"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel... By which also ye are saved... unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

This is a most important question that many today do not invest much effort contemplating, especially in the adolescent stages of life. When a person is young it appears that life goes on forever, but the fact of the matter is "we all do fade as a leaf" (Isaiah 64:4). In the spring a leaf is green and vibrant, but come the Fall, it is wrinkled and it falls to the ground. Job says of man, "He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not" (Job 14:2). The apostle James asks, "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). Up here in Canada we can identify with this verse. When we breathe out in the cool winter air there is a little puff of vapor, but as quickly as it appeared, it disappears.

So we must ask the question, "If you were to die today, where would you be?" Would you go to heaven? Or would you go to Hell? One might answer, "Well, I'll be six feet under!" Yes, that is where the body goes at death, but what about you, the individual that resides in that body, where will you be? Some think that death ends it all, but does it? One thing that is rather amazing, if we think about it, is that the body of man is but flesh, and yet within this flesh is a soul that has the ability to think and to reason, to communicate, to express emotions, and to make choices. This flesh lives, but where did this life come from? The evolutionist will point to billions of years ago to a Big Bang where life suddenly appeared from non-life without God. But this is not true science. True science is knowledge based on observable facts, and no one was there in the beginning to observe this. Therefore evolution is but a religion. People "choose" to believe it. What we can observe today is that life comes from life. You live because your parents live. Therefore, is it not reasonable then to conclude that all life must ultimately come from the living God?

Now seriously, pause for a moment and think about where you would be if you were to die today. No use putting this question off, lets face it, one day you will die, these are the observable facts, everyone that has ever lived has died. So get an answer in your head before you read on. You got it? OK, lets continue. Do you know what the most common answer is? I have found through my own personal experience that the most common answer is "I am not sure". Now along with this answer usually comes a list of reasons for the answer given. Here is a sample: 1. I go to church regularly. 2. I try to live an honest life. 3. I haven't done anything terribly bad (murder, adultery etc.). But after all is said, there is still that uncertainty of where they will go when they die, even though they are religious and in their own eyes morally upright.

The fact of the matter is they have no assurance of their salvation. Why is this? Why do they have no peace to their soul concerning salvation? Well I believe the answer is very simple. It is because they are trying to get to Heaven "some other way" (John 10:1) than through the "door" (John 10:9), which is the only "Way" (John 14:6) in. They have no rest or comfort to their soul because their hope rests not on Christ alone but on the shaky ground of their own good deeds.

Their conscience has already convicted them as transgressors of Gods holy laws, leaving them uncertain as to just how much good deeds will be enough to get them into heaven and keep them out of hell. Their hope is that in the end their good deeds will outweigh the bad.

Now friends, was your answer that of uncertainty? Are you not sure of your salvation? The Bible tells us "But if our gospel (Good News of Salvation) be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world (the devil) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2Cor. 4:3-4). The Bible tells us "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1Peter 5:8). Satan is the adversary of all mankind. He is a deceiver and his favorite tool is religion, "for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness" (2Cor. 11:14-15). There is a battle going on and the devil is doing his best to blind the minds of those who have not yet believed the Good News of Salvation.

The devil does not want you to know the "gospel (good news) of Christ" . Why is that? Because "it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that beleiveth" (Romans 1:16-17). The apostle Paul told the Corinthians "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1Cor. 1:21). That's right! Those who would hear the blessed "gospel of Christ" and believe it would be saved.

That's what Paul would tell the Church at Ephesus "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) So, we are saved through faith when we hear and respond to the gospel message, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17).

Law keeping was absolutely powerless to save anyone. There was no merit for keeping the Law, for it is the "duty of man" (Eccl 12:13) to keep it. The Law was God's standard of holiness and therefore defined righteousness. It could only condemn man for it revealed to him his sin. "Sin is the transgression of the law" (1John 3:4), and the penalty for transgressing the law is death (Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 6:23). So then, "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." (1Cor. 15:56)

According to Gods standard "there is none righteous" (Romans 3:10) for " all have sinned , and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). But perhaps you think that you have a modicum of righteousness about you and that will get you to heaven. Perhaps you think that you have done more good than bad, so that should be good for something. I am afraid not! "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10), and God will "by no means clear the guilty" (Exodus 34:7).

The Law was to help us put away our pride and self-righteousness. "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God . Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin " (Romans 3:19-20).

The Bible says that sin will not enter into heaven. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1Cor. 6:9-10). "There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie" (Rev. 21:27). "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8)

If God would let sinners into heaven they would wreck it. Look what sin has done to this earth. Have you read a newspaper lately? All we hear about are wars and murders and hatred and racism, lying and adultery, and profanity and corruption. No, God will not allow that in His Heaven. Nothing that defiles shall enter therein, and SIN DEFILES.

This leaves the whole of mankind with a very serious problem. The Law revealed to us that we are sinners and the penalty for sin is eternal death in hell. We have all broken Gods Holy Laws and are therefore under His just condemnation. God is not a corrupt judge but would be if He did not punish sin. Sin must be punished.

Is there any hope then for mankind? Can we be saved and delivered from the wrath that is to come upon this present evil world? Now, there was yet another purpose for the law. It was to teach us that there must be some other way to God other than our own self-righteousness, for we have none. We are absolutely spiritually bankrupt because we are defiled with sin.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith, which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus ." (Galatians 3:22-26)

There is good news and it is this, " Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried , and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1Cor. 15:3-4). Christ died for our sins that "He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:26) The penalty for my sin had to be paid, but God in His grace and mercy provided a substitute. Christ died for me. This leaves out all my boasting and pride, for salvation is a free gift received by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. The apostle Paul's conclusion is "that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28)

There are but two steps required for salvation, that is, "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). If a man will change his mind about his own righteousness and acknowledge his sins, then the cross of Christ will not be foolishness to him. Those who are truly sorry for their sins, and acknowledge "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:4) may call upon the name of Jesus Christ for salvation (Romans 10:13, Act 4:12). It is self-righteousness that keeps a man out of heaven for they "are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness." (Proverbs 30:12) If they are pure in their own eyes they will never see a need for Jesus. They will see no reason come to Jesus for pardon and cleansing of sin, and the "preaching of the cross" (1Cor. 1:18) will be to them foolishness.

But, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9) "But as many as received him (Jesus Christ) , to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name " (John 1:12). When we receive Christ, we have the "hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2). We have a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, but apart from Jesus Christ there is no hope. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

Eternal life therefore is a gift received by faith in Christ alone. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). We have "peace through the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:20). And "being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:9) Do you yet have that rest and peace to your soul, knowing you are saved for all eternity? Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29). "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things , from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39)

Take God at His Word today, and stand on His "exceeding great and precious promises" (2Peter 1:4), for God "cannot lie" (Titus 1:2). "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1John 5:11-13)
GNC