Maybe you've heard about this character, Jesus.  Maybe you haven't. Before we talk about Him, I want to ask you some questions.

 

If this looks like way too much, click HERE for a video presentation from Gotquestions.org

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Do you think there is such a thing as sin?

Do you think there will be a time when we are asked to account for our actions on earth?

Do you think that people who do bad things should be punished?

Do you believe there is something beyond this life?  Something else after we die?

Do you think you can be good enough, or earn your way to heaven, if there is such a place?

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If you answered yes to any of these questions, I have some bad news and some GOOD NEWS for you. 

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First, you're right.  There is such a thing as sin.  We alllll do it, everyday. We might not even mean to.  It can be something as extreme as hate and murder, or something as slight as a bad thought or selfish decision.  In God's eyes - it's all the same. (Wow...take that in for a moment, it's heavy)

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When God created this earth, He created it perfectly.  He created us to live in it, to enjoy it, and to enjoy Him with it. He wanted to be with us!

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BUT - we screwed it up. Big time. You know the story, Adam...Eve...the serpent?  Well, if it wouldn't have been Adam and Eve, it would have been you and me, so we won't go throwing stones just yet. 

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God is holy - so holy that if Adam and Eve would have been in His presence with their sin, they would have died immediately. God didn't want them to die - He wanted them to live forever with Him in His perfect place. SO..when there was no way... He made a way.  He knew we would sin, He'd known it from the beginning - before time. So - he made The Way. A secret plan of redemption.

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For years and years, God's people ebbed and flowed - following Him, denying Him. They worshiped Him, and in the same breath, worshiped idols. And yet, He continually showed mercy, gave grace, made a way. 

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When the time was just right and the people were desperate for a Messiah, God was ready. The people were slaves to the Romans, but also slaves to the law.  The law was intended to help them, to keep them safe, to protect the innocent and give them boundaries.  They'd taken it and distorted it though, turned it into shackles by which they chained themselves. 

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In... walks...Jesus. He was fully God and yet fully man. He was 100% both. He knew the thoughts of men, performed miracles and lived a sinless life, yet he was also hungry, tired, sad, and happy. He told the people that there was no way they could fulfill the law on their own, so He had come to do it. 

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The law required sacrifice - it required payment for sin. It was a debt no one could pay, none were worthy, none would ever be worthy. Jesus... alone was worthy. 

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So, He gave himself as a willing sacrifice. He was the perfect, blameless lamb.  The one final worthy sacrifice. It was awful - he suffered, it was a humiliating excruciating death on a cross, but He did it!

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He did it for me.  He did it for you. He died - and He finished it. The last sacrifice that needed to be made. He made a way.

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BUT wait...there's more! Just as He promised - He raised Himself from the dead three days later, defeating the ultimate enemy - death and hell. 

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He made a way.

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So what does this mean for you? Did He leave behind a long list of things you had to do? No.

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He said  - believe. 

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Believe there is one God, believe He loves you. Believe Jesus was God incarnate. Believe Jesus lived a sinless life and died a real death. Believe He rose from the dead and was fully alive again. Believe that He - and He alone can forgive your sins. 

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All we have to do is ask Him to forgive our sins, to save us - and He will. He promised to and He keeps alllll of His promises. When you do that, and truly mean it, He will come live with you in your heart forever. He will change you, through HIS love, you will do all the good things. It doesn't come from us. 

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HE will free you from the chains of sin and the law. You have absolutely nothing to lose - unless you like being enslaved...

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Below, I'm going to share some verses that outline the GOOD NEWS.  You might know it as the Roman Road. As you read, ask God to open your heart and your mind; listen for His voice calling your name.  He loves you - He wants you. You are His beloved.

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Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." 

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

Romans 10:9 "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." 

Romans 10:13 "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Romans 5:1  "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

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and Finally!

Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

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Hallelujah!! Amen.

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Friend, if anything I had said has resonated with you, please go to God with your prayers. He WILL hear you! If you have made a decision to trust Christ with your eternity, PLEASE let me know so I can rejoice with you and walk with you on this incredible journey. I promise - it's not easy, but it's WORTH it. 

In Christ alone, 

Carrie

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