Do you consider yourself to be a good person?

Almost everyone thinks they are a good person…

But the question you should be asking is,

Most people say, “Well, I've broken one or two, but nothing too serious, like murder, etc.”

So let's go through them and see how you do...

This is what the Bible means when it says, “All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God,” (Romans 3:23).

Can you see your predicament? You are guilty of sinning against God Himself, and, because you have a conscience, (con-with, science-knowledge) you have sinned “with knowledge.”

Does the fact that you have sinned against God scare you? It should. 

The Bible says His wrath abides on you (John 3:36), and that you are an “enemy of God in your mind through wicked works,” (Colossians 1:21).

Perhaps you think God is good and because of his goodness He will overlook your sins?

But if you knew of a human judge who turned a blind eye to the crimes of a guilty rapist... would you describe him as a “good” judge?

No. That would be a corrupt judge.

God could never be a corrupt judge. 

He will punish all the rapists, murderers, and thieves... But he won't stop there. He will also punish allliars, the lustful, adulterers, idolaters, and blasphemers, (Revelation 21:8).

God does not want you to perish. He is rich in mercy and compassion, and has provided a way for you to be forgiven. He has invited you to come to Him for a full pardon and receive the free gift of Eternal Life. You cannot earn it, and you do not deserve it, but God is offering it to you as proof of His love for you.

Imagine you are standing in front of a judge, guilty of multiple serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt. Your apologies and good works cannot erase your crimes; therefore you must be punished. The fine for your crime is $250,000 or imprisonment, but you don’t have two pennies to rub together. The judge is about to pass sentence when someone you don't even know steps in and pays your fine for you! The court accepts the money and declares that you are free to go. The law has been satisfied, your debt has been paid in full, and the

stranger’s sacrifice was a demonstration of his love for you. That’s what God did for you 2000 years ago. 

The Bible says that the God of the Universe became a man (Jesus Christ), and suffered and died on the cross for your sins and mine so that we could be set free. It's as simple as this—we broke the Law,and Jesus paid our fine.

Do you see God’s great love for you? Do you see your need for His forgiveness?Then do what He commands and “Repent…that your sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)You must turn away from sin and turn to God. Desire to have NOTHING to do with sin, and surrender your life to the One who can save you. Jesus died to set you free, and then he rose from death to be your Lord. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If you will confess and forsake your sins (repent) and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, God will forgive you and you’ll pass from death to life. 

If you are not sure how to pray, read Psalm 51 (copied for you at the end of this article) and make it your prayer. 

What does it mean to "put your faith in Jesus Christ?" It means to personally trust in Jesus the same way you’d trust in a parachute if you had to jump 25,000 feet out of an airplane.You wouldn’t just"believe" in the parachute; you would put it on! In the same way, the Bible says, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ..." and you will be saved. There are millions of people who "believe" Jesus exists . . . but they have not put on the Savior—there’s a BIG difference. And the difference will be obvious when you “jump” through the door of death.

Today, with all your heart—turn away from sin, and surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Please don’t put it off till later. You may die today and then it will be too late. You may not yet have all the answers to your questions, but better to put on the parachute first and then ask questions, then to pass through the door unprepared, grasping for the parachute when it’s too late. 

You can pray something like this —

There is nothing magic about these words—it is the attitude of your heart that God cares about. 

God will transform you from the inside out. You will think and feel differently as you learn to trust and obey Him. God will give you new strength to live right and love Him above all else. Read your Bible daily and obey His Word. You can trust God—He loves you and will always be faithful. To help you get started, you may also want to read “10 Principles for New and Growing Christians.” 

If you've decided to rejectthe gift of forgiveness and you die in your sins, there is no hope for you. There is no purgatory. The wrath of God abides on you and you will spend eternity in Hell. Please take the time to read what the Bible says Hell is like.

There are three words translated “Hell” in Scripture:

Gehenna (Greek): The place of punishment (Matthew 5:22,29; 10:28; and James 3:6)

Hades (Greek): The abode of the dead (Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27)

Sheol (Hebrew): The grave (Psalm 9:17; 16:10)

There are those who accept that Hell is a place of punishment, but believe that the punishment is to be annihilated—to cease conscious existence. They can’t conceive that the punishment of the wicked will be conscious and eternal. If they are correct, then a man like Adolph Hitler, who was responsible for the deaths of millions, is being “punished” merely with eternal sleep. His fate is simply to return to the non-existent state he was in before he was born, where he doesn’t even know that he is being punished.

However, Scripture paints a different story. The rich man who found himself in Hell (Luke 16:19-31) was conscious. He was able to feel pain, to thirst, and to experience remorse. He wasn’t asleep in the grave; he was in a place of “torment.” If Hell is a place of knowing nothing or a reference to the grave into which we go at death, Jesus’ statements about Hell make no sense. He said that if your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin, it would be better to remove it than to “go into Hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:43-48).

The Bible refers to the fate of the unsaved with such fearful words as the following:

•“Shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2)

•“Everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46)

•“Weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:51)

•“Fire unquenchable” (Luke 3:17)

•“Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish” (Romans 2:8,9)

•“Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:9)

•“Eternal fire...the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 7,13)

Revelation 14:10,11 tells us the final, eternal destiny of the sinner: “He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone...the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day or night."

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 

6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 

9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 

15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 

16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise.

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