problems, but facing eternity is our greatest problem because each of us is guilty of our own sins and unable to save ourselves.

Romans 3:23 “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

(Isaiah 59:1-2 | 1 John 1:8 | Isaiah 64:6 | 1 John 3:4 | Hebrews 9:27)

2) God gave us a Savior…

In our humanity we want to help ourselves, but we are incapable of saving ourselves and releasing our own guilt, but God has provided a plan for our salvation.

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

(John 3:16 | John 10:10 | Jeremiah 31:3 | Jeremiah 29:11 | Hebrews 9:28)

3) We have a choice…

The power of faith in belief in Jesus Christ allows us to stop rehearsing our sinfulness and start standing on God’s promises, choosing eternal life in faith.

Romans 6:23 “the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(John 1:29 | Revelation 3:20 | 1 Timothy 2:5 | John 14:6 | Ephesians 2:8-9)

4) God hears our prayer…

As long as we’re breathing we have hope and an opportunity to receive God’s gift of assurance of salvation because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for them on Calvary.

Romans 10:9-13 “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.“

(1 John 1:9 | Psalm 103:12 | 1 Corinthians 10:13 | John 1:12 | John 6:47)

5) Receive Jesus Christ…

Have you ever prayed and received the assurance of eternal life by faith by confessing your belief in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for your sins? Here’s a prayer that you can pray to express your receiving God’s gift of eternal life…

Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I know I cannot save myself. Now in faith I ask your forgiveness. I repent of my sins and I accept your gift of eternal life. I thank you for living the life I could not and would not, and dying the death that I deserved, so I might have the eternal life that only you deserve. I accept you as my Savior and will trust you as Lord of my life. Amen.

This is the kind of prayer that the Lord affirms when He said:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” – John 6:47

Why not pause where you are now and pray to accept Jesus Christ into your life, through faith, if you haven’t already? Please contact me to let me know if you did or if you have any questions.

Steve Durkac | Hospice Chaplain

Dying, Grieving, and Biblical Faith