John 3:16–17
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “The difference between perishing and living, and between condemnation and salvation, is faith in Jesus Christ.”
Jesus did not die on the cross to send people to Hell. His death is the propitiation for our lives. Christ is “the propitiation,” because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he atoned our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured.
There is only one way to Eternal Life. It is by calling upon, accepting what Jesus has done for us on the cross. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. (John 14:6) There is only one way to heaven. That Way is Jesus. No other way can grant us eternal life. So, it’s well worth thinking about the way.
All roads do not lead to God’s salvation. There are many people who faithfully go to church but going to church does not save a person. The saved desire to be in church. Many people are baptized but baptism does not save, even though the saved are baptized. Many people read the Bible, but reading the Bible does not save.
Paul writes in Romans 10:13 “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” God loves every person. God is not willing that anyone should perish. The promise of God’s salvation is for everyone. BUT EACH PERSON INDIVIDUALLY MUST CALL UPON GOD. Paul goes back to Joel 2:32, “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved…”
More importantly Jesus said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Why did Jesus go to the cross and die? He died for us. The most gruesome, hideous, repugnant way to kill someone was the Cross. God’s love for was and is so great He was willing to go to the cross for those who hated Him. He died so those who hated Him so much as to put Him on the cross could have life and have it more abundantly.
People do many things for salvation. But there is only one way to God’s salvation. It is through faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone. When we truly accept Christ, all other things fall into place.
(Be ready for Persecution)