ESSENTIAL QUESTION : Are
you redeemed and assured of heaven? One can know. Study this page and the Feature pages listed to find answers, and then pray to God to show you. See the Gospel In Brief below on this page.
Redemption speaks of being res- cued (saved) and reconciled to God, who paid a great price for us; and it tells of great blessings in Christ, and eternal hope with Him and in His glorious reign as "King of kings, and Lord of lords".
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Redemption Way
is about heaven and hell; and salvation of the soul; assurance of eternal life; blessing; judgments; man's course; the Lord's sacrifice, reign, kingdom, glory, and purposes, etc. Such papers are posted here at times. Contact the Site Manager for further information on these subjects.
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THE GOSPEL IN BRIEF
Understanding The Blessing
A Few Verses To Consider: God is holy (Psa.145:17), and no sin can
come into His presence (Hab.1:13). Man is born in sin so needs a new
(spiritual) birth (Psa. 51:5; John 3; Rom.3; Rom. 5:12; Rom.10), and he must realize that (Lev.10:10; I Cor. 2: 14; Eph. 2:3). Christ died for the un-godly (Rom.5: 6-8), rose again (I Cor. 15: 3-4), and if one truly be-lieves on the Lord Jesus Christ he shall be saved from all sin (Acts 16: 27-34; Heb.10:17- 23). There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus (Rom.8:1), and He that possesses the Son of God is sealed by the Holy Spirit and now possesses eternal life (John 3:16, 36; I John
5: 11-13). Isn't that nice to know? Does the reader know God's Son---
the Lord Jesus Christ? (John 17:3).
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THE EFFECT OF ORIGINAL SIN
The thought of original sin speaks of the fallen nature of man from the garden of Eden (see Gen.3; Psa.51:5; I Cor.2:14; Eph.2:3). It is not an expression we find in the Bible, but it is a truth we find there (Rom.5:12-14). Man was created in innocence and with a free will, but disobeyed God and fell from grace and acquired a sinful nature. This nature of sin causes us to committ sins, and man no longer has a free will. He is enslaved by Satan. Man is born now in sin and so practices sin. One has said: "Fish got to swim; birds got to fly; and man has got to sin---that is what they do best". The Word of God tells us that rejecting or neglecting His Son, and lust, envy, pride, anger, even a lie or the thought of foolishness, is sin before the holiness of God.
Because of this fallen nature, man must be "born again" to be right with God (John 3:3). His natural birth fitted him to live in this world, but he needs a spiritual birth to have eternal life and enter heaven. He needs a new life, and this life is in Christ Jesus, the Lord. "He that hath the Son hath (eternal) life" (I John 5:11-13). Salvation is not in just believing about Christ and following His teachings, but in having a new life in Christ. Man cannot appropriate that life by his will (John 1:11-13). When awakened to God he must cry to God for deliverance from his wretched condition, and in humility receive God's gift of life in His Son. That is the gospel truth.
When God gives man a new nature---new birth by faith in Christ, he has forgiveness and the power of God to help him walk and live the new life; however, the old life remains with him as long as he is in this world, and our spiritual warfare is our struggle to be overcomers, please God, and receive blessings. Thank God the salvation of a soul does not depend on our good works, for we fail every day. It is only by grace (see Eph.2:4-9); but the saints of God are shown that confessing our sins and striving to be obedient and faithful will give us victory over the flesh daily for a Godly walk (I John 1:9).
Man does not understand sin, nor does he understand holiness. We have trouble even appreciating that God is so holy that He cannot look on sin; and God says all the thoughts of man's heart is only evil continually (Gen.6), and there is none righteous, and all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom.3). Man tends to think that because he does not steal or kill someone, he does not sin. He stands in the midst of it, and is so close to sinfulness that "He can't see the forest for the trees", as the saying goes.
Our holy God is "a consuming fire" (Heb.12:29). Like paper when it is thrust into fire, our presence before the holiness of God is thus predictable. Unless we are "born again" we shall surely perish. Good works or good intentions cannot save us.
When we come to realize our wretched condition, we can begin to appreciate how far off we are from God, and the need for God to bring salvation and life to us in His own Son. Does one want that life? Will one receive it? God lovingly wants to give this life to all, but He does not force it.
- RLD, '04; rev. 4/09
