Uncovering False Teachings: Universalism's Second Chance to be Saved

 

Universalism is the belief that God is so loving that He will give every single person a second chance to be saved by Jesus and go to Heaven--even if they refuse to enter into a positive relationship with Jesus in this life. The argument, basically, goes as follows:

1. Not all people on this earth have the opportunity, during their lifetimes, to hear about or accept Jesus or the "real Jesus."
2. God loves all people and wants to save all people.
3. God is a just God who wouldn't send someone to Hell based on a technicality, such as rejecting Christ out of ignorance or based on false reasoning. 
4. Therefore, a just and loving God cannot require that all people have a relationship with Jesus before they die and will, in fact, offer them a second chance to come face-to-face with the real, loving, saving Jesus after they die so they can finally get right with Him and enter into Heaven.

On the surface, this argument seems to be consistent with the loving character of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. However, in this post, I will point out the primary flaws as well as the logical absurdities that follow this view. I will then present the truth of the Gospel as defined by Jesus Himself and the writers of Scripture. Finally, I will respond with the biblical solutions to the perceived problems universalism tries to avoid.

Universalism's Primary Flaws

1. Universalism Can't be Supported with Scripture.

Granted, attempts have been made. There are many verses about God's love and willingness to forgive. Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of His enemies as He hung on the cross. (Luke 23:34) Universalists reason that, if Jesus prayed for it, God would've just done it, regardless of the condition of the hearts of the people in question. But there simply are NO verses or passages or parables that verify this belief nor suggest that ALL people, once dead, will get another chance to accept Jesus or get right with God and then enter Heaven. Rather, Scripture teaches precisely the opposite: that "...people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment," (Hebrews 9:27). And Jesus's parable in Luke 13:22-30 makes it clear that once the doors of Heaven close, any who have not believed in Him will not get in. According to Scripture, the only thing that will happen post-death is Christ's judgment--no second redemptive act, no second offers of salvation, no second chances (Matthew 25:31-46). Therefore, unless you were one of those people of faith who died prior to the coming of Christ (Hebrews 11:13-16, 39-40) or believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior (Matthew 7:21-23, John 14:6, I Thessalonians 4:13-18), you do NOT belong to God and you will NOT get a second chance to figure this out after you die.

2. Universalism Compromises the Gospel.

One of the concepts universalism teaches is a different understanding of what Jesus actually did on the cross. They don't like the idea that God would sacrifice His son or that He would demand a sacrifice at all. So, according to universalism, Jesus didn't actually "pay" for your sins with His death. He merely allowed Himself to be killed as a demonstration of love--to show the world their own evil and to show them what love does. This re-imagining of the Gospel is part of the fallout of giving everyone a second chance. The first, in-this-life-chance, then, becomes irrelevant, and so does the Gospel. This different "gospel" is also the consequence of a general distaste for and misunderstanding of the way God's character is described in Scripture. They imagine that God is in His Heaven, turning a blind eye to Jesus--His son--as He suffers on the cross. But God was the one on the cross--just as much as Jesus. They were still ONE. Jesus felt the full weight of the world's sin. He felt a separation from the Godhead. But there was no genuine separation, or Jesus could not have paid the price for our sin or conquered death. Jesus is God. Jesus is the Holy Spirit. All three Persons of the Godhead chose to hang on that cross, each experiencing the torture and natural consequences of our sin so that we don't have to. That's the true Good News, and it is the clear teaching of Scripture. (See: Leviticus 17:11, John 3:16, 14:6, I Peter 1:18-19, 2:24, Hebrews 9:12-15,  Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 1:4, 3:13, Romans 5:10, 10:9-10, I Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 1:20-22, etc.). Universalism disregards the Gospel of Jesus and redefines it because they don't know God, they don't trust His Word, and they don't believe that anything God has done in this life--including dying on the cross for our sin--will ultimately be relevant.

3. Universalism Excuses What God Condemns.

The most uniform and consistent warning in Scripture is to avoid idolatry. The first TWO of the Ten Commandments deal with it (Exodus 20:3-5). When asked which of the commandments was the most important, Jesus said, "The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:29-30). However, universalism completely disregards God's clear and consistent warnings against following other gods in this life, and it ignores God's claims about Himself as being a "jealous God" (Exodus 20:5). According to universalism, it doesn't really matter what you believe, which gods you follow, or whether you love or hate your true Creator and Savior. You'll end up choosing Jesus after you die, so no harm no foul. Universalism makes God's and Jesus's warnings obsolete and it makes their urgency and seriousness seem foolish and exaggerated. After all, if universalism is true and we all get a second chance after death to learn the truth face to face with Jesus, it doesn't matter what I believe now. I can be a Buddhist, a Mormon, a Christian Scientist, an Muslim, a Hindu, a Baha'i, an atheist, or even a Satanist. I can believe Jesus was a fraud. I can hate Christians and everything they stand for. I can fill my life with hedonistic activities, pagan rituals, and everything God condemns because... if you get a second chance where you WILL accept the truth, your first chance is irrelevant.

4. Universalism Assumes God Can't or Won't Reach All People in This Life.

The motivator behind universalism is to avoid the desperate fear that maybe God just isn't truly good or truly fair. Universalists believe that there are many people who have died never hearing the name "Jesus" and many who have rejected Jesus merely because Jesus was misrepresented to them. Therefore, they reason, a good and loving God wouldn't hold them responsible for not believing in Him. (For example: the Muslim child who was raised to believe in love and kindness but was only taught about Mohamed, the jungle dweller who never hears of the Bible or Jesus, the abused child raised in foster care whose only message about God/Jesus was at best a false representation and so he/she rejects God based on this false information.) However, this is a very small view of God and it completely ignores vast swathes of Scripture that say precisely the opposite: that God wants to save all people, that Jesus died to save the entire world, that all people will be given the opportunity to acquire faith in God or reject Him, and that one's choice for or against the Truth in this life will have eternal consequences. (More on this to follow.)

5. Universalism Contradicts Scripture.

In order to push forward a different gospel than the one clearly defined by Jesus in Scripture, one must ignore vast portions of the Bible and push forward ideas the Bible simply doesn't support. Universalism does both these things, resulting in many clear contradictions. Here are a few that I've already pointed out:

• Universalism claims we get a second chance to come to faith after we die. The Bible says we are judged after we die based on our faith during this life. (Daniel 12:2, Mark 8:34b-38, Luke 16:19-31, Hebrews 9:24-28, Romans 1:20, 2:5, II Corinthians 6:2, etc.)
• Universalism claims God can't save everyone during this life. The Bible teaches that salvation is available to all people during their lifetimes. (I Timothy 2:3-6, Mark 13:10, Luke 19:40, Matthew 13:3-9, John 3:16-17, etc.)
• Universalism claims Jesus didn't die as an atoning sacrifice, but merely as a demonstration of God's love. The Bible teaches that it is by Jesus's atoning death on the cross that we can be redeemed from our sin. (Leviticus 17:11, John 3:16, 14:6, I Peter 1:18-19, 2:24, Hebrews 9:12-15,  Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 1:4, 3:13, Romans 5:10, 10:9-10, I Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 1:20-22, etc.)

6. Universalism Assumes a Second Chance Will Matter.

Universalists have very little faith in the human ability to seek and find God and/or in God's ability to adequately reveal Himself to all people of all tribes, creeds, and nations. Since the Bible and reality seem to agree that many, many people are lost and have rejected God (including some seemingly very good people), something must be amiss with human intelligence, with God's plan and methods, or both. Because they don't want to fathom that a good and loving God could allow anyone to go to Hell (or, if so, only serial killers and terrorists), they must accept the non-biblical doctrine of the post-death, second chance at grace. However, not only does Scripture make it clear that all people will be given plenty of opportunity to come to a saving knowledge of the true God in this lifetime (Romans 8:31-39), it also teaches that, once someone rejects God, a second chance won't be offered, and, even if it were offered, it wouldn't make a difference--even if someone rises from the dead to prove it (Matthew 28:11-15, Luke 14:15-24 and 16:19-31, Romans 3:20, Hebrews 9:27, Revelations 20:11-15, 21:27).

7. Universalism Assumes Most People Would Love Jesus if they Met Him.

The appeal of universalism is that all people, if they were just given a real chance to meet Jesus and experience God's love, couldn't help but to love Him back and want to be with Him. They then look at a world and history full of people who have rejected God, and reason that God simply must not have given them an appropriate chance. Therefore, it's not really humanity's fault for rejecting their Creator and Savior. It's God's fault for not reaching them. But not only does this belief cast God in a very disparaging light, it disregards what Scripture teaches about faith and the lack thereof. After all, many who met Jesus face to face in this life still rejected Him, even after His resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:11-15). In fact, they continued to hate Jesus so much, they went so far as to persecute anyone who dared believe in Him (Matthew 5:10, Mark 10: 29-30, Luke 6:22, John 15:18, II Corinthians 11:16-28, II Timothy 3:12). The sad reality is that human beings are far more likely to reject Christ than to love Him (Matthew 7:13, 13:3-9). And, contrary to popular belief, the Bible teaches that this lack of faith has nothing to do with race, region, culture, or personal circumstance. Rather, all people have been given plenty of evidence to believe in and follow the true God, so that, if they don't, they will have no excuse (Romans 1:20, 8:31-39, Jeremiah 23:23-24). Furthermore, Christ came to "proclaim good news to the poor... freedom for the prisoners... recovery of sight for the blind... [and] to set the oppressed free" (Luke 4:18). Therefore, even great personal trauma cannot keep someone from seeking and loving Christ. Only pride can do that (II Corinthians 7:14, James 4:10, Proverbs 29:23, Jeremiah 13:17, Psalm 73:6, Obadiah 1:3, etc).

8. Universalism Misunderstands the Concepts of Love and Justice.

I suspect that the universalist's favorite verse is, "God is love" (I John 4:8). It's one of mine, too. And the Bible is rich with verses that describe how deeply God loves us (I John 3:1), how He has pursued us (Jeremiah 31:3), cares for us (Psalm 23:1-6), and gave His life for us (Galatians 1:4). However, God's love is not a simple, unilateral, surface type of love. God's love (indeed, all love) requires truth and holiness and justice to be love. You can't love what you don't know--truth. You can't love if your love is motivated by selfish gain--holiness. And since love is only manifested within a reciprocal relationship, you can't have a love relationship without mutuality--justice. Yes, God is love. But God is also just. It is because of His justice that He forgives (I John 1:9) and also because of His justice that He will judge those who have not turned and been forgiven (Acts 17:31). The deal isn't that God will save us merely because He loves us. His love for us motivated his offer of salvation, but He will only save those who willingly choose to enter a love-based, reciprocal relationship with Him by accepting Jesus's sacrificial offer of grace and forgiveness. We must want Him to get Him. After all, God is not a bully. Because He loves us, He respects our free will. And, because of our sinful state, it goes against His nature (yes, even against His love nature), to rescue those who don't want to be rescued. In fact, if He were to pull sinful, pride-filled people into His presence against their will, without them first being cleansed by the sacrificial blood of Jesus, they would be consumed in the fire of God's holiness and glory. After all, God is also a "consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29, Matthew 3:12) and no sinful person can look upon Him and live (Exodus 33:20).

9. Universalism is not Christianity; It's Just Another Works-Based Religion.

Within Christianity and Catholicism, there are a great many differences of opinion on theological issues and religious practice. However, most of these differences aren't enough to strip someone of the title "Christian." As long as the Gospel itself is left intact, we can all confidently call one another brothers and sisters in Christ. Universalism, however, strikes at the heart of the Gospel itself and substitutes a different gospel for the one defined in Scripture. For this reason, universalism cannot rightly be called a "Christian" faith system. It is a different religion altogether. And, like every other religion out there, it is a works-based religion (if a somewhat watered down one.) Though universalism claims we all get a second chance (and so, what we do and believe now hardly matters), they still focus very much on the performance of good deeds during this life (e.g. helping the poor, being generous, rejecting bigotry, and trying to love like Jesus.). Since Jesus does speak harshly about "wicked" people being judged, universalists fear it may be possible that the hyper-evil people of this world might yet find themselves in Hell (or obliterated). So, the only way to ensure that you'll accept Christ's second chance after you die is to be a good person by embracing love during this life. However, Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus's offer of salvation was an act of pure, undeserved grace. We can't earn it. We can't work for it or purchase it or deserve it. It is a free gift. But if we don't accept it, we can't be saved. (John 3:16-17, 5:24, Acts 4:12, 16:30-31, Romans 10:9-10, Galatians 2:15-16, Ephesians 2:8-9, II Corinthians 5:21, Titus 3:4-7, Revelation 3:20, etc.)

Universalism's Logical Absurdities

1. Their God is Letting Us Suffer for No Reason.  

If Jesus is planning on giving everyone a second chance and saving us all after this life is over, what is He waiting for? What is the purpose of this life? Why not just kill us all and get the suffering over with so we can all just go be with Him in Paradise? I mean, skip to the end already! Doesn't the fact that the universalist's little god is just letting us suffer for no reason contradict our understanding of God's love? Letting wickedness and suffering continue without restraint and for no eternal purpose isn't love, it's cruel torture.

2. Their God is So Limited, He Can't Be God.

The god of the universalists is extremely limited and a very bad strategist. Like the God of Scripture, he goes to all the trouble of creating this world and making perfect people, only to be rejected when we choose to follow our own desires. However, at this point, things take a weird shift for the god of the universalists. Where the God of Scripture has a clearly defined plan for our redemption, this little god gets stuck. His perfect world is ruined and people are running amuck. And, since our salvation isn't an essential part of his plan, he has no eternal purpose for continuing this miserable existence. Sure, he attempts to show us a better way by sending Jesus to meander around for a while and let himself get killed. He even raises Jesus back to life to show people that love conquers all.... But while some people seem to get it, others don't, and now there are so many of them, and they're all spread out, and they're all so entrenched in their false religions that this tiny god can't seem to do anything about it. "Oh, well," this micro-god reasons. "I'll just wait for them to die, and then I'll grab them by the collars, look them in the eye, and tell them the truth face-to-face." Except there's one problem with that: this minuscule god can't possibly be the huge, omnipresent, all-knowing, and all-powerful God of the Bible. The God of Scripture doesn't have trouble communicating. He's never flustered, or desperate, or in need of an escape hatch for a failed plan. He doesn't waste time, overlook suffering, apologize, or get frantic and pushy. And He doesn't accept excuses for our lack of faith--particularly because He's given us every opportunity to follow Him (Romans 1:20). And, no, He's not being unfair to demand faith in Jesus as a prerequisite for a relationship with Jesus. It's the epitome of justice. Anything less would be weakness, inconsistency, and arbitrariness. No. Any "god" who acts like the god of the universalists simply isn't God.

3. Their God Contradicts Himself.

The God of Scripture says He's a jealous God (Exodus 34:14) and repeatedly tells us to avoid idolatry, stop sinning, and follow Him alone. He came as Jesus to die in our place and become the Way to salvation through grace for those who believe on His Name. But, while the universalists seem to be using the same Bible, they insist these passages have little to no eternal weight. You can, in fact, follow Muhammad or Buddha or a god of your own imagination for all the days of your life and still end up enjoying a full relationship with the true God in Heaven one day. You can bow down to idols. You can sacrifice your children to Molech or to your own sexual freedom through abortion. You can engage in homosexuality, hedonism, sex-trafficking, pedophilia--you name it. Doesn't really matter, because you're getting a second chance. You can even hear about Jesus and decide He's not for you. Though the God of the Bible tells us salvation is found in Christ alone (John 3:36, Acts 4:12, I Timothy 2:5, etc.) and that those who continue to sin will not be saved (I John 3:9), universalism makes every kind of evil permissible for your entire life. Well, which is it, little universalist god? You can't have it both ways.

4. Death is the Way to Salvation, Not Jesus.

Although Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6), universalism claims this doesn't actually apply until after we die. So, I'm not sure why Jesus came and participated in this life at all. Seems like a waste of time and a lot of suffering for nothing. After all, if we don't all have the capacity to recognize and accept Jesus during this life, then Jesus isn't the true way to our salvation, death is. Universalism seems to assume some magical quality of life after death that will make us more accepting of a relationship with God. It's as if we'll gain spiritual eyes that will allow us to see the truth that God was simply unable to show us during this lifetime. Frankly, I'm not sure I'd trust that, if God couldn't get through to us now, that He'll be able to do it later. Didn't He design this life for that express purpose? Oh, that's right. The micro-god of the universalists has no purpose for this life.

5. Free Will and Morality Are Arbitrary.

The universalists want to insist that, because God is love, He will save everyone--regardless of how good or bad we are in this life. But if only your post-death decisions matter for eternity and we will choose God at that time, is there such a thing as free will at all? There's really no way to know for sure. Furthermore, universalists assume God is going to excuse our evil deeds, but at the same time, they insist we embrace love, help the needy, and treat all people with tolerance and respect. But here's the clincher: If your evil deeds and false beliefs don't matter in this life, neither do your good beliefs or good deeds. And, in many cases, there's really no way to tell the difference. After all, if a perfectly holy God is going to excuse evil, how evil could it be? If God is withholding value judgments, what right do we have to make any--even about our own choices? If everyone's getting into Heaven, why bother worrying about beliefs, attitudes, or behavior? None of it is going to matter in the end. And if God is overlooking our suffering for some unfathomable reason (see #1 of this list), why bother helping the hurting? All slates will be wiped clean, including ours....

6. Universalism Makes Following Universalism Unnecessary

This one makes me laugh, actually. Because if universalism says nothing we believe ultimately will matter, why follow universalism? I'll enjoy my life a lot more just not worrying about any of it, and no universalist can logically claim that my hedonism or atheism or whatever is going to land me in any worse standing with God than what they want me to believe. So... yeah.

The Truth of the Gospel as Defined by Jesus and the Writers of Scripture

The Gospel Message:

God made you in His image. He loves you with His entire Being. But you are subject to the sinfulness of this world. You are lost. On your own, you cannot hope to make yourself clean enough to be in the presence of a perfectly holy God. However, God knew you and loved you before the creation of the world, and He had a plan in place for your rescue. His plan was Himself. In the Person of Jesus Christ, God Himself took the penalty of your sinful state, paid the price, and conquered death so that you could be free. This is the ONLY way you can have an eternity with God in His Heaven. But being made in the image of God means you also have free will, as He does. You get to choose whether to enter into a positive relationship with Jesus or to follow your own way or some other false theology. If you do not choose to follow Christ and accept His pardon for your sin, you are choosing to face the penalties of your sin on your own, which means an eternity separated from God in a place or state called Hell. However, if you choose to believe in Christ, you will live your life according to His example. After your death, you will be raised again alongside all other people to be judged. Because you know Jesus, He will welcome you into Heaven and a new, eternal life in God's presence.

(Genesis 1:27, John 3:16-18, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 6:23, Titus 3:4-7, John 1:12, Acts 4:11-12, Colossians 1:5, I John 3:2, Revelations 22:5.)

"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John 3:18). 

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him" (John 3:36).

 "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12).

Related Topics for Further Study:

Though I speak disparagingly about universalism in this post, the universalists I've met are kind, generous, caring people. Most of them are struggling or former Christians who have embraced universalism in order to solve problems they've identified within mainstream Christian theology. Some of these problems are genuine. Some are not. Below are some links to some biblical responses to the problems universalists and many people perceive with the traditional Gospel, God's grace, and God's judgment.

But, Is God Is Really Able and Willing to Save ALL People During Their Lifetimes?

Would A Loving God Send People to Hell?

How Could a Good God Sacrifice His Son?

 

Do Those Who Died Prior to Jesus's Coming Get a Second Chance?

But the Bible says God Hardens People's Hearts. Isn't that Evidence that He Isn't Willing to Save All People In This Lifetime?

Will God Judge Us Based on Our Deeds or on What We Believe About Jesus?

Will God Judge Us Based on Our Deeds or on What We Believe About Jesus?

The Bible says we'll be judged "according to what we have done" (Revelations 20:13). And Jesus said the angels would separate the wicked from the righteous (Matthew 13:49) on the day of judgment. Does that mean we'll be judged based on our deeds rather than on what we believe about Jesus. Universalists want to see all people get into Heaven or, at least, all good people. And most universalists assume all people will suddenly "get it" or become good when they meet God after they die. They don't like the idea that one must know and believe in Jesus prior to death to be saved, because they consider most non-believers to be pretty good people who deserve to get into Heaven and be spared Hell.

However, though Scripture consistently puts emphasis on righteousness vs. wickedness and on good deeds vs. evil deeds (because it's important!), it is also exceedingly clear that salvation comes through no other name under heaven except that of Christ alone (John 3:18, 36, 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:21-25, 10:9-10). Scripture also makes it clear that rejecting Jesus IS a form of wickedness and, all by itself, is deserving of punishment.

"All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you" (II Thessalonians 1:5-10, emphasis added).

You can't have Jesus without JESUS! Although Christ's forgiveness and salvation is equally available to all humanity, there are vast groups of people whose hearts are so hard that they will NEVER turn to Him--regardless of anything He does to convince them of His love and grace (Genesis 6:5-6, Isaiah 42:18-20, Romans 2:5). That doesn't mean He condemned them in advance to Hell. That doesn't mean they didn't have ample opportunities during this life. That doesn't mean He ordained or designed them to be this hardhearted. Rather, God in His great love for us--even "while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8)--took the penalty of our sin on His own shoulders, suffered and died in our place, spread His Good News to all mankind, and offered us a chance to spend eternity with Him. 

"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John 3:18). 

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him" (John 3:36).

Do Those Who Died Prior to Jesus's Coming Get a Second Chance to be Saved?

According to Paul, people of faith who died without first receiving "the things promised" will still be welcomed into Heaven. However, these people were already people of faith when they died. Therefore, they need no second chance. He writes,  

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them... These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:13-16, 39-40, emphasis added). 

Therefore, no, those who died prior to Christ will not be given a second chance. As Paul explained earlier in Hebrews, people will "die once" and after that "face judgment" (9:27). But they don't need a second chance. By remaining in faith in the true God and looking forward in hope to His glorious Savior, the Messiah, until their deaths, they will be saved and welcomed into Heaven.

How Could a Good God Sacrifice His Son?

 

Many who misunderstand the Gospel, complain that it's unfair and cruel of God to demand that His son suffer and die for our sins. "No good father would do that," they argue. Agreed.

But one has to recognize that the Scriptural descriptions of God as a father are metaphorical. God and Jesus aren't literally father and son in the biological sense. Their relationship is FAR closer than that. They (along with the Holy Spirit) are ONE (Isaiah 9:6, John 1:14, 10:30, Colossians 1:15-17, 2:9, etc.). Therefore, where Jesus is, God is. What Jesus chooses, God chooses. What Jesus does, God does.

When Jesus allowed Himself to be put on that cross, God allowed Himself to be put on that cross. Jesus wasn't put on the cross by His Father--a distant, uncaring God who turned His back on His son. God Himself was on that cross! Jesus's cry of, "Father, Father, why have you forsaken me?" is a great mystery, but the way I understand it is that He was NOT referring to a breach in relationship with God, as many have assumed. God and Jesus were never at odds or at cross purposes or against one another (Matthew 12:25). Rather, Jesus/God was experiencing the weight of sin and suffering and pain in the same way all humanity has experienced it when we allow sin to master us rather than Christ's love and grace.

Because Jesus "became sin for us" (II Corinthians 5:21) as a human being--suffering and dying for the sin of the world--He was not experiencing the glory of Heaven or of divinity or of grace at that moment. He was experiencing existence as a mere man--separated from His Godhood and divine nature and state of sinlessness. That, I believe, is the separation and abandonment Jesus felt--not a literal abandonment of a cruel, heartless father refusing to acknowledge the suffering of his son--but the choice God made to abandon His godliness and glory so He could live life as a human being and suffer and die as a human being in our place (Philippians 2:6-8).

In this way, God Himself, as Jesus, allowed Himself to be tortured, ridiculed, and rejected, so we don't have to be. Therefore, God didn't demand any sacrifice He didn't pay Himself. And, because He is an excellent Father, He made sure you wouldn't have to pay that price either.

Is God Willing and Able to Save All People During This Life?

Universalism's most serious motivator for redefining the Gospel and the salvation process is that they don't believe God has given all people enough of a chance to accept Jesus during this lifetime. They are rebelling against traditional understandings of Heaven and Hell, traditional teachings about salvation and the Gospel, and against Calvinism, (which claims that God created some people for Heaven and some people for Hell and there's little if anything we can do about it).

However, Scripture paints a very different picture than either of these extremes. God "wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth," which is why Jesus "gave himself as a ransom for all people" (I Timothy 2:3-6). John 3:16 specifically talks about the "world" having the offer of Christ's salvation--not just a select few. Jesus said, that the "gospel must be first preached to all nations" (Mark 13:10), and Peter explains that, though Jesus seems slow to return, He's merely giving more people time to be saved while they are still alive and still have that chance (II Peter 3:9). 

Speaking of those who fail to testify to the truth, Jesus said, "If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40). Consider the parable Jesus told of the scattered seed, recorded three times in Matthew 13:3-9, Mark 4:3-8, and Luke 8:5-8. In each version, the seed of the knowledge of God is scattered widely and, though most choose not to believe, there is no place where the seed doesn't land.

Furthermore, we have many examples of people God called out of civilizations that seem completely devoid of God's truth: Abraham, Noah, Moses, Rahab, King Josiah, the Ethiopian eunuch, etc. If anyone seeks to know God, God promises they WILL find Him (Matthew 7:7-8).

God Hardens Hearts: Does This Mean Salvation Isn't for Everyone?

"The Bible says God Hardens People's Hearts. Isn't that Evidence that He Isn't Willing to Save All People In This Lifetime?"

The Old Testament speaks of God hardening the spirit of King Sihon (Deuteronomy 2:30) and the heart of Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21, 7:3-14, 8:15-32, 9:12, 14:8.) Isaiah wrote of the Israelites,

"And he [God] said, 'Go and say to this people: ‘Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.’ Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed" (Isaiah 6:19-20).

It almost seems to indicate that God is condemning the Israelites to spiritual blindness. However, when God "hardens" our hearts, it's only ever after we've hardened them (Daniel 5:20). In fact, He pursues us (Hosea), pleads with us to hear Him (Ezekiel 33:11), and "stands at the door and knocks" (Revelation 3:20). Both King Sihon and Pharaoh were proud, pagan men who despised God. The Israelites were sent many prophets to tell them that God loved them, to repent, and that God would save them through Jesus. What did they do? They tortured and killed the prophets. Then they tortured Jesus and crucified Him publicly.

And just to be clear, the Calvinists are wrong when they assume these are examples of how God ordained in advance that these particular people would not and could not be saved. That belief contradicts many passages of Scripture (Matthew 7:7-9, 13:3-9, I Timothy 2:3-6, John 3:16-17, Mark 13:10, Luke 19:40, II Peter 3:9, etc.) that show God's desire and willingness and offer to save all mankind. So, if God "hardens" people's hearts, it's only after they've hardened them, and it's for a specific, heavenly purpose. It's not unfair. It's not an attack on their autonomy; rather it is a reinforcement of it. God hears our thoughts, sees our hearts, and respects our decisions. (John 12:36b-43, Matthew 13:10-17, Acts 28:23-28)

"When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" (James 1:13-15).

Would a Good God Send People to Hell? (Logic Flow Chart)

Do I Have to Believe in the Bible to Accept Jesus?

A common misconception among Christians and non-Christians alike, is that one must accept the entire Bible as true and reliable before one is able to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. And, since I personally uphold the Bible as fully reliable, I would like to start there to find the answer to this question. What are the "requirements" for salvation?

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

AND

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

There is only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ. The Bible also makes it perfectly clear that acts of service or works cannot be used as tickets into Heaven or as payment for God's love or favor.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The process of "being saved" is not nearly so complicated as we try to make it. It is a recognition of who Jesus is and what He has done on my behalf. It is meeting Him as a Person--a Being--not merely a belief. It is a falling in love with Him. It is a commitment to a love relationship with Jesus. That is salvation, because all of the "work" was already done by Jesus on our behalf. The rest that we do--obedience, Scripture study and belief, acts of service--comes later. For though these things are pleasing to God if offered to Him from a loving heart, none of them can get you into Heaven. Only Jesus Christ can do that. (See: How Do I Accept Jesus?)

Once you have begun on that journey of getting to know Jesus, then take a look at how He used and relied on Scripture. As you allow Him to be your guide in life, allow Him to be your guide in your attitudes toward Scripture. It may be a long process. The key is to keep moving forward with Christ as your Guide.

Would God Forgive a Sinner Like Me?

Have you struggled with the fear that you are already too far down the wrong road to ever turn back? Have you doubted that God would be willing to save you after all the wrong you have done?

Paul, the writer of most of the New Testament, wrote:
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (I Timothy 1:15-16)

And Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)

As He said, Jesus did not come for perfect people, but for flawed people. He does not expect us to clean ourselves up first, because that would be impossible. For how can we be made clean unless we have the Cleaner? Jesus is the Cleaner and His forgiveness is available to anyone who will believe in Him and accept that forgiveness. Jesus will take us just as we are, but He will not leave us that way. God takes a very dim view of sin. (See this post.) Accepting Christ's forgiveness is not simply a claim to fire insurance, it is entering into a relationship with God--a relationship that will change and grow over time.

So, no matter who you are or what you've done, forgiveness is yours for the taking and the Bible promises, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

Need a little help with that first step? Go to this post: How Do I Accept Jesus?

Then, the next time such things worry you, consider this passage:

This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (I John 3:19-20)

Is There a Hell?

Do people still really believe in Hell?
Is there really a place where damned souls will go? Is life really some ambiguous test to see who’s good and who’s bad? People throughout history have disagreed about the nature of hell, its existence and its purpose. However, in this post, I will deal with the biblical explanation and illuminate some of the misconceptions, both within secular society and Christian tradition.

What is the biblical origination of hell?
The first time Hell is mentioned in the (KJV) Bible is in Deuteronomy 32:22. The Hebrew word is “lwaX” and its English equivalent is “sheol”, meaning, “sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit, Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead: place of no return, without praise of God, wicked sent there for punishment, righteous not abandoned to it, of the place of exile, of extreme degradation in sin” (Strong’s).

In the New Testament, Jesus used the Greek word, “gevenna” when speaking of spiritual hell; however, the word also referred to an actual place on earth. Gehenna is the English transliteration of the Greek form of an Aramaic word, which, in turn, is derived from the Hebrew phrase “the Valley of [the son(s) of] Hinnom”. (Baker Ency. Of the Bible, v.1) Strong’s tells us: “Hell is the place of the future punishment call "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.” Additionally, the Valley of Hinnom was used for ritual infant sacrifice to the pagan god, Molech. Later, after King Josiah rid the region of such practices, the valley was used, as Strong’s tells us, for burning of refuse and dead animals. Interestingly, it was also used as a place to burn the dead bodies of criminals.

Unfortunately, both terms—sheol and gehenna—have been mistakenly considered to be synonymous with “hell” and are translated the same in some English versions of the Bible—hence, the confusion among Christians as to their real meaning. It is important to note that “sheol” in the Old Testament refers to a temporary abode of the lost between death and their final resurrection unto judgment. “Gehenna” is the place of ultimate and everlasting punishment where Satan, his demons and the wicked will be cast (Matthew 10:28). Additionally, “Tartarus” (used only once in 2 Peter 2:4) designates the place where the angels who fell during the original satanic revolt are imprisoned.

What is Hell like?
Hell (Gehenna) is described by Jesus as “a fire that shall never be quenched” in Mark 9:43 & 45, which seems to be a reference to Isaiah 66:24. Other terms associated with Hell include “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46), “torments” (Luke 16:23), “…kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelations 6:8), “Lake of Fire” & “second death” (Revelations 20:14), “burning brimstone” (Revelations 19:20), “…tormented day and night forever” (Revelations 20:10), and “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12, 22:13 & 25:30). Pretty much, this isn’t somewhere you want to go, and if you believe that going to hell is inevitable for you, you are believing a lie.

Did God create Hell?
I don’t think the Bible is especially clear on this subject. We know that it was “prepared” (Matthew 25:41), but it does not specifically state who created it or how Hell was created. It is certainly possible that it was prepared by God; however, one idea is that Hell is not so much a place as it is a state of being (which would make sense given the fact that souls exist in a spiritual rather than physical form). This state of being is eternal separation from God, which by its very definition could be a place of torment. In other words, it is possible that Hell is not so much a created place as it is a place/state from which God has removed His presence, His protection and His glory (all things which both the lost and the saved alike enjoy here on earth). Could it be that when God leaves, hell is simply the natural result? This concept, I believe, is more in line with the nature of God as I see it described in the Bible. God desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9) and neither does He delight even in the destruction of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23), but instead desires that all would live (John 3:16,17).

Who is Hell for?
Matthew 25:41 specifically states that hell was “prepared for the devil and his angels”. God has absolutely no desire that any man or woman go to Hell. He did not prepare Hell for us, but for Satan and his followers. In fact the Bible says, 1Thessalonians 5:9 - "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." God has only ever wanted us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. God has chosen us for paradise; however, He is not going to force us to choose Him. To be with God means to be reconciled to God, made pure and brought into a love relationship with Him. He offers this freely, but He will not force it on us. We must love Him back—and love demanded is no love at all.

Does God send people to Hell?
Matthew 25:31-46 seems to be the best description of the way in which people end up in Hell. When Christ “sends” people to Hell in this passage, it’s not so much “sending” as it is directing souls toward the only available alternative for those who can not enter into Heaven. It’s either-or, not both, and there’s no middle ground or third option. Either you get into Heaven through Christ’s payment or you don’t because you have rejected His sacrifice on your behalf. The choice, then, is entirely ours. In that sense, Christ does not “send” anyone to Hell. However, we might choose to send ourselves. This passage shows how the decision had been made long before these people stood before Christ—a decision made only by them.

Who will go to Hell?
Revelations 20:15 Though God desires that no human man or woman go to Hell, the Bible is clear that some will end up there. This verse shows that only those whose name is not found in the Book of Life, will go to Hell. The Book of Life is a record of all those who have accepted Christ’s substitutional payment for sin. If your name is written in this book, then you have nothing to worry about.

How can I escape Hell?
I’m not big on selling Christ as a form of fire insurance; however, neither can I deny that escaping Hell is a big bonus to getting to know the only One who holds the keys to Heaven. The fact is Jesus Christ—fully God, fully man, a member of the Triune God—came to earth in human form so that He might live a perfect life and die in our place. Only a perfect sacrifice can negate the hold Satan has on our souls. By rights, we belong to Satan, thanks to our long legacy of being in sin; however, if a payment is made on our behalf—the blood of a perfect sacrifice—we have the right to accept that payment and enter into God’s presence in Heaven. Through that payment our sin is covered, our guilt is released and our righteousness in God’s eyes secured. We are made “perfect” as Christ is perfect. (That is not to say that we will never again sin, but that our souls have been purchased by God through Jesus Christ and we now belong to Him and are freed from our bondage to Satan.)

Now, that’s the math, so to speak, but here’s the heart of the issue: Jesus longs for us to be present in Heaven with Him one day, yes—but more importantly, He longs for our love. He wants to enter into a harmonious, intimate love relationship with Him. He wants to be present in our lives from this moment until we draw our dying breath. He wants to be our strength and our joy and our confidence in times of trouble. And, when hard times come we know that we have nothing to fear, for God is true to His promises and once we are in His loving hands, nothing can snatch us out of His grasp. Psalm 49:15, 16 & John 10:28 See also How Do I Accept Jesus?

Why Doesn't God Just Come Down and Speak to Me Himself?

"If God wants me to believe in Him, believe in Jesus and believe in the Bible as His Word, why doesn't He just come down and speak to me face to face and tell me so?"

A friend of mine has just such a complaint. He insists that, although, belief in Jesus seems to be the least flawed system around, he just can't accept Jesus and God's Son/God Incarnate or the Bible as God's Word unless God Himself comes down in bodily form, stands in his livingroom and tells him to. Basically, what my friend wants is direct, miraculous proof. Apparently, he saw this happen to a guy in a movie once, and now will have it no other way. His wife, a Christian, has tried talking to him, I've tried talking to him, a myriad of pastors and Christian friends have tried, but he won't budge. If God won't come down and do things his way, he's not playing.

Jesus faced the exact kind of demands while He was here on the earth. Everyone loves to see the miracles, but faith is much less forthcoming once the flair is over than we might think. Apparently the large, one-for-all miracles aren't enough. Now we want something special, just for us. But the fact is, Jesus has already shown us a myriad of miracles--creation, the fulfillment of prophesy, Jesus' life, death and resurrection, the inerrancy of Scripture--all of which can be studied and tested and tried and found to be accurate; however, so many of us still don't beleive. Why? Because it takes more than miracles for most people to develop faith in Christ Jesus. Faith is not simply belief in a set of theological principles; faith is falling in love with a BEING--with Jesus. (See: The Nature of Faith.)

For example, consider this passage:

Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"

"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." (John 10:22-33)

Jesus' disciples, too, asked for a special message or sign from God just for them as evidence of Christ's identity and divine authority:

Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

Jesus answered, "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father , and that the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." (John 14: 6-11)

His own brothers needled Him to show off His miracles, but their hearts were not right, either. "But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, 'You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.' For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, 'The right time for me has not yet come; for you anytime is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.'"

In another instance, of Jesus visiting his hometown, we see this statement: "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." (Matthew 13:58) Faith was a prerequisite for the performance of miracles, not the result.

Perhaps the most convicting passage on this issue are these words of Jesus as He spoke to His disciples:

"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'" (John 15:22-25)

In other words, Jesus is saying here that if He hadn't come to us, revealed God to us in bodily form and in fulfillement of prophesy and performed miracles among us that were recorded for posterity in Scripture, we could not be held by God to be guilty of our sin because we would not have received any kind of recourse. Now, through Jesus Christ, we have. Salvation has been made abundantly available to us. Our Savior has come. He has died on the cross in our place. He has given us the Truth that will set us free from the bondage of impurity so that we can again become sons of God and enter into His presence as righteous in His sight. However, if we reject belief in Christ and along with it, His offer, we have no excuse for our sinful, impure, lost state. Futhermore, if we hate Jesus--and with Him, God, the Father--it will be purely without reason. The Bible also tells us, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20) (See context.)

According to the biblical stories of miraculous events, the only people who benefited from these miracles--either physically or spiritually--had already welcomed Jesus into their midst through open minds and humble spirits. When miracles were performed, those who had not originally welcomed Christ still did not believe. Miracles alone are simply not enough evidence to convince a skeptic of Christ's divinity and power. (For examples of this, see: Acts 4:15-22, Matthew 11:16-24, Mark 6:1-6, Luke 19:36-40, Luke 10:2-16)

The question, "God, why can't you just come down and show me who you are, yourself?" is a very arrogant one. It is not a question of welcome, but of exclusion. It is not an offer of faith, but a demand for a show. It is not a request from a humble heart, but a demand for control over God. Basically, what is really being said is this: "God, I reject all the ways you have tried to show yourself to mankind and I demand a particular kind of theatrics that is just for me. If you humble yourself to me and do things my way, I might consider believing in you." However, God knows that such a pitiful excuse for faith is no faith at all. For one thing, God has already come down (as Jesus) and shown us Who He is (through His life, His miracles, His death and His resurrection), but many of us continue to reject Him. God knows that one more "show" isn't going to work. What we need is a humble heart and a willingness to ask instead of demand. Here is an example of just such a prayer:

"Dear God, I am having trouble believing in You, in Jesus and in the truth of the Bible. If You and Jesus are one, as the Bible says, please give me the faith to believe. Lead me to the place where I will see Your Truth for myself--in whatever way will speak most swiftly and tenderly to my heart. I don't want to waste any more of my life not knowing the Truth. Unite my heart and my mind as I seek to know You, and protect me from those who would seek to lead me into the bondage of lies. Open my eyes to see what You have already done to show me Who You are and open my heart to understand that it is You Who are leading me toward You. Please don't let my desire for You slip away, but continue to draw me toward closer. Amen."

Do you see the difference of the above prayer to the demand for a performance? The difference is humility. God is not a trained dog who will jump through a firey ring on demand; He is a God of power and love Who has already given us everything--even His life--and now has nothing more to prove. (See: Why Humility is Absolutely Essential.) Ask from your heart, don't demand. And, then, search the Scriptures to see what He has already said. If you're not sure if the Sciptures can be trusted, do a little research into their validity. Some of your questions might even be answered on this site. Leave a comment and ask. I'd be happy to help you find the answers you're looking for. If you are hurt or angry about some issue concerning the Bible or Christianity, please share that with me and we'll deal with it together. But, whatever you do, try to consider your spiritual needs and questions in light of a powerful, all-knowing, holy God and give Him the honor of recognizing these traits when you appraoch Him. He longs to hear from you, but you need to speak to Him and listen to Him with humility or your heart will simply not be capable of understanding His reply.

Why Humility is Absolutely Essential for Salvation

"I've tried everything," he said. "I said the prayer, I went to church, I believed, but nothing ever made a difference. Finally, I decided religion doesn't work."

Have you ever heard statements like this one or, perhaps, made them yourself? When I hear this kind of thing, it breaks my heart--every time. I deeply sympathize with the first statements and would even go so far as to agree with the last one. Religion doesn't work.

I have had discussions with people and have heard these sentiments voiced. I have tried to explain how faith in Christ is not a religion, but a relationship. It is not a formula; it is falling in love. And, through all of these conversations, I have tried to figure out what exactly happens to make such a thing possible. How much do we do? How much does God do? What role do we play in that process of our own salvation? Surely, if we indeed have free will, we must do something. So, in thinking of this over the last year and in searching my Bible, I've made a few discoveries that I would like to share with you:

God has given us free will--a choice between life and death--and He greatly desires that we choose life through Him:
"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him...." (Dueteronomy 30:19)

We cannot understand nor accept Christ's sacrifice unless He reveals Himself to us through His Holy Spirit:
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2:14)

God is trying to reveal Himself to all of us:
"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)

God's gift of salvation is available to all of us:
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Faith Comes from God:
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

In fact, the rest of this stuff (and more) comes from God:

Salvation: Psalm 61:2 & Acts 4:12
Love: I John 4:7-8
Wisdom: James 1:5
Hope: Psalm 62:5
Joy: Psalm 16:11
Competence: 2 Corinthians 3:5
Righteousness: Romans 10:3
Peace: Psalm 29:11
Strength: Exodus 15:2
Perseverance: 2 Thessalonians 3:5

But there is something vital that we must do--We must humble ourselves:
"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Why is that such an important first step? Why is humility so essential? Why is it that a person can seemingly go through all the steps, say the right prayers and attend church for a lifetime but never really experience a personal relationship with God? I think it is because in order to have a relationship with God, we must allow ourselves (or force ourselves) to recognize Who He is. If we do not humble ourselves, we will never admit that God is above us and is soveriegn over us. We will never submit ourselves to His will. We will never truly exalt His name over our own. We will never recognize His Truth, His Person, His majesty, His glory, His holiness or His power. In fact, we will never move from the concept that we are following a "belief system" into the concept that we are following a Being.

Humbling Ourselves is Very Difficult:
The kind of "humbling" we experience on earth is incredibly debilitating and hurtful. Most of us can recall a time we were embarrased--perhaps in school--when our friends pointed out our faults and laughed. Naturally, we will want to run from anything that seems to threaten such an experience. But this is not humility. This is humiliation and is completely different from what God wants from us.

So, what kind of humilty does God desire?
"Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the Lord. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

In fact, Jesus Himself, modeled for us the kind of humility we should have:
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29

Furthermore, God promises,
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10)

When you humble yourself before God, He does not set your sins and faults up before you so He can accuse you and to mock you with them!
"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thessalonians 5:9)


"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17)

When you humble yourself before God, recognize His offer of salvation and accept His payment through Christ for your shortcomings, God brings you into His loving arms of forgiveness! And, let me tell you, there is nowhere else a sinner like me would rather be!

How Do I Accept Jesus?

So, you've discovered Jesus's offer of forgiveness! You've realized He is the most amazing person who ever lived! You believe He was Who He said He was (God), died in your place, and came back to life, and now you're ready to ask Him to extend that payment over your life and take the lead!

How do you go about that? You tell Him that you commit your heart, your life, and your trust to Him. Basically, you do this the same way you would enter a marriage. You fall in love, you declare your love, and you commit yourself and your future to the One you love--in this case, Jesus.

The Bible says, "...if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Remember, you can talk to God at any time and in any way. He, being all-knowing, can hear your most secret thoughts. You don't have to say anything aloud or stand on your roof and shout. He hears you. In fact, He can read your heart even when you can't come up with the words. In this case, however, it's important that you make a conscious decision and tell Him that you are accepting Him into your heart and your life. Remember, this isn't a magical formula. Your conversation and relationship with God is a private, intimate communication between the two of you, and if you really want Him to be your Savior, Lord, and Friend, you're not going to botch it by saying the wrong thing. If, however, you aren't sure how to start or what to say, I have written a prayer below:

Dearest Lord Jesus,

Thank you so much for loving me and coming to die on the cross for my sins. I know I have sinned and that my sin has separated me from having an intimate relationship with You. I no longer want to face my future alone. Please come into my heart and into my life. I accept Your sacrifice and Your forgiveness from this moment forward. Please teach me to know You, love You, trust You, and follow You. Draw me into a close love relationship with You. I love you, Jesus, and I thank you.

Amen

Welcome to God's family! If you entered into a relationship with Jesus today, I would certainly LOVE to hear from you! I would love to celebrate with you and encourage you and answer any questions you might have.

In the meantime, here are some verses to encourage you in your new life in Christ Jesus:

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (See Context.)

John 1:12-13 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (See Context.)

Ephesians 1:13-14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Jeremiah 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."

Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."

Isaiah 43:1b "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine."