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What He did --- 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."
God looked down and saw a world diseased with sin. Like a rabid animal, when something is that corrupt and wretched a death sentence is warranted. And so we were all sentenced to “perish” because of the sin debt we owed and could not pay. But “God so loved the world” that He paid it for us. The price was so great “that he gave his only begotten Son”.
Why He did it --- John 3:17
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved."
He paid the price for us so that He would not have to “condemn” us. Just as a building must pass the standards of inspection or it can be condemned, we must pass the standards of God’s inspection. The Bible calls His standards “the law”. Even if the only law you measured yourself by were the Ten Commandments you and everyone ever born would still fail because we’ve all broken at least one. Jesus paid the price so “that the world through him might be saved”.
How to claim it --- John 3:18
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Jesus said “might be saved” because He leaves the decision up to you. Without you ever having to ask: He left the riches of Heaven above, to come to the earth beneath, suffered, bled and died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin for you. And all He asks in return is that you believe “in him” and what He did for you.
God isn't asking us to do the impossible, He isn't asking us to change the world or even change ourselves; all He desires is your faith in Him. And once you begin to believe you'll find the most amazing things begin to happen: the impossible becomes possible, the world you live in changes, you change. If God has spoken to you as you have read this, He has personally invited you to be His child. All you need do is accept the invitation. You do that by simply calling upon the name of the Lord. Below is a sinner's prayer, if you'll pray it knowing that it is not the prayer that saves you but the God you're praying it to, then one day soon I look forward to meeting you in Heaven!
Lord I come to You right now because I know I’m lost.
If I should die right now, I don’t know if You’d let me into Your heaven.
But Father I believe what Jesus did for me on the cross is what saves.
Lord I ask You to forgive my sin, let the blood of Jesus wash my guilt away.
Save me, for I ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
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