Many today reject the church as vital or even necessary for Christians. There are multitudes of people who consider TV, books, magazines, devotionals, or podcasts as their “church.” Is it possible to have a vibrant spiritual life and successfully nurture our relationship with God apart from a local church? Is it just tradition that tells us we much be a part of one? Is it possible to move closer to God and farther away from the church? Are there lots of alternatives to the church when it comes to our spiritual growth?

The answer to all of those questions, according to Scripture, is a resounding no! Far from being one of many options for the Christian, the church is the primary means through which God accomplishes His plan in the world. It is His instrument to evangelize the world and to sanctify those who are born into His family. Therefore God expects a commitment to the church from everyone who claims to know Him.

Key Verse:
1 Timothy 3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

It’s the House of God

The phrase “house of God” indicates that the church is God’s dwelling place or immediate family. Both meanings are applied to the church in Scripture, and both provide profound testimony to its divine origin and significance.

The Church is God’s Dwelling Place – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; Revelation 1:12-13, 16, 20
If we want to be where God is, we need to be in His church, for that is where he dwells. And the way we relate to Him is largely dependent upon the way we relate to His church, for it is the house He has built with His own hands (1 Peter 2:5).

The Church is God’s Family – 1 Timothy 3:4-5, 12
If Pastors and deacons need their households in order, how much more should God’s own household be in order! We need to be in His family if we want to consider Him our Father. With Paul’s words in mind, how could people call God their Father while refusing to be a part of His family? Yet that plain contradiction essentially describes the position of those who say they have faith and salvation apart from the church.

It’s the Church of the Living God

The church proceeded from God and belongs to God. He is the living God – the only true God; at all times, He is personally and actively involved in its operation and enterprises.

It’s the Pillar of Truth

Paul’s next descriptive name for the church—“pillar” –tells us that it actually holds up the truth. God’s truth doesn’t stand without the church. Of course, Jesus promised that His church will be a permanent institution (Matthew 16:18). Our relationship to God and His truth is in mortal danger if the church doesn’t occupy its intended place in our lives. To those who abandon the church, their faith has crumbled—because they have torn away the pillar that upholds the truth.

How does the church function as a pillar of truth?

• Revelation: God chose to reveal the truth of the New Testament in and through the church –Ephesians 3:8-11
• Preservation: God chose the church to recognize His words and preserve them for all generations
• Proclamation: God chose the church to proclaim the truth to the world—Matthew 28:18-20
• Administration: God chose the church to provide the structure and order He has devised for worship and growth—1 Timothy 3:15
• Protection: God chose the church to protect the truth from error—Romans 16:17; Titus 3:9-11; 2 John 9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:1-6; Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

It’s the Ground of the Truth

Think of this as the foundation that the pillar rests upon. Paul wanted Timothy to know that the church is the one institution that God has promised to preserve throughout all time (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 3:21).  God hasn’t given this promise to rescuing America from decline or parachurch ministries.

According to John 15:19, the believer is IN the world, but ought not to be OF the world, because the Lord has chosen us OUT of the world. Separation does not mean we must move into a compound or hide from everyone who is unsaved! The Lord has set us free from our old masters (the world, the flesh, and the devil) and has given us the power to live a life of righteousness that honors and pleases Him. So why should we desire to remain attached to the world system from which we have been delivered? John commands us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…” (1 John 2:15). The “world” is the ungodly world system in which we live. As citizens of heaven, we must not become attached to the things of the world nor gain affinity for the world’s ideas, philosophies, and programs that oppose God’s Word. John goes on to give three reasons for our separation from the world in 1 John 2:15-17.

Because of it’s Opposition to the Father

“…If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Love for the world is incompatible with love for God. The world system is at war with God and with His followers (see John 15:18-20). “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) The Bible makes it clear that we cannot love the world system and simultaneously live for God. Scripture gives us many principles to discern what is worldly so that we can please God with our lives.

Because of it’s Offers

Verse 16 effectively describes the nature of the world’s offers: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Peter clearly commands us to separate from the ways of the world which characterized our lives prior to salvation, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:” (1 Peter 1:14).

Because of it’s Outcome

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” The world is only temporary. The pleasures of sin are only for a season (see Hebrews 11:24-25). Our lives should reflect this spiritual priority of striving for eternal rewards.

Separation from False Teachers

Usually this area is the easiest for believers to be obedient. We automatically know not to invite the local Jehovah’s Witness leaders to speak for our revival meetings! Sometimes the right action is not so obvious. Consider the following key New Testament passages about false teaching.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

All believers are commanded: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” Instead of coming into close partnerships with the lost, we are to “come out from among them” and be separate. Any religious or spiritual endeavor (worship, evangelism, prayer, etc.) with those who have rejected Biblical truth or who preach a false gospel is a direct violation of this Biblical commandment of separation. In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul tells us to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh (carnal, physical sins) and also from all filthiness of the spirit (spiritual infidelity by uniting with unbelievers).

Ephesians 5:11

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” We must not only separate from unbelief, but we must also sound a warning to others who might subtly be drawn into the apostasy so prevalent today.

Romans 16:17

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Notice that Bible doctrine is the dividing line. Those who do not teach true doctrine are to be “marked,” or noted, and “avoided.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Paul describes the actions and attitudes of evil men and false teachers and warns Timothy that even though they possess “a form of godliness,” they actually deny the power of God and the gospel message. The believer’s response to these proud, conceited apostates should be to “turn away” from them.

Galatians 1:6-10

All who preach a false gospel are under the curse of God, and believers are commanded to refrain from any fellowship with them. The very fact that they have perverted the true gospel means that believers are to “let them be accursed.” We are to separate from false teachers and their false teachings.

From the Apostle John

The entire first epistle of John informs believers that one of the primary ways they can abide in Christ is to watch out for false teachers and “try the spirits” to see whether or not they are truly of God (1 John 2:18-20; 4:1-5). In his second epistle, he commands us to separate from false teachers (2 John 7-11). Those who accommodated the false teachers were described as being “partakers” of their evil deeds. In the book of Revelation, John records Jesus Christ Himself commending several churches for separating from false teachers and rebuking several other churches for failing to separate from dangerous false doctrines (Revelation 2:1-3:22).

Separation from Brethren

We are living in an ecumenical age where all religions and branches of Christendom are coming together in religious unity. When Bible believers refuse to have any part with the World Council of Churches, or fellowship with non-Baptist religious groups, or even work together with other Baptists, they are often called “narrow-minded,” “unloving,” “extremists,” etc. Yet the Bible clearly states that we are to separate even from fellow brethren when they fail to heed and obey the Word of God.

The Problems

Some brethren embrace those who teach false doctrine. Others possess an affinity for the world and seek to employ ideas and philosophies of the world in their lives and ministries. Some actually embrace and teach false doctrine. Others repudiate certain Biblical doctrines such as separation from error and false teachers. In each case, the fellow believer is compromising the truth and failing to heed the Word of God. To separate does not mean to act in an unkind or unloving manner toward the offending brethren or to refuse to speak to them or have anything to do with them. Rather, it means we must not associate ourselves with their ministries or their ministry endeavors. We must make sure that others know we are not identified with the doctrine they teach or with the philosophy of ministry to which they subscribe.

The Principles

Paul commanded the Thessalonian believers to “withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). How were these brethren walking disorderly? They were not obeying the tradition, that is, the words and inspired writings of the apostle Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Paul writes, “And if any man obey not our word by his epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). Those fellow believers who do not obey the Scriptures are to be marked and avoided (see Romans 16:17).

The Purposes

1. Maintenance of church purity. 1 Corinthians 5 presents a case-study. Paul charged them “not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or coveteous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat” (1 Corinthians 5:11). Whether this individual is a sinning believer or an unsaved pretender, the command is the same – “purge out therefore the old leaven” (1 Corinthians 5:7), that is, separate from him. When such church discipline is not enforced, unconfessed and unforsaken sin in the fellowship will harm and corrupt others (1 Corinthians 5:5-7). God has ordained separation in order to stem the leavening, spreading influence of sin.

2. Restoration of a disobedient brother. Unless the errant believer is rebuked according to God’s Word, he might continue his sin indefinitely. Separation should make the disobedient brother “ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14). He is not an enemy, nor should he be treated as such (2 Thessalonians 3:15. One purpose for our separation from him is to bring him to a place of repentance and restoration (see Galatians 6:1).

3. Reception of a full reward. Believers should obey God’s Word and separate from disobedient brethren in order to receive a “full reward” at the appearing of Jesus Christ (2 John 8; see also 2 Timothy 2:5). It is possible for a disobedient Christian to lose reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ due to his compromised fellowships while on earth (1 Corinthians 3:13-15; Revelation 3:11). Anytime a believer is identified with any religious activity that it is not true to God’s Word, he will meet with God’s disapproval.

4. Consistency in the midst of theological confusion. As the promoter of confusion about God’s Word, Satan is busy sowing falsehood in churches today. A separated believer can maintain a strong, consistent testimony in the midst of the confusion of our day. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Although the doctrine of separation is prominent throughout the Scripture, difficulty arises when actually attempting practice this truth. In some cases, it is very easy. For example, to reject the false doctrines of the cults is not too difficult and does not usually involve any great sacrifice. However, many believers have difficulty understanding and obeying God’s command to separate from churches or ministries that have compromised or failed to follow God’s Word. Yet God’s directive concerning evil is the same whether the sin is found outside or inside the church.

The Basis of Separation

Separation sometime has a bad reputation. Some folks imagine a great list of “taboos.” Certainly the Scriptures label certain things as off limits for God’s people, but it is important for us to grasp the principles involved in determining what pleases the Lord. How should we decide what is “taboo” for us? Isn’t it unloving to shun people or things? Why should why separate from anything or any person?

The Holiness of God

Separation springs from the very nature of God. 1 Peter 1:15-16 affirms, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

The Reality of Conversion

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Command of Scripture

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

Defining Separation

Four Related Words

“Separation”, “sanctification”, “holiness”, and “saints” all have the same basic meaning – set apart. When we say that God is holy, that means He is “set apart” from all other in His righteousness. When we say that the Bible is holy, we mean it is “set apart” from all other books. When we are taught to sanctify the Lord in our hearts, this means we are to set God apart from idols.

Two Aspects

Separation necessarily involves two things – one to be left and one to be joined. For the believer, we are to separate from the ungodliness to the Lord. Paul clearly expresses this concept in Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

more to come….

Glorify Jesus Christ

Because we are bought with the blood of Christ, we cannot do with our bodies as we please. We must be sure that everything we do glorifies God. Paul told the Corinthian believers that every human activity must be accomplished to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). The Christian is not a law unto himself, for he is owned by another. This principle is also certainly true concerning activities that occur in the local church. As members of Christ’s body, all our activities within our congregation must be holy and glorifying to Christ. We glorify Him through evangelism, study of the Word, prayer, singing, fellowship with other believers, and observing the ordinances.

Evangelize the Lost

In Luke 24:46-49, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit so they could obtain the power necessary to preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations. The disciples, who would be filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, needed to understand that they were responsible for witnessing to others about Christ (Acts 1:8). The responsibility to preach the gospel to every person in the world belongs to the church (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20).

Instruct and Edify Believers

The role of the Pastor: In Acts 20:27-31, the apostle Paul told the Ephesian church leaders to “take heed…to all the flock…[and] feed the church of God.” Believers must be built up in the faith and instructed in the Word of God. The pastor must fulfill his God-given responsibility to watch, warn, and instruct his flock. Paul also told Timothy to “preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2). This preaching to believers was to involve reproof, rebuke, and exhortation. Jesus told Peter, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:5-17). Pastors must nourish God’s people. God has given us church leaders for a purpose, and that is to instruct and edify us according to the truth of God’s Word (Ephesians 4:11-15).

The role of every Member: While the pastor has a tremendous responsibility, all individuals in the church are responsible to edify one another as well. Fellow Christians are to build up one another through encouragement and by provoking “unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24-25). To the church in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification” (Romans 15:1-2).

Observe the Ordinances

Baptism: The ordinance of baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the believer’s identification with Him as a part of His body (Romans 6:3-5; Acts 2:41-42).

The Lord’s Supper: This ordinance is a memorial, a reminder to the believer, of Christ’s sustitutionary death on Calvary’s cross and a reminder of Christ’s imminent return for His church (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). Only true believers should partake of the Lord’s Supper.

By Obeying

We usually think of God’s will as a place, but it is primarily about who we are as a person. If you will be what He wants you to be, then He will show you what He wants you to do. A plethora of problems, mistakes, errors, and false living could be avoided if we would just begin with Scripture.  This is a simple principle that is far too often ignored.  The habit of many, even some leaders, is to begin with an idea, philosophy, personal preference, pet peeve or observation, and then go back to Scripture to find a few verses to support their theory.  If we do that, we might be able to convince ourselves of almost anything.  But if all we do and believe emerges from the Word itself, we will be able to discern the value, or lack thereof, of all other ideas.

When you begin with Scripture, in the realm of decision making, you will be able to make your decisions on the basis of solid biblical precepts, commands and principles. The Bible will not tell you what house you are to buy, but it will frame that decision with financial, ministerial and family guidelines. It may not tell you to move to 334 South Grant Street, but it will present issues such as: Are your financial priorities biblical or are you thinking only of your comfort; how much can you truly afford; are you buying for prestige or in order to meet the needs of your family and better minister for the Lord; will this move be the best thing for your spouse, etc.? It is biblical concepts such as these that enable us to make decisions that honor Christ.

By Listening

1. We must expect God to direct us. This is illustrated in the life of the apostle Paul. Note Acts 16:6-10 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”

God’s will for your life is not determined by whether the “door is open” or the way is easy. Paul’s journey to Macedonia resulted in his beating and imprisonment (Acts 16:23).

2. We must seek godly counsel. The Scriptures are replete with encouragement for us to seek the counsel of wise and godly people (Proverbs 12:15; 13:10; 15:22; 20:18).  Additionally, Paul tells the believers that they should be involved in counseling one another (Romans 15:14).  The counsel of wise, godly, and scripturally knowledgeable people is an important source for making wise decisions, but we must keep in mind that such counsel is not infallible.  It is a piece but it does not solve the puzzle.

By Trusting

When we have yielded our lives to God in obedience, we can trust the Spirit to guide us. After examining the Scriptures and consulting godly counsel, we can move forward with confidence. Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” When are hearts are yielded to God’s Word, then the Lord is in control of our desires. God often works through our desires.  What is it that we want to do? is a good question to ponder.  In 1 Timothy 3:1 Paul writes that those who desire to be pastors desire a good thing.  But carefully note, Paul did not tell Timothy to grab all who desire the office of pastor and install them.  Rather, he lays out for Timothy the requirements that a pastor must meet (1 Timothy 3:2-7; see also Titus 1:5-9).

If you have yielded yourself to God and are listening to His voice, then go forward trusting God to guide you!

• Suffering softens your heart towards God’s Word
  “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Psalm 119:67
• Suffering opens your heart to make you more teachable
  “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Psalm 119:71
• Suffering teaches you to be compassionate
  “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
• Suffering strengthens your heart to make you more mature
  “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4
• Suffering humbles your heart
  “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” 2 Corinthians 12:7
• Suffering shows our weakness so we can rely on Christ’s strength
  “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Suffering makes you desire eternal things
  “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

a minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more. – John Owen

quoted in The Ephesian Church, p. 64 of the pdf available here: http://www.febc.edu.sg/assets/pdfs/febc_press/The%20Ephesian%20Church.pdf

May God help me to be much on my knees before God!

Opportunities

We need to ask God for opportunities to tell the gospel to others. We also need wisdom to see the opportunities that he provides. See 2 Thessalonians 3:1.

Boldness

How many times have you seen an opportunity slip by as you lingered on the brink of saying something that would take the conversation in the direction of Christ? We need to pray that God would take away our insecurity and our fear of losing popularity. More is at stake that just our popularity. See Acts 4:29, 31.

Love

In the busyness of our lives we lose sense of urgency for sharing the gospel. We care about so many things, but one thing will matter for all of eternity. We need to ask God to give us His heart for the lost. See Romans 9:1-3; 10:1.

original image from www.essential-architecture.com

The Temple of Artemis, also known as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to Artemis. The original structure was completed around 550 BC at Ephesus (in present-day Turkey), and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It features prominently in Paul’s missionary journeys in Acts 19.

“The completed temple was 425 ft by 225 ft and had 127 columns each 60 ft in height and each representing a king. Thirty-six of the columns were decorated with high reliefs, and at least one was the work of Scopas, a renowned sculptor. (Cf. Pliny Nat. hist. xxxvi.21 [95–97].)” (source: Bromiley, G. W. (1988; 2002). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (1:307). Wm. B. Eerdmans.)

Here’s a little insight into what worship was like in this temple:

Originally the Artemis worshiped at Ephesus was not a Gr. divinity but was Asiatic. Ultimately the various goddesses of love in Syria and Asia Minor all owed their origin to the earlier Babylonian and Assyrian Ishtar through the link of the Phoenician Astarte. She impersonated the reproductive powers of man and animals and all other life. She assisted at childbirth. Associated thus with the various fertility cults she became the patroness of ceremonial prostitution, which was part of her worship at Ephesus.

The great temple of Diana at Ephesus, called the Artemision and considered as one of the seven wonders of the Hellenistic world, was the scene of an annual festival in her honor during the month of Artemisios (March–April). The religious ceremonies included athletic, dramatic and musical contests (see Games). Ephesus was proud of her position as “temple-keeper” of Diana (Acts 19:35), a boast which has been found on inscriptions excavated there. The temple treasury acted as a bank in which deposits were made by cities, kings and private persons. Here the Ionians came with their wives and children, bringing costly offerings and presents to the priests. Her worship was characterized by sensuous orgies. Great throngs attended. Multitudes of female temple slaves or “priestesses” who came as virgins were here dedicated to service in the temple which may have included ritual or cultic prostitution.

The silversmiths of Ephesus carried on a lucrative business by the forging and sale of images of this goddess (Acts 19:23 ff.). Hence it was inevitable that Paul’s message of Christianity should arouse their indignation because it jeopardized their trade.

(source: Pfeiffer, C. F., Vos, H. F., & Rea, J. (1975; 2005). The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia. Moody Press.)

Despite all of the idolatry and wickedness in Ephesus, God’s word prevailed!

“God that made the world and all things therein…he is Lord of heaven and earth….he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth…that they should seek the Lord” (Acts 17:24-27)

The Bible explains that God created us and sustains us and, therefore, has the right to absolute authority in our lives. Out of His love, He made us in His image so that we would seek to honor Him as the true Creator. 

Man: His Problem

“The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.” (Psalm 14:2). “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.….for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:11,23). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Instead of seeking God, man rebels against God’s authority and chooses to live his own way. The Bible says that failure to recognize God’s authority is sin. The penalty for our sin is death–not just physical death, for all men die–but eternal separation from God in hell. Man rightly deserves this judgment for failing to honor his Creator.

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

Christ: God’s Solution

“When we were yet without strength…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:6, 8-9).

God’s great love and mercy can extend a pardon to sinners. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for sinners and pay sin’s penalty. In His death, Jesus endured the punishment that sinners deserve and therefore satisfied the wrath of God, making it possible for sinners to be made right with Him and receive eternal life.

Christ rose from the dead and will one day judge all men: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

Our Response

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). “God…now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

God commands you to repent from your rebellion and to trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. You must admit that you are a rebel against God, and rely only on Jesus’ death to pay for your sins.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36).