Wrenn Memorial Baptist Church

Let me ask you an important question. Do you believe in God? If you said "yes", then you are among the majority of Americans. A 2007 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life on religion in America reveals that most people in fact do believe in God. Self described atheists actually comprised less than two percent of the roughly 16 percent of people who were unaffiliated with any particular faith or religion.

 

Let me ask you another question. What God do you believe in? In the book which is like no other, the bible, Jehovah God says "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:22). Jehovah God plainly tells us that He is God, and that all others are counterfeit. Also, according to the Pew Forum survey most of you said you believe in the God of the bible.

 

So most of you believe in one God, and He is Jehovah. That’s good as the bible also says, "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God" (Psalm 14:1). There is no greater self deception than to deny the existence of God. Now let me ask you a very important question. Do you think "believing in God" is the same as "believing God?" I hope you can see the difference, because it’s critical.

 

Listen to the bible, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19). Even the devils (demons) believe in God and yet I doubt one of you would say that devils or demons are justified before God. They are bound over for eternal punishment (Jude 1:6). Believing in the one God Jehovah is correct theology, but it isn’t enough!

 

Sadly, most people are counting on belief in God and good works, i.e. being a good person, for entrance into heaven and eternal life. Hoping that God in His goodness will overlook their "little" sins. God is rich in mercy, loves us beyond our understanding, and wishes to offer us a restored relationship and eternal life. But He must first deal with the sin in our life. Remember what God said, "Look unto me, and be ye saved." To "believe God" is to listen to His words, to respond to them, and they say we have all broken His commandments, which is sin, and are deserving of eternal punishment. Sin can be broadly defined as "missing the mark," which is God’s perfect holy standard. God has given us the Law, the Ten Commandments, so we can clearly see our sin, as if looking in a mirror. You know them as they are written on our hearts; thou shall not kill, thou shall not commit adultery, thou shall not steal, thou shall not lie, thou shall not covet, just to name a few. The law is like ten cannons shredding our self righteousness to pieces, stopping every mouth from proclaiming its own goodness.

 

Our conscience bears witness against our sin too. The word conscience means "with knowledge" and when we lie, steal, covet, lust, etc.; we do it "with knowledge" that it is wrong. We must all face the law of sin and death, which says that the soul that sins shall die. As a good and just judge, God must punish all sin, including every secret thing. My friend, the goodness of God you’re hoping will save you on the Day of Judgment will be the very thing that will condemn you. And the just penalty for sin—breaking even one law—is spiritual death, eternal torment and separation from God in Hell.

 

His words also say "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). Let's make this plain; no religion, no church membership, no baptism, no sacrificial service, no giving, no holding on, no holding out will save you.

 

His words say that we are to repent. Repentance begins with godly sorrow for sinning against God. Repentance is a change of heart and mind toward sin, self, God and Jesus Christ. To come into agreement with God, that you’re not a "good" person, but rather a sinner deserving of Hell. True repentance always results in a change of direction or action; to remove ourselves from sinful situations and to no longer willingly practice sin. His words say we are to accept by faith Jesus’ atoning (sin covering) work on the cross for our transgressions. To believe God is to trust in Jesus Christ only for our salvation.

 

The Bible says that God demonstrated His great love for us by giving His Son (Jesus) to shed His blood on the cross and to die in our place. The Bible further says in speaking of Jesus, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). Jesus accepted the judgment God had passed upon each of us for our sins and satisfied the Law. The Bible says "Much more then, being now justified [made righteous] by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath [the anger of God against sin] through him." (Romans 5:9). This is God's plan then, that Jesus Christ became our substitute. Faith is belief in Christ’s atoning work for us on the cross.

 

Are you ready to come to Christ in repentance and faith, to believe God? Then confess your belief in prayer and He will save you. Pray a simple prayer something like this: Jesus I realize I’m a sinner. I’m sorry for my sins. Help me to turn away from them. Thank you for dying in my place. I want you to be my Lord and savior. I want to follow you and serve you the rest of my life. Amen.

 

Undecided? Please consider one last thought. If your heart gave out right now, how would you respond in those few moments that your life drained from you, in absolute trust, or total terror? Don’t deceive yourself any further by saying, "I’ve got plenty of time." Human nature tends to think that way—that death is something that happens to other people. But every single day 150,000 people die, and no doubt most of them that are now in eternity, never thought today would be the day they die. So don’t delay, call upon the Lord, be saved today while there is yet time.

 

If you've prayed and asked God to save you; please contact us so that we may rejoice and pray for you. Start attending church right away; read the bible, and obey what you read.