THE SCRIPTURE THAT SAVED MY LIFE
By Carolyn Dale Newell
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV
I’m not going to heaven? I read it again. When I was twelve, they said I would go to heaven! Momma told me that. The church told me that. “Do not be deceived.” Had I been deceived? My future mother-in-law asked me if I had been saved. Was getting saved the same as joining the church? No, it is not. Had I been lied to all these years? The Holy Spirit prodded me, making me realize what a depraved sinner I really was. What guilty sinners we all are.
Does that sound harsh? Let us look at the gospel truth. I love my missionary friend’s approach to witnessing. You may find it helpful too.
He starts with this question: are you a good person? The typical response is yes. I pay my taxes, keep my lawn clean, give to charity, and I attend church. Yes, I am a good person.
His next questions are as follows: have you ever lied? Have you ever stolen anything, even as a child? Have you ever hated someone or lusted after a man or a woman? Even if we were talking to King David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), his answers would be yes. King David was guilty on all counts, and so are we.
Lying and stealing are prohibited in the Ten Commandments. According to Jesus Christ, lust is equal to committing adultery (Matt. 5:27-28), and hatred is synonymous with murder (Matt. 5:21-22). Now our good person is a lying, thieving, adulterous murderer, just like David.
There is none who does good, no, not one. Rom. 3:12b
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Rom. 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:23
We are all sinners, and we all must die, but Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, died for us. His never-ending love, that love you read about earlier, was so strong that He went to the cross to pay, make atonement, for our sins. Heaven and hell are real. Once we realize our path leads to hell, we know we need a Savior. We can pray, asking God for forgiveness, mercy, and His saving grace. That is genuine salvation, not signing a card, walking the aisle, or shaking a preacher’s hand.
I long to see people come to Christ and spend eternity with Him in heaven. If I did not love them, I would write a popular message.
My prayer is that one of two things happened as you read this; either you found a new witnessing tool or you found your need for a Savior.
Lord God, I realize I am a sinner. I seek Your forgiveness. Jesus paid my sin debt, and I trust in Him as Savior and Master over my life. I turn from my sins, and now I want to live my life for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
DIG DEEPER
Read John 3:1-21.
HIKING THE TRAIL
If you have trusted in anything except Jesus Christ for salvation, you are trusting in the wrong thing. Today can be your day of salvation.
Copyright 2017 Carolyn Dale Newell.
A Mountain of Faith 