[color=red:1fhurl2f][b:1fhurl2f]The Sin Issue[/b:1fhurl2f][/color:1fhurl2f]

The Bible says that, [b:1fhurl2f]”whosoever believes in the Son of God shall be saved.” [/b:1fhurl2f]Yet Paul was concerned in 2 Corinthians 11:4 about those who believe in a different Jesus and a different gospel. So what is it about Jesus that we are to believe in? And since there is only one path to salvation, what are we to know to be saved?

The Bible says that Man is desperately wicked and there are none righteous, no not one. This may be hard for some to understand because it means that the sweet housewife, the religious church goer, or the loving grandmother is eternally damned as much as the serial rapist or the serial murderer that appears on death row. How can this be? Isn’t God a God of love? Yes, God is a loving God. God is also a perfect God. His Word says that [b:1fhurl2f]”if you commit one sin, you are guilty of all sin.” [/b:1fhurl2f]We must realize that even the sweet housewife and mother next door has committed the same sins in her heart as the inmates on death row. The fact that one knows about the characteristics of His Son doesn’t save anyone either, for Satan knows that much about God as well. What is it then????

Looking at the Bible, we find that the key is not just knowing that God is a God of love, but to believe in what God did to show His love. Because man is separated from Him by sin, any sin, He sent Jesus to take our sins to the cross. And when Jesus declared from the cross, [b:1fhurl2f]”It is finished,” [/b:1fhurl2f]He was declaring that everything needed to cleanse us from sin was accomplished that dark day nearly 2000 years ago. And throughout Scriptures, we see this. Isaiah 53:5 ‚Äì [b:1fhurl2f]”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.” [/b:1fhurl2f]Romans 5:9 ‚Äì [b:1fhurl2f]” being now justified by his blood;” [/b:1fhurl2f]Acts 20:28 ‚Äì[b:1fhurl2f] “; the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”[/b:1fhurl2f] Ephesians 1:7 ‚Äì [b:1fhurl2f]”In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” [/b:1fhurl2f]Colossians 1:14 + 20 ‚Äì [b:1fhurl2f]”In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:[/b:1fhurl2f]” and “[b:1fhurl2f]And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”[/b:1fhurl2f]
There are many more verses in which the Bible gives us this same message. So what did Paul mean by his verse in 2 Corinthians 11:4, a different Jesus and a different gospel? Simply put, if one believes as many today think, that “The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us,” or that somehow “we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life,” as some churches teach, they then would be like those to which Paul referred to in 2 Timothy 3:5, [u:1fhurl2f][b:1fhurl2f]”Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” [/b:1fhurl2f][/u:1fhurl2f]The difference is evident in that the Bible tells us that the Lord addressed the sin issue 2000 years ago and that one can only attain the perfect righteousness by trusting in what He did at Calvary, (John 6:28-29), by faith alone, not works, lest one boasts, (Ephesians 2:8-9) and that if one is trusting in works, then it cannot be grace. (Romans 11:6)

In closing, Gospel-Light invites you to examine your life to see exactly how you think your sins are removed and then compare ‚Äì Are you really believing in what Jesus did as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 2:2 ‚Äì [b:1fhurl2f]”For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified,”[/b:1fhurl2f] (the gospel of grace) or are you trusting in religious rituals, activities and ways attempting to “merit” salvation, thinking you can be infused graces as so many of today’s Churches would have you believe?

The way you choose reveals much in whether you truly “believe” in Jesus Christ.
posted by Gospel Light Ministries