Introduction
Got Jesus? That’s a good question. What does it mean to have Jesus? If you are not sure how to answer that question read on and let us show you how you can find the real Jesus.
Heaven and Hell
If you were to die today, are you sure you would go to Heaven? Have you ever wondered about the answer to this question? I am sure everyone has at one time or another, but really, what does it take to get there? Perhaps you are like most people who sincerely believe that after they die, they will stand before God to be judged whether they go to Heaven or Hell. If they have done more good things in their life than bad things they will go to Heaven. If they have done more bad things they will go to Hell.
Some people do not believe there are a Heaven and Hell. They believe that when they die, they will just be snuffed out like a candle. However, what if they are wrong? What if we don’t get snuffed out? Would it not make more sense to plan on being saved from Hell in case we are wrong? If we are wrong, we have everything to lose!
Good and Bad
Let me ask you this. Do you think you have been good more than you have been bad? What if I were to tell you that no matter how good you have been, it wouldn’t be good enough? More specifically, it would not be good enough to get you to Heaven to be with Jesus? Would that surprise you or do you think I am wrong?
Think about it for a moment, what makes either one of us right about this issue? Does it not make sense that if God is perfect, then Heaven must be perfect? If it wasn’t, then what would be so good about it? I don’t know about you, but I am not perfect. Therefore, if I made it to Heaven, wouldn’t just the fact that I am there make it no longer perfect? To be honest, I am like anyone else, I have my good days and even my bad days. So, the fact I would be there means that I, along with everyone else, would have days when we are just like we are now. What would be so special about that?
Perfection is Needed
There must be a way that we could get there, but at the same time, be perfect, like God is perfect. So, doesn’t it seem to make sense that there should be somewhere that we can look up the answer? There is, in the Bible. After all, where better to learn the answers about Heaven and Hell? Let’s look at what the Bible says about all of this.
If you open your Bible and look in the book of John, Chapter three, and Verse sixteen. It says: “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.” When we break this verse down, we see five parts to this answer:
- For God so loved the world” means God loves everyone. This is explained in 1 John 4:10 and 1 John 2:2, respectively as follows:
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Propitiation is another word for atonement. Atonement is something that makes things right between two or more people. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He made a way for things to be right between us and God! So how did God show His love for us? Read on to find out.
- “That He gave His Only Begotten Son” refers to Jesus as the begotten Son of God being given for something. This is explained in 1 John 4:9 as follows:
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”
Begotten means offspring or children gotten by procreation. In other words, born of a woman. God allowed His Son, Jesus to be born as a baby. Like most little boys, He grew up to be a man. However, at the same time, Jesus lived a perfect life. This means He never once sinned. He never broke any of God’s commandments! None of us could ever say that about ourselves.
Because Jesus never broke any commandments, He did not deserve to die. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death…” You see, when we sin, our penalty is that we die, and we spend eternity in Hell. Since Jesus never sinned, He did not have to pay that penalty. However, He willingly allowed Himself to be wrongfully crucified on the cross to pay our penalty of our sins. Did you get that? Jesus died for our sins on the cross and went to Hell for us. On the third day, He rose again from the dead to prove what He said was true about Heaven and Hell!
Note: Some versions say, “one and only Son.” This is a wrong translation because according to Luke 3:38, Adam was also the son of God. The difference is that Adam was created from the earth, not born (or begotten) of a woman. This means that Jesus had a belly button, Adam did not! Thus, Jesus is the only “begotten” Son of God, not the only son of God. Furthermore, Adam was made perfect, but he chose to sin which made him imperfect. Jesus was made perfect and chose not to sin which made Him still perfect! Only Jesus could satisfy the requirement then for a perfect sacrifice to pay for the sins of all humanity! How does this work with us? Read on to find out.
- “That whosoever believeth in Him” means anyone who believes that Jesus died on the cross to pay their penalty for sinning. This is explained in John 20:21 as follows:
“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
What happens if we believe in what Jesus did on the cross for us? Read on to find out.
- “Should not perish” means that those whom believe what God said about His Son Jesus will have eternal life. Their salvation is kept by the power of God, and they won’t be destroyed or perish in Hell. This is explained in John 10:28, and Matthew 10:28, respectively as follows:
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
- “But have everlasting life” means believers will live forever with the Lord in perfection. It is explained in John 5:24, John 6:51, and Romans 5:8-11, respectively as follows:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Belief is All
In a nutshell, when we believe in our heart of hearts, “God You are right, and I am wrong: I am not deserving of Your gift of salvation and believe that Jesus died on the cross and paid for my sins and rose from the dead”. It is at this moment God knows what I truly believe and gives me the gift of salvation, and immediately fills me with His Holy Spirit Who seals me until the day of redemption when I stand before the Him in Heaven at the end of my life.
It is as simple as that! Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead! This is the Gospel, or “good news” that is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, John 3:14-18, and 1 Peter 1:3-5, respectively as follows:
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; {2} By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. {3} For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; {4} And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15. “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 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.”
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
This is further clarified in John 3:36 and 1 John 5:13, respectively as follows:
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
I am sure you realize that you cannot find salvation by clicking on a “Got Jesus?” button. Likewise, salvation cannot be found either by anything else you can do. Remember, it is a gift from God and last time I checked, nobody must earn or pay for a gift. Notice what the Bible says about this in Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5, respectively as follows:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Simply Speaking
In summary, if you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins as a gift from God and understand that there is nothing you can do to earn it, then you have the confidence of knowing that when you die you will spend eternity with God and no one can ever take that away from you (Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; John 10:27-29; John 3:36; 1 John 5:1; 1 John 5:11-13). What is stopping you then from believing in the Gospel, or good news, of the Bible? Remember what we have learned?
Jesus died for OUR sins and rose from the dead.
Jesus died for MY sins and rose from the dead.
Jesus died for YOUR sins and rose from the dead.
No matter what you have been taught, how bad you are or have been in the past, or the church you attend (or don’t attend), salvation is available to everyone, including you!
Remember, you can’t earn salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-6) by works so why continue to go through life trying (Matthew 11:38)? Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2) and God wants you to have the gift of eternal life and make you His child so that He can bless your life right now (John 10:9-10). When it is all said and done, going to be with Jesus in Heaven is really quite simple. Just believe. Jesus plus nothing!
If you have questions or would like to share about your salvation experience, please take a moment to comment below.
