For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NLT)
One of the concepts we struggle with as human beings is God’s mercy. We are wary of grace in its simplest form. We are distrustful of the simple, the uncomplicated. Shouldn’t there be more to salvation than merely believing?
This nation, this generation, has erected so many barriers that it almost seems anathema to consider the word everyone. Yet God’s love is not exclusive. It is not provisional. It’s not a do-it-yourself package that comes with instructions. It is not subjective or prejudiced. It encompasses every human being, every soul, every person – the only condition is that they believe in Him and receive His gift of grace. The sinner who surrenders his life to Christ on his deathbed is as welcome as the individual who accepted Jesus’ salvation as a child and spent his whole life telling others about God’s grace.
Everyone includes me. It includes you. His gift of grace includes the individual who can’t even voice the name of Jesus yet loves Him, nonetheless. It includes the lost, the destitute, the prisoner, the sick, and yes, even the greatest offender. But we have to accept it and appropriate His gift. Have you accepted Jesus? Is He your Savior? If not, I would urge you to read, Knowing God, and receive His wonderful gift. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, rejoice! There’s a welcome home party waiting for you in heaven.
Thought: “Whoever makes it clear: God exports his grace worldwide. For those who attempt to restrict it, Jesus has a word: whoever.” – Max Lucado
For further reading:
- Titus 2:11
- John 11:26
- Mark 16:16
- Matthew 10:32
Knowing God
If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, I would encourage you to read the Scriptures below and pray the simple prayer of repentance at the end. The salvation God offers us is a gift. It’s simple and it’s free. He offers it to you, the only condition being that you accept it.
- We have all sinned
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NIV)
- Because of our sin, we cannot live in communion with God
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NIV)
- God loved us so much, that he sent his Son to die as the penalty for our sins.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV).
- We cannot gain our way into heaven. All God asks of us is that we accept his gift of grace.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.
- Accept God’s gift of grace and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.
The jailer… asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:19-31
Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Romans 10:13.
Pray with me. “I acknowledge I am a sinner. I know that my sins keep me from enjoying fellowship with you. Thank you for sending Jesus to die in my place. Please forgive my sins and help me live in a way that is pleasing to you. I accept your gift of grace and ask you to reign in my life as Lord and Savior from this day forward. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
If you’ve prayed this prayer, then I welcome you into God’s family. You are now a child of God. I would encourage you to find a fellowship of believers where you can learn more about your wonderful heavenly Father and the grace he’s extended to you. Read your Bible and pray on a regular basis in order to grow in your faith and live a life that is pleasing to him.
May God richly bless you as you begin a new life in Christ.