THE PROMISE of LIFE and FREEDOM from GUILT
“It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.” – “John 5: 24” – The Message
It is a fact that I am sure that none of us today would try to deny that everybody is looking for a life of freedom and pleasure, looking to get the best out of what life has given to them, and to find satisfaction from what to many is a meagre existence from day to day. I am here to tell you that in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ that are above, we have the very answer to that need.
What is it in life that causes people to live out their three score and ten?
desperately seeking for satisfaction and a removal of their frustrations.
I would hazard a guess that things such as: –
- Sickness
- Unemployment
- Fear of Rejection
- Loneliness
- Poverty
- Inner Fears of the Past
- Inner Senses of Condemnation.
Have an intrinsic part in it and serve to destroy the Inner potential that all of us have in us.
Why do so many in their later years regret what has gone before, and perhaps go to their grave, with a feeling of “Their could have been something better“, Well! I’ll tell you. It is a fact that in life there is an enemy whose foremost desire is to destroy all the inner potential that you and I have. His desire is to come into our lives to steal and destroy, all the good in life that God desires us to have and has revealed that we can have through His Son Jesus Christ.
In the verse, that we started with we find John the writer of the Gospel revealing four basic truths that God in heaven would have us understand relating to His Son Jesus Christ.
The reason for it is that in understanding we are enabled if we respond to the call of God to Salvation through Christ, to receive in this life and the life to come, an answer to our frustrations and sense of dissatisfaction.
1. What is the Sinners Greatest Need?
I wonder today what you consider to be
your greatest need,
let
me name a few things that
might be stated: –
- More money
- Better health
- A job with greater prospects
- A Wife or Husband
- An increase in your retirement pension
These are but a few of the most popular and are all centered on either the physical or material. In general, these are the expected answers to the question but there is a need often neglected and it surpasses all other needs.
“John 5:24” says “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life”
If you have never recognised that Jesus Christ is the Saviour, then you need to recognise that you have a need to be met now in life, as it effects eternity and it is a need to have sins forgiven.
In “John 5:24” the thought expressed is that by nature man is Spiritually Dead. Enhanced by “Romans 6:23” which say’s “The wages that sin pays is death”.
Even though we may have lived an exemplary life, a life, which for all intents and purpose has been lived out caring for others and with the respect of our peers, it still does not remove the stain that by nature we have.
The Bible says in “Romans 5:12” – “Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death as a result of sin, so death spread to all men, no one is able to stop it or to escape it’s power.”
Now what’s been said is a sobering thought to have in one’s mind, but even more sobering is the fact that God in Heaven has declared that due to the sins every one of us has, without exception committed, we are also under condemnation.
In “James 2: 10” we read “For whosoever keeps the law as a whole, but stumbles and offends in one instance has become guilty of breaking all of it”, that means therefore, as none of us would be so proud as to declare we have never sinned, that not only are we all spiritually dead, and cut off from God, but also under condemnation for our personal sinfulness.
It is a pretty awful state to be in, but thank God the text that I started with reveals that God Almighty, offers a promise of Life with freedom from Guilt and Condemnation, but how can we get it? Well it is revealed through the 2nd of the 3 things.
2. What is the Father’s Greatest Gift?
What is God Almighty’s greatest gift would you say today? Is it the Material and Physical things that I mentioned earlier being available? Well yes, they are great gifts and God’s desire is truly to give those things to us. There is a greater gift than all of those though, and it is the gift of Eternal Life and Forgiveness of Sin.
If you remember what we were considering earlier you will understand that the reason we suffer from so much frustration and dissatisfaction is that due to our sin, God is not able to load us with His blessing every day, and the enemy of our lives the devil, does his utmost to just make life difficult.
Gods greatest gift then is to free us from the condemnation and the effects that sin has brought in our lives, our text says that if we “accept God’s testimony regarding His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall not come into condemnation”, and that is a promise for you, right here and now.
God declares that He will give you in life now and in the life to come, all that you require. Right here and now He will load your life with blessing and provision, but how do we receive it? What do we have to do as individual to be the recipients of His gift? Well it is revealed in the 3rd item.
3. What is the Saviour’s Greatest Promise?
The greatest promise made unto man is the promise that is embodied in our text, the promise that we would not come into God’s Condemnation, and that we would receive His blessing and the forgiveness of Sin, but as I said how we get it? Well you must respond to it.
In the first instance, you need to listen to what God has declared about you. You must accept, the fact that because He is God, He knows better than you do. Whilst we can be wrong, and we can make the wrong decision, He never can.
If God has declared you along with all other men and women everywhere to be sinners, He must be right.
In the second instance, you must do what He says you need to do to remove the sin and condemnation. It is the simplest thing in the world to do; it is simply “To receive Jesus Christ God’s Son and the World’s Saviour” as your own.
The Bible says in “John 3:16” – “For God so loved the World the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish but have everlasting life” and right now God’s requirement and invitation to you, is to receive His Son Jesus Christ as your Saviour
Conclusion: –
If you feel that God has spoken to your heart through what you have read, then lets in a moment take time to pray together. The devil’s greatest lie, to everyone can be broken down into five ingredients.
- That there is no danger of spiritual death and judgment
- That God is to loving and gracious to judge for eternity
- That a person can be saved by going to Church or doing charitable works
- That no one is good enough
- That it’s not possible to know that, you are saved
and God’s truth is “BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU SHALL BE SAVED” will you do that right now.
If your answer is yes! Then pray this prayer after me: –
Lord Jesus I recognise my need as a sinner to take you to be my Saviour. Jesus forgive me now, come into my life as my Saviour and enable me to live for you – Amen
If you prayed that prayer please let us know about it so we can pray for you.
