Life, what a beautiful gift it is! As you gaze down into an infant cradle and see a newborn baby, you begin to realize just how beautiful, how valuable life is. Life is precious, for it is a gift from God. The ancient writer of Job 33:4 understood this when he wrote, “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” Life is a gift from God and oh, how precious this gift of life is!
God, the Giver of Life
In the word of God we learn that He is the Source and Creator of life. As life cannot arise from non-life, all life must come from God. He is the Sustainer of life, the very Essence of life itself. In Speaking of Jesus Christ, God the Son, the Bible says, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in the earth … all things were created by him, and for him: … by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17) All life must come from and be sustained by Him. There can be no life apart from Him.
In the beginning, God created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. As the Source of all life, God gave life to the man and his wife and through them to the human race. The newly created man and his wife lived in a beautiful place called the Garden of Eden. There they enjoyed an unbroken relationship and fellowship with their Creator.
The Fall – Man’s Loss of Life
In the Bible, we find the sad account of the fall of mankind. When Adam and Eve lived in the garden, God in love placed one restriction on them. He gave this command for their own good, and He clearly warned them that disobedience would result in death.
Tragically, Adam and Eve rebelled against the clear command of God. Due to their disobedience, their relationship with God was broken. Because God is holy and righteous, their sin separated them from His holy presence. When they were separated from God, they were separated from the very Source and Sustainer of all life. Consequently, they died spiritually, just as God had said. Their physical deaths did inevitably follow.
God has given us commandments to obey just as he gave them to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. These commandments are called God’s law, and they are found in the Bible. God gave His law for our good. God commands us in His law to love and worship Him and to place Him first in our life, honoring Him above all else. God’s law also commands us to refrain from harmful actions in relation to other people such as theft, dishonesty, murder, covetousness, and any sexual activity outside of a marriage covenant between a man and his wife. Not only did God give his law in the Bible, but also upon our consciences. We are born with the knowledge that these things are wrong. Furthermore, Jesus said that even if a sin is not committed outright but only thought in the mind, we are as guilty before God as if it has already been done.
Every person alive today is descendent from that first man, Adam. We all inherited from Adam a sinful, rebellious nature. The Bible says that all of us have sinned, or broken God’s law, and consequently are under that same penalty of death. “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned …There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.” (Romans 5:12, Ecc. 7:20) Because everyone of us have sinned and broken God’s law, just like Adam and Eve, we too are spiritually dead, separated or “alienated from the life of God.” (Ephesians 4:18) “Your iniquities (sins) have separated between you and your God,” (Isaiah 59:2) The consequence and inevitable outcome of being separated from God by sin is death, not only physical death, but also eternal death and separation from God in a place of judgment called the lake of fire. (Romans 3:23, 6:23, Rev. 20:13-15)
Truly, our situation is hopeless apart from God’s intervention. The only remedy for a spiritually dead and physically dying race is for the Giver of all life to intervene in our behalf. The Bible tells us that He has already done just that!
The Restorer of Life – Jesus Christ
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) God the Father sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to bring life to an otherwise hopeless race. When Jesus came, there was something about him that was vastly different from any other person who has ever been born. The Bible explains it very simply. “In Him was life” (John 1:4). Jesus came so that we could have life too. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, 14:6)
How did Jesus Christ bring life to a dying human race? The answer is quite simple. He is God. As the Source of life, He came to give His life, that He might impart life to others! Through sin, we have earned the penalty of death. Jesus chose to endure this penalty in our behalf. Though He was innocent and had never sinned, He chose to take the sins of the world on Himself and bear the penalty for our sin. On the cross, Jesus died the death all of us deserve. God punished him in our place. “But he (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities (sins) ; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6) Jesus Christ gave his life for you!
Though Jesus died, the Bible tells us that he did not stay that way. As the Source of life, it was impossible for Him to remain in the grave. (Acts 2:24) Three days after His death, Jesus Christ rose back to life! More than anything else, His resurrection proves His power and ability to give life to all who will come to Him in faith and receive it.
New Life through Jesus Christ – Salvation
Because Jesus already paid the full penalty for the sin of the world, He offers complete forgiveness of sin and restoration of our relationship with God. Because Jesus died for us, we can be reconciled to God and receive new eternal life from Him! This is called salvation. One might ask, “How does this take place?
“How can I receive salvation?” The Bible teaches that it is actually quite simple.
First, You must believe that through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the full penalty for your sin has been paid. Because of what Jesus did for you, God offers to forgive you and to reconcile you with himself, thereby giving you eternal life.
Secondly, You must understand that God offers forgiveness and new life as a free gift. This gift cannot be earned in any way, not by good works or “turning a new leaf”. We can only receive this gift by faith. “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord … 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.” (Romans 6:23, Eph 2:8-9) This gift of salvation and eternal life cannot be earned, only received! You cannot rest your hope of salvation in anything you have done. To be saved, you must place your faith and trust completely in the work Jesus has already done for you on the cross.
Finally, you must receive the free gift of salvation that God offers you through Jesus Christ. The gift of forgiveness and new eternal life is freely available to you. All you must do is receive it by faith. Come to Christ today in faith and receive from Him the gift He offers. Jesus said, “all that cometh to me I will in no wise case out.” (John 6:37) He wants to save you and give you new life. The Bible says, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:9 & 13)
It’s that Simple
That is it, the Gospel truth. This is the underlying message of the Bible, how God offers eternal life to a dying race. Now the choice is yours. “He that believeth on the Son [of God, Jesus Christ] 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) What will you do with the truth? Will you receive the free gift of Salvation that is so freely offered? Or will you reject it and face the inevitable consequences? “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ... To day if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts, … behold, now is the day of salvation.” (Hebrews 2:2, 3;7-8, 2 Corinth. 6:2) I encourage you to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today. You are not guaranteed another day to live or another opportunity to respond to God’s free offer than the one you have right now. This is literally a life or death decision. The choice is yours.
“Dear God, I need your salvation. I know I am a sinner and deserving of judgement, but I believe that You died for me and paid the penalty for my sin. You promised to give forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe and receive it. I do believe you and by faith, I receive Your gift of eternal life. I ask you to forgive me and save me right now; and to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Thank You, now and forever! I ask these things in Jesus name.”
If you turn to God in faith and genuinely receive this free gift of salvation and new life, a definite change will take place in your life. This is because God has given you new life. When you are saved, the Spirit of Jesus Christ comes to live inside you. He will help you to live a life that is pleasing to Him. “If any man be in Christ, He is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinth. 5:17)
If the Lord has spoken to your heart through this tract and you have received God’s offer of salvation and new life, we are so glad. We would love to hear about it. Please contact us and we will be happy to send you free materials about how to grow in your new life in Jesus Christ.
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