(Got your attention, didn't I? :-)
At least, that is not the whole story. In fact, it is just the last part of what Christianity is about.
Christianity is about the fact that you are a sinner and you are going to Hell....BUT God loves you so much He provided a way for you to go to heaven instead.
Leaving out the first part totally skews the last part.
Think about it.
Take your typical twenty or thirty something from America today. They were raised in an atheistic culture, taught at school to have high self esteem, told by the media that there is no right and wrong and the greatest "sin" is to be "intolerant" (meaning actually believing there is such a thing as sin).
Now tell this person that God loves them. "Well, of course He does! Why wouldn't He?"
You see? It changes the whole message and the response to it.
I suspect if you were to ask most young adults today what a "sin" is they would list: polluting, not recycling, being "intolerant," wearing real fur, and not listening to their heart.
Here is what the Bible says sin is:
If you have done ANY of these things ONCE you deserve to go to Hell.
(For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23)
But
God loves you so much that "He gave His only physical Son" to die the most torturous method of execution invented by mankind to pay for YOUR sins so that you can go to heaven and live with Him forever. This is a free gift. However, a gift does not do any good if it is not excepted. If I put a million dollars in a box, wrapped it up and leave it on your porch, it won't do you a lick of good unless you pick it up and unwrap it. God's gift of salvation does no good if you don't except it. You will go to hell unless you except His gift.
How do you except that gift? You quit sinning (repent=turn away from) and ask Jesus into your heart to be your Boss.
Yes, Christians have left out the essential first part of the message for much too long. They probably assume everyone knows that part and it is unpleasant to think about. But the fact is that we no longer live in a Christian society and most people don't know the first part.
It's our job to tell them.
At least, that is not the whole story. In fact, it is just the last part of what Christianity is about.
Christianity is about the fact that you are a sinner and you are going to Hell....BUT God loves you so much He provided a way for you to go to heaven instead.
Leaving out the first part totally skews the last part.
Think about it.
Take your typical twenty or thirty something from America today. They were raised in an atheistic culture, taught at school to have high self esteem, told by the media that there is no right and wrong and the greatest "sin" is to be "intolerant" (meaning actually believing there is such a thing as sin).
Now tell this person that God loves them. "Well, of course He does! Why wouldn't He?"
You see? It changes the whole message and the response to it.
I suspect if you were to ask most young adults today what a "sin" is they would list: polluting, not recycling, being "intolerant," wearing real fur, and not listening to their heart.
Here is what the Bible says sin is:
- Loving ANYTHING more than God, even your own life. [Exodus 20, Galatians 5]
- Disrespecting your parents.[Exodus 20, Ephesians 6, Romans 1]
- Lying, deceit (except to protect the life of innocents as in the case of those Christians who lied to protect Jews from Hitler during the Holocaust. The Bible gives examples of such lies being rewarded by God.)[Romans 1, 1 Timothy 1]
- Taking anything that is not yours.[Exodus 20, Ephesians 4]
- Murder [Romans 1, Exodus 20]
- Being mean, unmerciful, unloving, [Romans 1]
- Stirring up trouble. [Galatians 5]
- Hate (Jesus said hating someone is the same thing as murder)[Romans 1, 1 John 2, 3, 4]
- Adultery (two people who are not married to each other having sex) [Galatians 5, Romans 1, Exodus 20]
- Lust (Jesus said lust is the same thing as adultery. Lust is having sexual thoughts for anyone you are not married to.)[Matthew 5, Galatians 5]
- Fornication (the misuse of sex. Godly sex {and yes there is such a thing. It was His idea after all} is defined in the Bible as between one man and one woman who are married to each other.)[Galatians 5, Romans 1, 1 Timothy 1]
- Not forgiving someone who has wronged you.[Matthew 6]
- Gluttony / Greed [Galatians 5]
- Anger (for yourself. Being angry at injustice done to others is ok.) [Galatians 5]
- Being selfish (Thinking yourself better than others)[Galatians 5]
- Being prideful boasters (including trusting your own heart instead of God and His Word)[Romans 1, Jeremiah 17]
- Wanting to have something that belongs to someone else.[Galatians 5. Romans 1, Exodus 20]
- Cussing [Exodus 20]
- Not keeping your promises; being untrustworthy [Romans 1]
- Being violent, causing or enjoying strife [Galatians 5, Romans 1]
- Gossip [Galatians 5, Romans 1]
- Worry / Fear [2 Timothy 1]
- Devil worship (including horoscopes, Ouija boards, palm reading, etc. Anything classified as witchcraft.) [Galatians 5]
- Haters of god [Galatians 5, Romans 1]
- Undiscerning (unintelligent, without understanding, stupid- This speaks of those who choose to be stupid, not the mentally retarded.)[Romans 1]
- Evil mindedness, inventers of evil things, [Galatians 5, Romans 1]
- Seditions, [Galatians 5, Romans 1]
- Teaching others false doctrines.[Galatians 5]
- Drunkenness, partying [Galatians 5]
- Kidnapping [1 Timothy 1]
- Being happy when others do the above or when they are hurt; Approving of sin [Galatians 5, Romans 1]
If you have done ANY of these things ONCE you deserve to go to Hell.
(For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23)
But
God loves you so much that "He gave His only physical Son" to die the most torturous method of execution invented by mankind to pay for YOUR sins so that you can go to heaven and live with Him forever. This is a free gift. However, a gift does not do any good if it is not excepted. If I put a million dollars in a box, wrapped it up and leave it on your porch, it won't do you a lick of good unless you pick it up and unwrap it. God's gift of salvation does no good if you don't except it. You will go to hell unless you except His gift.
How do you except that gift? You quit sinning (repent=turn away from) and ask Jesus into your heart to be your Boss.
Yes, Christians have left out the essential first part of the message for much too long. They probably assume everyone knows that part and it is unpleasant to think about. But the fact is that we no longer live in a Christian society and most people don't know the first part.
It's our job to tell them.
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