the Light
John 1:1-5 (Listen)1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
As humans, it’s important to know we are born separated from God, all because of Adam & Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. The Bible tells us that no one seeks after God. Not a single person.
Romans 3:10-11 (Listen)10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
Later in that same chapter, it says that everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s standard.
This creates a problem. If man is born sinful and separated from God, how do we get to Heaven? A lot of people have the misconception that just being a “good person” will get you to Heaven. Sadly, this is not the case. The Good News is that God sent His only son to save the world from its sin.
If we confess and believe that Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected three days later, we can be saved.
Romans 10:9 (Listen)9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
The story doesn’t end there. After we’re saved, we have a life to live. This is where being a “good person” comes into play. James says that faith without works is dead.
James 2:14-26 (Listen)14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
This is also known as the process of sanctification. We are to be imitators of the life of Jesus Christ. Day by day, we learn to live that life through Bible study, prayer and fellowship with other Christians. It’s important to join a body of believers to help you grow deeper in your faith. If you’re in the Frankfort area, I recommend The Point.