Invitation

On 1.19.1976 at 10:43 AM, I invited Jesus into my heart. From that day forward, by the grace of God, He changed my life trajectory from eternal destruction in the lake of fire to a future eternity of endless blessings with Him in glory. Thankfully, we do not have to wait until heaven to receive blessings from on High! Upon receiving the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-9), I immediately went from

• spiritual death to spiritual life 

• hellbound to heavenbound, 

• lost to found, 

• enemy to a son, 

• lost sinner to a saved sinner, 

• darkness to light, 

• blindness to sight,

• unforgiven to forgiven,

• without purpose to having purpose 

• without hope to having hope, 

• God on the outside to God in my life, 

• condemnation to redemption, 

• burdens to blessings  

• slave of sin to a slave of God,                                   

• without peace to a peace that passes all understanding,  

• and so much more (cf. 1 Cor 2:9-10)! 

Those things mentioned above are just some of the amazing byproducts of receiving the gift of salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9)! If you have never received Jesus personally into your heart, I implore you to consider what Billy Graham has to say about "Steps to Peace with God." Jesus the Messiah is the only way to God the Father (Jn 14:6). 

If you have not received Jesus into your heart, you have but two choices before you: eternal death or eternal life. If you should step into eternity without Christ, you will die in your sins and be separated from God forever, or two, you can cross over the untraversable gorge between you and God via the Bridge (Jesus) in the here and now for salvation and be united with God Almighty forever as a son or daughter. Everyone who comes to God must cross the same bridge through faith in Jesus. There is no other way (cf. Acts 4:12).

I believe that asking Jesus to come into my heart and save me from my sins was the most consequential thing that I have ever done or will ever do, bar none! Yahweh desires that all men and women be saved, but He will not deliver us against our will (cf. Jn 3:16; 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9). Rom 10:13 teaches us that salvation is not passively automatic, that is, that everyone goes to heaven when they die because God so loved the world... A vast majority of humanity wants to continue with their lifestyle of sin and still go to heaven when they die. It is a Satanic deception that salvation is automatic; that God's plan is to save everybody whether they want salvation or not! 

Paul is very clear that whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, but that demands a decision to repent of sin, ask for forgiveness, and live under Yahweh's authority rather than your own from henceforth. Not too many people are willing to do that unless they can have their cake and eat it, too! But biblical salvation does not work that way. Our destiny is not determined by the circumstances of life but by the choices that we make. Biblical salvation involves a choice. Choose Jesus, you choose life eternal. Reject Jesus, you choose eternal death. Do not choose Jesus nor reject Him, you choose eternal death.

Salvation is a profound choice (cf. Rom 10:13; Jn 3:18; 1 Jn 5:12), but choosing to remain under condemnation as an unbeliever, being aware of the repercussions (Jn 3:18; 8:24; Rom 6:23), is unfathomably insane in my opinion! For any person to step out into eternity while in a spiritual state of condemnation will invariably cross the proverbial Rubicon River, the point of no return. On the other side is the sum of all fears, eternal separation from Yahweh. There is nothing on earth to relate to the everlasting torment and pain awaiting all future inhabitants of the lake of fire.

Both decisions, for or against salvation, carry the gravity of two contrasting eternities: salvation in heaven versus destruction in the lake of fire. If you have not done so, I pray that you will choose to place your trust in Jesus, who demonstrated His love for us (including you) at the cross (Rom 5:8), before stepping out into eternity without Christ. Now is the day; now is the time to place your trust in Jesus Christ through faith in Him alone.  

After salvation, the next important step in obedience is water baptism by immersion, symbolizing your salvation to the world. Also, I recommend that you join a Bible-believing/behaving evangelical church that privately and publicly reflects a strong desire to be Word-centric rather than culturally focused. We cannot be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mt 5:13-15) apart from knowing and applying the Word of God to everyday life in service to Yahweh!  

God always means what He says and says what He means (cf. Ecc 3:14; Isa 46:10; 55:11; Mt 24:35; Jn 6:63; 1 Cor 1:18; Heb 4:12; 1 Pet 1:23). It simply does not pay to disobey Him! We are commanded to glorify God at all times, in all places, in all situations, and in all things (cf. Mt 5:16; 1 Cor 6:20; 10:31; Col 3:17, 23). It seems like a tall order given the resistance from Satan, the world system, and our sin nature to all things God, but through faith in Christ, we can overcome the ungodly opposition (Jn 15:5; 16:33; Rom 8:37; Php 4:13; 1 Jn 4:4).  

Before his martyrdom, the last recorded words of the Apostle Peter were insightful and wise, 

But grow [Tense) present, (Voice) active, (Mood) imperative] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen (2 Pet 3:18).  

Peter was giving a command for believers to grow continuously in grace and truth. He was nearing his death by martyrdom, and he was more concerned about spiritual growth for believers to be like Christ, full of grace and truth, 

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This speaks volumes about Peter. It is possible that Jesus forewarned Peter of his death in Jn 21:18-19? Peter was more interested in letting us know that living or dying for Christ was worth it, 

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. <><

 

4 Him 4 U

Michael D. Alderman 

(Gal 2:20)