A Leap of Faith

Maybe I haven’t sinned …

I’ve led a pretty good life compared to others I know.  Maybe I haven’t sinned??  The Bible says in Romans 3:23 (NLT) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Actually, we sin in thought, word, and deed.  Even a bad thought about someone or some thing is a sin.

Suppose you are on an airplane and you’ve just finished the work you needed to do on your laptop.  Now you have time to relax and think without many distractions.  In the pocket on the back of the seat ahead, you discover a pamphlet titled, “Are You a Sinner Headed for Hell?”

You’ve never thought of yourself as a sinner because you’ve tried to lead a good life and treat others as you would like to be treated.  In fact, you think you’re a good person.  By your standard, you assume you’re headed to heaven.  But, you open the pamphlet and take a look.  The Ten Commandments, from Exodus Chapter 20, are pictured along with a short list of questions related to God’s moral law.

How will God judge you?

• Have you ever stolen anything?  If yes, you are a thief.
• Have you ever told a lie?  If yes, you are a liar.
• Have you ever used God’s name in vain (as a swear word)?  If yes, you are a blasphemer.

It’s beginning to sink in.  You see yourself as God sees you.  Yes, you are a sinner!  Then your heart sinks into your toenails when you read the first part of this verse:

Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Our payment for sin is death and separation from God, sending us straight to hell with eternal torment.

Fear Drives Us to God

Panic sets in.  You know you are guilty of sin and headed to hell when you die.  But then you read the last part of the verse and have some hope.  The pamphlet continues with the section titled, “How to be a SIN Survivor.”  Jesus is pictured on the Cross between two thieves who were also being crucified.

Luke 23:38-43 (NIV) There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

One thief rejected Jesus as the Messiah.  The other thief  . . .

• acknowledged Jesus as the sinless Son of God
• feared God
• admitted his sin
• knew he deserved death as punishment for his sin
• pleaded for Jesus’ mercy 

Jesus gave the sinner assurance he would be in paradise that very day.

Could salvation be that simple?  Yes.

What else must we do in order to be saved?  Nothing.   From the crucifixion described above, the saved thief didn’t have time to jump down from the cross, do some good deeds, tithe, get baptized, or attend church/synagogue.  Just before Jesus gave up his life for us, he said, “It is finished.”  Jesus’ holy, sinless blood was the perfect sacrifice God required for the payment of our sins – once and for all!  Nothing more was needed.  In fact, anything we think we must add would only be an insult to Him and what He accomplished for us.

Our Standard or God’s Standard

On judgment day, do you think Jesus will judge people by “the world’s” standard or His standard?  All of us will have an opportunity to accept Jesus in our lifetime.  If we reject Him, we will be judged by His glorious standard, and none of us could ever measure up to it.  Jesus is just and His justice will prevail.

The fear of God’s judgment is a good thing as it drives us to get right with God.  Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  We need to recognize we are sinners.  Romans 3:23 (NLT) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  We need to realize we can’t save ourselves with good deeds.  They are worthless and unacceptable to God for salvation.  Each of us should have been nailed to a cross and put to death because of our sins.  But, thankfully, Jesus took our place and paid our sin debt in full! 

Claim Your Salvation with Faith

Finally, you read the last statement on the pamphlet which says, “Be a SIN Survivor – Claim Your Salvation with Faith.”  Consider this . . . You’ve been given a coupon for a free hamburger, that’s great!  But if you don’t claim your hamburger with the coupon, you will never have your hamburger.  The same is true with salvation.  Many know about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the salvation He made available to us, but not all have claimed their salvation with faith.

A Leap of Faith

As you are thinking about what you discovered in the pamphlet, the pilot announces there is engine trouble and he must make a forced landing on the ocean.  You remember the instructions given by the stewardess just before takeoff.  She mentioned a life saving flotation vest within the seat, but noted this would not be necessary.  Passengers should put their trust in Good Deeds Airline.  Most people on the plane don’t seem bothered by this announcement, but you are fearful and strap on your life saving vest.  

Suddenly it happens.  You experience the impact and then realize the plane is quickly sinking.  With a leap of faith, you jump into the water trusting the life vest will save you.  The plane, with all those lost souls, is plunging downward and almost out of sight.  You look around and see only a few survivors floating in the water.  On the back of their vests in big letters you see the words LIFE SAVER and you immediately think of Jesus.

You begin to thank God and talk to Him as if He were right there in the water with you.  A relationship with God, and specifically Jesus your Savior, has begun.  Even though you have just survived a plane crash and are floating in the middle of the ocean, peace has come over you.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Will you be wise enough to break away from the world’s deception and trust Jesus as your Savior?  None of us is guaranteed to see tomorrow.  Now is the time to get right with God.

How would you complete this sentence?  I know I’m saved and will be in heaven because …..

1. I go to church/synagogue.
2. I’ve led a pretty good life and try to treat others the way I want to be treated.
3. I don’t think I’ve sinned, and I don’t think hell exists.
4. I put money in the collection plate every week.
5. Jesus, the Son of God, paid my sin debt in full with His death, burial and resurrection, and I trust Jesus as my Savior.

Our salvation doesn’t depend on what we do.  It is rooted in what Jesus did for us and faith in Him as our Savior.  We must stop thinking we can earn our salvation.  That is Satan’s big lie.  The truth is, Jesus paid the price for our sins.  But to have salvation, we must claim Jesus as our Savior with faith. 

Salvation through Jesus Alone reveals what happens the moment we put our trust in Jesus instead of ourselves.

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