In Mark 1:15, Jesus says, ““The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” In John 3:3, Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born againhe cannot see the kingdom of God.”
This new blog is dedicated to sharing the testimonies, stories, of those who have converted to Christianity. Every Christian has a testimony. Sharing it has several benefits:
For the believer in Jesus
- encouragement to hear how others have come to believe
- rejoice in the salvation of others
For the unbeliever
- Understanding of how and why others got saved
According to the Bible there are only believers in Christ and those that do not believe. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” It is our hope and prayer that through this new BLOG, through these stories, that others will be saved.
Just for background, let me share a Gospel message showing the need to be saved.
In Monopoly, there is a card like this that allows you to get out of jail. In Monopoly, going to jail happens when you land on the wrong square. In real life, jail is the consequence when you break the law. You can’t get out of that jail free; you must pay the consequences. At the end of your life, you will stand before a judge, and be granted everlasting life in heaven, or everlasting punishment in hell, based on what you have done here on earth. Like jail, you go to hell if you break God’s laws (sin). Have you broken God’s laws, the Ten Commandments ? Ever lied? Stolen? Hated, which Jesus calls murder? Lusted, which Jesus called adultery? Would you be innocent or guilty? Would God send you to heaven or hell? Would it be nice if avoiding hell were as simple as having a card like this?
The truth is, there is no “get out of hell free” card. God is perfectly good and just. He must punish all sin. If He did not, then He would be unjust. But because God is good, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man. Jesus never broke God’s law. He claimed to be equal with God, and to have power to forgive sin. He claimed to know all things, and said of Himself, “I have power to lay down My life (crucified), and power to take it up again (resurrected).”
Can you get out of hell free? No, no one can. You can escape hell, but only at a great cost: the cost that God paid by sending His Son Jesus to die in the place of sinners, and to be raised to life on the third day. In doing so, He paid the wages that sinners rightfully earned: “For the wages of sin is death.” It was not the price that was paid that satisfies God, but the worth of the One who paid the price: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” God commands you to repent, and to place your faith in the indescribable gift of His Son. Then you can escape hell, not for free, but at the infinite value of the blood of the Son of God. www.AfterLifeCatalog.com
