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Would you like an answer to a question regarding God's plan of salvation for us? Or do you just need to talk? On this page you may send an e-mail to talk to someone right now, or just read the questions others have asked. |
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Top 10 Questions |
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1. What if I try to be a good person and try not to do bad things?
"The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" Jeremiah 17:9 The Bible teaches that we have inherited a sin nature through our first ancestors, Adam and Eve. Because of this, sin is like an infectious disease, and every person is guilty before a totally righteous God. "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." Ecclesiastes 7:20
2. I know I’m a sinner, and I need to stop my bad habits. Shouldn’t I clean up my life first, and then ask Jesus to be my Savior?
We can’t clean ourselves up; we will never be good enough to deserve salvation (Isaiah 64:6). We have to come to Christ admitting our total need, and give Him all our rottenness (thoughts, habits, attitudes, desires). The blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross is the only thing that totally cleanses us from sin (I John 1:7b). Christ cleans us from the inside out; then as a result, the habits begin to change.
3. What if I can’t live the perfect Christian life?
God doesn’t ask us to live a perfect life; He knows it is impossible. He asks us to live in obedience to His Word, and to trust Him to help us live for Him day by day. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, He gives us His Spirit to live inside us to help us do what is right and we have the Bible to teach us how to live (Psalm 119:105). When we do mess up, we need to admit to God that we have sinned, and He promises to forgive us and cleanse us from every wrong (I John 1:9). We continue to grow in our spiritual life through this process.
4. I’ve done some really bad things – how can God love me?
God hates sin, but He loves sinners. God’s love is far beyond our understanding, but we can know He loves us because the Bible tells us so. It says that God loved the world (the people He created) so much, and He longed for our fellowship and love in return. There was no way this could happen unless sin was totally wiped out. Being sinners ourselves, we had no way of breaking the chains of sin that kept us separated from God. So God Himself provided the way. He gave up His one and only Son, Jesus, to take the full punishment for the sin of the whole human race. Everyone who believes in Him can be completely forgiven (no matter how badly they have sinned) and have a place in the family of God forever (John 3:16). Jesus says in Luke 19:10, "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Jesus paid the debt for all sin. No matter what you have done, Jesus has already paid for it by giving His life. "But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 Because of His love, He offers total forgiveness when you accept Jesus as your Savior.
5. Shouldn’t I wait until I’m older and understand everything about it?
No matter what your age, you can never understand everything about salvation. It must be received as a gift and by faith. Jesus loves children, and He wants everyone to come to Him with simple, child-like faith (Mark 10:13-15). We are warned against taking God’s offer of forgiveness lightly. We need to respond right away, because no one has a guarantee of how long their life will last. In II Corinthians 6:1-2 we read, "As God’s partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God’s great kindness. For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation."
6. If I sin after accepting Christ, will God still love me?
God’s love is eternal – meaning it never ends. It is unconditional – meaning it does not depend on anything we do or don’t do. When we sin as Christians, our sin hurts the heart of God because He paid the full price for us to become His children. Our sin breaks the close fellowship between us and God, but it doesn’t stop Him from loving us. We need to confess it, and turn away from it, and receive His cleansing touch on our lives (I John 1:9) to have the close relationship restored.
7. I believe in God and Jesus – isn’t that enough?
In James 2:19 we’re told that even the demons believe in God – and tremble. In order to have forgiveness of sin and acceptance into the family of God, I must admit my sinfulness, believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again to pay for my personal sin-debt, which I could never pay for myself.
8. My family aren’t Christians; what if they don’t understand?
The invitation to follow Christ is very personal, and the Bible says that there will be those who don’t understand our faith. Sometimes they are within our own family. The Bible definitely says in Ephesians 6:1, "Children obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do." Knowing Christ as your Savior should bring about some positive changes in your life that will be seen by others. Your attitudes, your actions, and your speech are ways to let them know about the inner change that has taken place. God will give you opportunities to tell others that it’s because you are a believer in Jesus Christ and want to live to please Him. You can explain to them that you aren’t perfect, and you will make mistakes, but your goal is to live for Christ. The way you handle your mistakes (admitting you are wrong and asking to be forgiven) will be an example to them of how a true Christian lives.
9. I’m a church member, I’ve been baptized, and I’m a leader. Won’t God accept me because I’m religious?
The Bible says the only thing that will take away our sin and make us acceptable to God is the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). There must be a sacrifice for sin; the sacrifice must be perfect, without any blemish. God can accept nothing less than perfection. Can you measure up to that standard? No one can. That’s why God in His great love gave up His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to become a man – the only perfect man. He lived on earth and was just like us, but He never sinned. He gave Himself to be crucified, and He rose again, taking the punishment for all sin upon Himself (I Peter 2:21-24). When we accept Him as Savior, He gives us His righteousness in exchange for our sin. In Titus 3:4-5 we read, "And when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
10. Can Christians have fun?
Christians can have the most fun of anyone! We can enjoy life to the max and be free from the fear of what happens to us after we die. The spot in our heart that looks for God (everyone has this) has been filled with the knowledge of being forgiven of sin and belonging to God’s family forever! This allows us to fully enjoy everything good that life has to offer. Jesus said in John 10:10, "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." Instead of guilt and dread of the future, there is inner peace that lets us enjoy life at its greatest, just as God intended. |
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