The Good News of God's Plan for Us!
While we truly enjoy presenting the "fruits of our labors" to you, we really live for something far more important and wonderful. You see, the God who created all things, made all of us for a specific purpose.
GOD’S PURPOSE FOR US…
In the first chapter, the first book of the Bible, God reveals a profound truth about His purpose for man:
"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them."Genesis 1: 27
An image is a representation or reflection of something or someone. One of the reasons man creates mirrors is to reflect his own image. A mirror that loses its ability to reflect, or one that reflects a distorted or marred image is of little or no value. No one wants a mirror that creates images of its own making. To be of value, a mirror must display an accurate representation of whatever or whoever is placed in front of it.
Similarly, man was made to accurately reflect God — not His physical appearance since God is invisible, but rather His glory — His holiness, righteousness, love, and truth. So then, being created in God's image is a great privilege and carries a great responsibility. Please think about that for a few moments.
THE PROBLEM...
The Bible tells us that all have failed in our purpose to reflect God's holy character. It goes further to show us that we do not even have the natural desire to reflect Him.
All we like sheep have gone astray, no one seeks after God, no not one.Romans 3:10
Any action or thought that fails to reflect God's glory is sin.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.Romans 3:23
Our preoccupation with self — putting our own needs, wants and desires above those of others — completely fails to reflect who God is. For example, God is truth! Any time we are the least bit deceptive, we fail to reflect God.
We are also told that God is love! Any time we harbor or display blatant disdain for another the Bible says we have committed "murder," when we lust after someone in our mind, the Bible says we have committed "adultery."
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, "Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:" But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, "Raca" shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, "Thou fool," shall be in danger of hell fire.Matthew 5:21-22
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, "Thou shalt not commit adultery:" But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.Matthew 5:27-28
When we steal, or covet, or disregard parental authority, or governmental authority — every time we are boastful, unkind, ungentle, or rude, impatient, we fail to reflect God's loving character.
What's more, if we fail to obey God in one point, the Bible says we are guilty of the whole law and worthy of death!
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.James 2:10
For the wages of sin is death.Romans 6:23a
THE GOOD NEWS...
Even though we all deserve eternal death, God who is rich in mercy, has provided anyone who so desires, a way to satisfy the requirements of His law. This is the good news.
We must first understand that God, who created us and created the Law, has all rights to establish the penalties for breaking that law. God has determined that only a sinless sacrifice can satisfy the sin debt of a sinner. That means that no amount of good deeds or religious activity on our part can undo our sins.
We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.II Corinthians 5:20b-21
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:16
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ.Romans 6:23
So, what must one do to receive God's forgiveness and Eternal Life?
First, you must confess (agree with God) that you have failed to honor, obey, and glorify Him, that you are incapable of doing so on your own, and that, as a result, you are deserving of eternal death (separation from God).
You must choose Christ as your Lord (to allow Him total and complete rule in your life) and that you'll be His disciple. This means you must choose to follow Him, to obey His commands.
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.Romans 10:9-10
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.Romans 16:24
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.Matthew 10:13
BLESSINGS OF BECOMING GOD'S CHILD...
Once you accept Christ's payment for your sin and willingly trust Him with all of the decisions and directions of your life, God will:
- give you eternal life (see 1 John 5:25, and John 5:24)
- send His Holy Spirit to dwell in your soul and adopt you as His child (see Romans 8:15-17)
- make you a new creation (see II Corinthians 5:17)
- begin of lifetime work of making you like His Son, Christ Jesus (see Romans 8:28-29)
- Continue to forgive all your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness as you confess your sins to Him (see I John 1:9)
- give you the desire and power to glorify Him (see Ephesians 2:8-10)
Please consider this matter very carefully, your decision has ETERNAL consequences.
-The Friskes
