God’s Greatest Gift and How to Receive It

Many people believe that there is something beyond this life, a place people go after they die… “heaven.” However, most are not sure they will spend eternity there. Perhaps the most common thought is that we must rely on being a good person and living a good life—especially in comparison to others. Well, it is certainly important to be a good, moral person, but that doesn’t solve the problem that prevents you from getting into heaven. What is this problem?

The problem is that you are at odds with God because of sin—the natural flaw in all of us that keeps us from truly relating to a perfect God. This separates us from Him. It’s like there is a barrier or fence between you and God. More importantly, God is so holy and so pure that He can’t tolerate your sin, and justice demands that you be punished for your disobedience to Him. You see, there is a consequence for your sin. Just like if you broke the law: robbed a store, for example. The punishment or consequence you would face is time in jail. God’s justice demands a punishment for your sins. That punishment is spending eternity in Hell.

Fortunately, God is not only holy and pure. God is extremely loving, and has provided the solution for your sin. His requirement for justice is balanced by His love for you. In order that justice be satisfied and love expressed, God sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for your sins through His death on the cross. Since Jesus lived a completely sinless life on earth, He was the perfect payment for your sin. Because Jesus is God, physical death had no power over Him. He rose from the grave to return to heaven and rule with God.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has provided the way for you to overcome your sin and spend eternity with Him. By understanding that you are separated from God because of your sin, you can place your trust in Jesus to save you, and the Bible tells us He will. Trying to earn your way to heaven by being a moral person won’t work. That is a man-centered approach that God rejects. Your trust must be in Jesus who died and rose from the dead in your place. His sacrifice is the only payment for sin that God accepts. When you trust Jesus, God gives you the free gift of heaven and eternal life.

Have you accepted God’s great gift of grace? If not, what is keeping you from placing your trust in Jesus right now? At the end of the service, Pastor Mike and other pastors from the church will be available to talk with you about this most important decision.