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What
Is The Heart Of The Christian Message? God’s
desire in creating humankind is that we would live in a perfect paradise
enjoying perfect relationship with Him. Genesis
1:26, Then
God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” Our
sin separates us from God. The
wrong things that we have done placed a barrier between humankind and
our Creator. Genesis
6:5-6, The
LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that
every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the
time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his
heart was filled with pain. Sin
cannot be removed by good deeds. There
is nothing we can do through our own efforts that can restore our broken
relationship with God. Titus
3:5, He
saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of
his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit. Paying
the price for our sin, Jesus died and rose again. Jesus
came to earth and lived a perfect life, died a horrible death, and rose
from the grave to pay the price for all of the sins of humankind. 1
Corinthians 15:3-4, For
what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that
he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Everyone
who trusts in Jesus alone
has eternal life. By
simply placing our trust in Jesus death and resurrection as our only
hope of salvation, we receive the free gift of salvation (a
restored relationship with God). John
6:47, I
tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. Life
that’s
eternal means we will be with Jesus forever in heaven. Those
who have placed their trust in Christ have forgiveness of sins and a
restored relationship with God forever. Revelation
22:5, There
will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the
light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will
reign for ever and ever. |