What happens when I die? It's a question that too many in this fast-paced world will never even stop to consider. We are so busy running that we never have time to stop and think. Few of us take a look at our lives and consider what the meaning to all this is. Often, we never even search for the answer at all. 

  But the fact is, we are all going to die. Is there a God? Is there something He requires of us? Will He just let us into heaven if we’ve lived basically good lives? 

  Stop for a moment and think about this world and how it looks. Could all of the things that exist have come about on their own? Do you really believe the beauty and complexity we see around us today is meaningless? Or is there a great God Who made it all? On the other hand, consider for a moment the horrible things people do and have done and the tragedies that rock our world. Don't you agree that there is evil pervading our world today? Why is it that people act as if there is no God, yet curse His name when things go wrong? Why do we think so little of God if He is the creator of all things? Perhaps it is the fact that evil does exist in the world. As long as the devil can keep you busy, never thinking there is truly good or evil in this life, he can keep you on a sure path to hell.

  But you may say, "I'm a good person and believe in God! I don't do anything illegal! I contribute to charitable programs! I help others! I go to church! I'm even a member of “such and such” church! Why are you even asking me to consider whether or not I will be saved?"

  Let's look at what the Bible says about us and the "good" things we do?

Isaiah 64:6 says, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Matthew 7:22-23
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

  What's iniquity? It is sin. 

What is sin? It is breaking God's law. It is doing things your own way.  

  Have we failed to keep God’s law? Let’s take a look at just ten of the commandments found in God’s Word (Exodus 20). Have you ever broken any of these? You may be surprised to find out!

#1 Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,”  Have you ever made anything more important than God?

#2 Exodus 20:4 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,”  Are you guilty of having prayed to some manmade image?

 #3 Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain”  Who can say they've never broken this one? It's heard almost daily!  

 #4 Exodus 20:8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy,”  Do you honor the Lord by setting aside one whole day a week as holy unto Him?

 #5 Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother”  Here's one that no one can claim to have always done! 

 #6 Exodus 20:13 “Thou shalt not kill.”  Aha! Something many can claim to have never done, right?  Well...wrong...Jesus says in Matthew 5:21-22 that just being angry with someone breaks this commandment. How many of us have been SO angry with someone that we wish we could do them harm? Or that something bad would happen to them? 

 #7 Exodus 20:14 “Thou shalt not commit adultery” Oh I've never cheated on my spouse! Oh? What does Jesus say? Matthew 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." 

 #8 Exodus 20:15 “Thou shalt not steal”  Can you say you've never taken ANYTHING that didn't belong to you? This would include time, money, pencils, etc.

 #9 Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness”  That is, have you ever lied about anything or anyone?

         #10 Exodus 20:17 “Thou shalt not covet”  Ever wanted something that wasn't yours to have? Did you ever hate someone for having more than you did?


  Just taking a quick look at part of God's holy law should show us where we fail and fall short. Let's look at a few more Bible verses on the subject of sin.

Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

            Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

  We can plainly see that according to God's word, we are all sinners. Do you believe what the Bible says about you and me? According the Bible, that was the purpose of the Old Testament law.

Galatians 3:24 says, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

  But how can we be "justified by faith," and what we can do to get ourselves to heaven? What works must we do to make up for our sins?

Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us,"
 
Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

Ephesians 2:8-9 "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."

  God’s Word makes it clear that doing good works can not get us into heaven. If it is “not of ourselves”, then it must be by something God has already done. It is His gift!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
 

  This only begotten Son is Jesus Christ. He died on a cross for your sins. His blood was shed to pay for the sins of the world. As the scripture says,

"Without shedding of blood is no remission." Hebrews 9:22

Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

I John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"

  So what must we do to have Christ's blood cover our sins?

Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,”
 
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
 
JESUS SAID, ( Luke 13:5) “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish;”

  Repentance is defined as turning away from something, or giving something up, turning from one way to another. That “something” is sin.

  Now, taking all this together, what must you do?

  Recognize that you are a sinner and decide to turn from that sin. Understand that Jesus died for you and shed his blood as payment for your sin. Believe on him!

Acts 16:30-31 "What must I do to be saved...BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved."

John 3:14-16
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 6:47 "Verily, verily I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH on me hath everlasting life."

  Why not take this to the final step. If you know you are a sinner and believe that Jesus is the Son of God. If you understand that He already paid for your sins by shedding His blood on the cross, won't you accept Him today? You see, it is a tragic mistake to know all this, believe it, and yet do nothing about it. If someone wanted to give you a gift, but you’ve never responded by accepting it; you've never received the gift! So we again turn to the Bible where it tells us:

Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

  The exact words you pray to the Lord aren't important, but what was shown to you from the Bible verses above is. There’s no magic formula of words that will get you into Heaven. Anyone can follow a typed out prayer, and many times they are meaningless words and not meant from the heart. Go to the Lord in prayer, admit you're a sinner and that you want to turn from your sin. Ask Him to forgive you of your sin. Tell Him you believe in Him and accept what He did for you so long ago. Accept His having paid for the sin of mankind once and for all.

  And then, thou shalt be saved...

  It is our hope, here at Faith Baptist Church, that you have indeed seen from the Word of God what it means to be saved. If you have seriously taken this message to heart and have settled this matter between you and the Lord; then we can truly rejoice in your salvation! We hope you can join us for services. If you're not in this area, e-mail us and we’ll help you find a Bible-centered church in your own area. God bless you!