One of the first things we need to do is realize that God is offering Heaven to us as a gift. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (NIV)
Heaven is not earned or deserved. Ephesians 2:8-9 It is by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. This means that we cannot do anything to earn or pay for our way into heaven. If we try to earn it by going to church, reading the bible, being a good person, helping people then it takes the glory away from God. It then is not a gift anymore. God loves us and is offering this gift for free.
Another thing we need to recognize is that God wants us to learn and understand what His expectations of us are. 1 John 5:13 states that.....These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life. A few key words to point out in that verse is (you who believe in the name of the Son of God) It is saying that believers in Jesus Christ will KNOW they have eternal life.....So people who are not saved(unbelievers) will not understand the bible. How do we know that? 1 Corinthians 2:14 says...But a natural man(unbeliever) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. Also in John 8:47... Jesus says he who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God. ......... believers are able to understand what the bible teaches; whereas unbelievers are not able to understand.
One of the first things we need to do is realize that God is offering Heaven to us as a gift. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (NIV)
ReplyDeleteHeaven is not earned or deserved. Ephesians 2:8-9 It is by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. This means that we cannot do anything to earn or pay for our way into heaven. If we try to earn it by going to church, reading the bible, being a good person, helping people then it takes the glory away from God. It then is not a gift anymore. God loves us and is offering this gift for free.
Another thing we need to recognize is that God wants us to learn and understand what His expectations of us are. 1 John 5:13 states that.....These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life. A few key words to point out in that verse is (you who believe in the name of the Son of God) It is saying that believers in Jesus Christ will KNOW they have eternal life.....So people who are not saved(unbelievers) will not understand the bible.
How do we know that? 1 Corinthians 2:14 says...But a natural man(unbeliever) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. Also in John 8:47... Jesus says he who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God. ......... believers are able to understand what the bible teaches; whereas unbelievers are not able to understand.
Does this make sense?