God created man in His own image and with His own likeness and set the first man, Adam, in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it. But Adam sinned, and because of Adam’s decision to rebel, we have all come into this world as sinners by nature and choice. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The “wages” of sin is death. Thus, we are all justly deserving of everlasting punishment—the destruction of body and soul in hell. But even so, God already had a plan to save and redeem us.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, paying the debt for our sins, so that through Him we may be saved. A “spotless lamb” in which there was no sin, the perfect sacrifice or substitute to take our place. A free gift by the grace of God and not by any merit of our own. For by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was crucified and died for our sins, taking upon Himself the punishment we deserve. He was then buried and raised from the dead on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures. He then appeared to more than five hundred individuals in the forty days post-resurrection, before finally parting from them and rising to heaven to return to His Father. Fulfilling every one of the many Old Testament prophecies pertaining to Him. He now sits at His Father’s right hand and is awaiting His Father’s instruction to return. This was all recorded in the Holy Bible.
Jesus Christ promised that all who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Upon His return, all the dead will hear His voice and come to life—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and later, those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy and forgiveness. If you repent of your sins, believe in the gospel, and put your faith in Jesus Christ, you will inherit salvation, which leads to everlasting life. With this salvation comes spiritual rebirth; God will give you His Holy Spirit, which will give you wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, help you, comfort you, and put you in remembrance of all things in His word (the Holy Bible).
In an act of faith, all believers are called to be baptised in water in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. To be buried with Christ by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, you also might walk in newness of life. Having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power towards those who believe. By the blood of Jesus, sanctifying you and cleansing you of all unrighteousness.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the present darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The devil, who is called Satan, and all his angels (also referred to as demons) have been cast out of heaven for their choice to sin and rebel against God. They are our greatest threat in this world, even though at times it may seem like it’s each other. For Satan works in the hearts and minds of all who are disobedient to God. We must be careful what we believe and verify everything against scripture, for many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. But fear not, for God is with us always. It is His good pleasure to give His “little flock”, the kingdom.
We now await our blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is coming soon with eyes like a flame of fire and all His angels with Him, and every eye will see him. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Therefore, those of us who are eagerly awaiting His appearance must be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace. There are some things in scripture that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction. Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.