Adam represented the whole human race in the Garden of Eden. When he fell, we
fell and so contracted his guilt and sinful nature. This is why we do
the sinful things that we do. This is why the Bible declares that the
heart of man is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:" and asks the all exposing and damning question: "...who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) "...who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Again, we must recognise ourselves in the following words of condemnation:"For
from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride,
foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile
the man." (Mark 7:21-23) Fair
enough, we may perform some good deeds, but they are only good as
judged by the standards of men and although their aim be good, yet
their performance is always tainted by sin. Therefore our works of
righteousness are pronounced in Isaiah 64:6 as being "filthy rags" and as a consequence, "...we do fade as a leaf and our iniquities like the wind have carried us away" leaving the Scripture to conclude: "There is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10)
These truths, unpalatable though they may be, cannot be denied.
They leave us on the wrong side of the tracks. They leave us under the
just condemnation of a Holy and Righteous God who cannot look
favourable upon iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13) We are simply ruined by
the Fall. A deep and burning and everlasting hell awaits the guilty
when they die. "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17)
REDEMPTION BY THE BLOOD:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)
Here
is the GOOD NEWS! God hates the sin but loves the sinner. So much
so, that He sent His only sinless Son, the Lord Jesus, to die in the
sinner's place and secure, through His shed blood, our redemption.
Isaiah 53:5-6 puts it like this: "But
he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with
his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we
have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all." All the angry wrath due to our sins was laid upon Christ, who is described in John 1:29, as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." He said, "I have finished the work which [the Father] gave me to do" (John 17:4) crying, "It is is finished" (John 19:30) and proved it, by rising again in total and absolute triumph and victory from the grave on the third day.
Today, you can redemption from your sins. You can have the curse of
your sin removed and the chains smashed for ever. This salvation,
purchased by Christ, is described as being "so great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3) and an "eternal salvation" (Hebrews 5:9) and again, "salvation to the uttermost" (Hebrews 7:25) This
is all on the basis of grace i.e. free and unmerited favour,
without human cost or contribution of any kind. Even as you read
these words, you can be saved.
REGENERATION BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD:
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)
We need to apply the work of Christ to our own souls if we would be saved. Theology and doctrine, in itself, never saved any one and we might have a working knowledge and even a fond love for Bible truth and yet we ourselves remian unsaved. Truth should never remain in the
abject, but needs to be applied to be of any use to your soul.
Therefore you need to be born again as the Lord Jesus reminded
Nicodemus (a high ranking Jewish cleric) if you would see the
Kingdom of God. Regeneration - or the New Birth - is best
described by its fruits. A man who calls upon the name of the Lord for
salvation (Romans 10:13) crying out that God might be merciful to him
the sinner (Luke 18:13) may consider himself a possessor of the New
Birth and therefore able to enter the Kingdom of God and enjoy all the
benefits of salvation.
Thank
you for reading this e-tract. Don't forget to ring our 24/7 Gospel
Hotline for a two minute recorded message from the Bible:
Telephone: 021-4393334. This is a Cork based landline and therefore carries the cost only of a local call.
Come and visit us in Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt (Annex), Shanakiel, Cork (Top of Blarney Street)
Sunday's at 11:30am and 6:30pm. Press here for precise directions.
If you get saved through reading the above card or through this page, please encourage us here by letting us know.
We can help you "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ " (2 Peter 3:18)
Click here to for .mp3 file on the way of salvation
If you would like further spiritual help, please email us at:
colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org
