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Dear Madam or Sir, I know the joy you're missing if your heart is hard toward God. I also know there are only two roads in life: the one of God's favor, and the one of God's wrath. Read on!
God is love and has a special love for His own.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39)
But God is holy too...just as holy as He is loving! You and I are not holy, but total sinners. Sin is independence from God.
As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;" For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God....
(Romans 3:10, 23)
The Bible says we all deserve to die for our sin; that proves how putrid sin is, and how just God is. Our sin puts us at enmity with a holy and righteous God.
For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23a)
But it's not in God's will that any of His own die. So, at His very own expense, God composed a glorious plan whereby the lives of those He chose would be spared, yet without compromising His need to still execute justice on sin. Since we could never satisfy God, God satisfied Himself by His perfect Son on behalf of those He chose--not because they were lovely, for they weren't at all, but because of His unfathomable love! In the Person of Jesus Christ, God Himself stepped out of heaven, came to earth, and He Himself bore the consequences of the sins of many. On a torturous execution-cross, Jesus Christ willingly received the divine punishment as the sinless, sacrificial Substitute for many sinners by dying in their place. So the debt of sin has been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus for all those who trust in Him. God judged their sins and mine by treating His dear Son like us--the guilty ones! The barrier my sin created has all been removed, praise God! While I rightly deserve eternal condemnation, I was freely granted eternal pardon instead.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Not only has the penalty for my sins been fully paid for by the blood of Jesus, but the standard of absolute perfection demanded by God has been performed by the life of Jesus. Not only are my sins removed by Jesus' death, but they're replaced with His perfect life. God legally transferred His righteousness into my life's account, so that He can judge and receive me, no longer on the basis of my pitiful life, but on the basis of Christ's perfect life on my behalf! For this reason, my acceptance before God is totally secure and unchangeable! How marvelous and profound!
...we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:10)
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:3-4)
Not only did Jesus live and die for sinners, but He victoriously arose from the dead three days later, conquering once and for all the power of sin and death and proving He reigns as The living, almighty, eternal, and exclusive way to God.
It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God.... (Romans 8:34)
And so, the unspeakable result of all God did 2,000 years ago is that any person who wants to repent of his/her sins to trust in Jesus for salvation will receive the forgiveness of sins, freedom from the grip of sin, fellowship with God, a fulfilling life, and a future forever in Heaven. But it's not automatic; God, by His sheer grace, must place you in a relationship with His Son, Jesus.
...But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23b)
If you desire to be saved, then you must repent of (be willing to turn from) your sins as you place faith (child-like trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ.
...The goodness of God leads you to repentance. (Romans 2:4)
"The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17)
In essence, you will be resonating what God is already doing in your life, for without Him you wouldn't want to be saved. Simply turn your back on your sin and believe with your heart that Jesus died and rose again on your behalf and totally submit your life to Jesus as Lord. Humbly bow to God in prayer and surrender all your life over to Him this very moment!
That 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 "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:9, 13)
To recap...God says all are guilty of sin and utterly helpless to save themselves. The penalty for sin is death. God chose to pay the penalty through Jesus' innocent blood for many sinners. (Jesus' perfect earthly life was also put to their credit.) Jesus was buried and rose from the dead, validating everything He said and did. Hence, everything needed to save sinners and bring them along to heaven (namely, payment for sin and a perfect life) resides completely in Jesus. God showed He has the power and love to save sinners. Do you want to know if Jesus died to save you? Here's the answer:
For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
Will you call on the name of the Lord to be saved? God commands all sinners to repent and trust in Jesus for salvation. That is how to call on the name of the Lord to be saved. People go to hell because they chose to sin. People go to heaven because God chose to save them. Hell displays God's wrath and power; heaven displays God's love and grace.
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)
Now it's God Who saves--from start to finish and everything in between--by His grace and on the merits of His Son alone, not our own efforts or good works. Works can never save a person. God's grace can never be earned or kept by good works. God will never owe you anything.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified (put in a right relationship with God) by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28)
For all human achievement is fleshly and unacceptable to and unrewardable by God.
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)
Confess Jesus as Lord TODAY because soon it will be too late and you will be without excuse.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.... (Romans 1:20)
Besides, the Bible says you will eventually surrender to God.
...For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12)
Praise the Lord! Welcome to the family! Get baptized as a sign of your identification with Christ. Baptism doesn't save people, but saved people do obey Christ.
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
There'll be outward evidence of a new life; your life will show it.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14)
There'll be inner evidence of a new life; your heart will know it.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.... (Romans 8:16)
Tell others this Good News!
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:15b)
Become part of a Bible-believing church and read the Bible daily.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
Pray constantly about anything.
...That without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.... (Romans 1:9)
Keep short accounts of sin.
...Do not let sin reign in your mortal body.... (Romans 6:12)
Listen to Christian music.
...And sing to Your name. (Romans 15:9b)
Do everything for God's glory.
...giving glory to God. (Romans 4:20)
Always be a thankful person.
I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:25)
Live for Jesus unashamedly, and always trust God for everything. He'll give you the grace to do whatever He wants you to do.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.... "The Just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17b; 16:24)
We'd be thrilled to hear from you for any reason, especially if God saved you!
Email: nick@migliacci.com
Website: www.migliacci.com
Migliacci, P.O. 4, Pleasureville, KY 40057
God Can Save Sinners copyright © 2000 by Nicola Migliacci. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To order this in a handsomely printed, palm-sized tract, send an email, requesting the desired quantity, to: nick@migliacci.com
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