God “IS” Love – God “DOES” Justice
URGENT, 5 Ways JESUS Rescues You From God’s Wrath
First of all, it is URGENT to the point of saving your life and determining your eternal destination that you understand, respond, and participate in the Urgent, 5 Ways Jesus Rescues You From God’s Wrath! God’s wrath is real and is coming soon upon those who reject Jesus. The following are the 5 reasons only Jesus rescues you from God’s wrath.
YOU CAN’T SAVE OR RESCUE YOURSELF
NOTHING CAN RESCUE YOU FROM GOD’S WRATH EXCEPT JESUS
UNDERSTAND TRUE BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY
ACCEPT JESUS AND ESCAPE GOD’S WRATH
RESPOND TO GOD’S CALLING
My Awakening
The concept that nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus is a solemn, if not a frightening and thought-provoking statement. It is worth considering what it means and why! God revealed His truth and plan to me recently in an unorthodox way. This of course was confirmed by His Word.
I am a 76-year-old man, and I sleep soundly through the night. So, it was uncharacteristic when I woke up at precisely 3:36 am three nights in a row. The third night I realized how unusual this was, and I woke up my wife and told her.
Of course, she was thrilled to be nudged out of peaceful sleep and tried to go back to sleep. I went back to bed and asked the Lord what it meant. He said, “John 3:36.” I immediately went to sleep.
My wife couldn’t sleep, so she opened her Bible and came to the same conclusion, “John 3:36.” She tossed and turned the rest of the night, trying not to forget so she could tell me in the morning. How wonderful it was for her to confirm what God had told me. We were both curious, not knowing what it said, so we looked up the verse.
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36, NIV).
GOD’S MESSAGE
A few nights later I got up again, I glanced at the clock going in and it said 3:34 am when I came out it was 3:35 am. Lord, do you want me to add John 3:34, 35? YES!
"The One whom God has sent to represent him will speak the words of God, for God has poured out upon him the fullness of the Holy Spirit without limitation. The Father loves his Son so much that all things have been given into his hands. Those who trust (believe, have faith) in the Son possess eternal life; but those who don’t obey (trust, believe) the Son will not see life, and God’s anger (wrath) will rise up against them” (John 3:34-36).
JESUS IS THE ANSWER
It is clear what God is saying to me, and every human being, in this Scripture.
God sent Jesus to represent Him.
Jesus speaks the Words of God the Father.
Jesus had the fullness of the Holy Spirit without limitation.
Father God gives everything to His Son Jesus.
Anyone who believes in God’s Son, Jesus, has eternal life.
Anyone who rejects Jesus will die without eternal life.
This unbelief that leads to death will keep the unbeliever under God’s wrath, and righteous anger, now and forever.
WOW!
What a REASSURING or FRIGHTENING thought depending on whether you believe In Jesus.
It seems the world is moving towards the chaotic, devastating, and lawless end times the Bible prophesied. Most of the world does not believe in Jesus or the fact that nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus! So, what is God trying to say, and why now?
I wonder, does God want me to share Jesus, the plan of Salvation, and His soon return before it’s too late? Yes, Yes, Yes! But I can’t do this alone, so I woke up my wife.
Who Is This God of Wrath?
Have you ever considered that Wrath is one of God’s moral attributes? Well, it is along with Goodness, Love, Mercy (Grace and Patience, Holiness, Peace (Order), Righteousness (Justice), and Jealousy. So why do we have to worry about God’s wrath? Isn’t God the God of Love and Mercy? Of course, He is, but He is also the God of numerous other attributes, such as Holiness and Justice, which necessitates His Wrath or Righteous Anger. The New Testament is replete with warnings of divine judgment upon sinners that trample upon His Holiness and reject His Son—Jesus.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18).
"But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Romans 2:5).
"But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking from a human viewpoint.) (Romans 3:5).
"Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, who shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him" (Romans 5:9).
"Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest" (Ephesians 2:3).
"and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess 1:10).
"Hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved, with the result that they always reach the limit of their sins. But wrath has come upon them fully" (1 Thess 2:16).
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 5:9).
"and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the Lord's presence and from His power's glory" (2 Thess 1:7-9).
According to these Scriptures, what type of person is under God’s wrath?
the ungodly and unrighteous |
people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness |
those who have a stubborn and unrepentant heart |
people who carry out the lusts (carnal desires) of the flesh |
those who indulge in the desires of the flesh and mind |
people who remain children of wrath by refusing God's Divine plan |
Gentiles always reach the limit of their sins |
those who don't know God |
people who don't obey (believe) the gospel of Jesus and remain under God's wrath |
those by nature (birth) born children of wrath |
The result of God’s wrath is these people, who reject Jesus, will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and separated from the glory of His power.
Simply put, those who don’t believe in put their trust in or have faith in Jesus Christ as God’s ONLY remedy for sin. Therefore, how is the wrath of God revealed?
from heaven |
through the righteous judgment of God |
justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him (Jesus) |
Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come |
speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved |
wrath comes upon them fully |
for God has not destined Christians for wrath |
but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ |
Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven |
The next question is, how does God save those who believe in His Son from His wrath? The answer comes in the meaning of the word propitiation. This is how God resolves the dilemma between man’s sin and His Holiness. Propitiation is the Biblical Doctrine embodying the concept that the death of Christ fully satisfied the demands of a righteous God concerning sin and death. Thus, God’s wrath and indignation at our sin is pacified. It exemplifies that God is not only Holy and Just but also loving and Merciful. He has provided Jesus with satisfaction for the venting of His Wrath.
My Pastor puts it this way, “God’s wrath is, mercifully and amazingly diverted from us, the sinner, onto Jesus as the one who satisfies and completely removes the fury, and bears its cause, our sins away from us (the believer). If God’s wrath is like a dragon consuming fire (Heb 12:29), Jesus’ death on the cross in our place is God’s perfect shield for those hiding in its shadow. Jesus’ blood would be the fireman’s stream of water that douses the flame and calms its heat to nothing.”
Therefore, the Apostle Paul tells us precisely what God has done through His Son Jesus to remove His wrath and remain Holy and Just.
“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness because, in God’s merciful restraint, He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:21-26).
ONE: You Can’t Save or Rescue Yourself
The first of the Urgent, 5 Ways Jesus Rescues You From God’s Wrath is the fact that you can’t save or rescue yourself. What do you mean? You might be thinking to yourself, “why do I need to be saved?” or “what am I being saved from?” “I don’t need to be saved; I’m a good person.” “I belong to the right political party.” “I was born in America.” “I am religious.” Well, let’s look at some facts revealed in the Holy Scriptures about your true nature, the condition of your soul, and eternal destiny.
You are born into this world under a curse called “Original Sin.”
God requires you to be perfect. If you sin one time, God sees you as a “Sinner.”
You are not only born in sin, but you are a slave to sin,
separated from God,
physically alive but spiritually dead,
walking in the darkness,
identifying with the devil,
blinded, and
guilty without a way to save yourself from the wages of sin, death, and God’s wrath.
Satan is the God of this fallen world. Therefore,
he lies to you,
Satan accuses you,
he deceives you, and
Satan only wants to kill, steal, and destroy you.
Jesus Defeated Satan Click Here
TWO: Nothing Can Rescue You From God's Wrath Except Jesus
Therefore, every human being on planet Earth, you included, has a critical problem, you can’t save or rescue yourself, and neither can anyone else or anything! You are doomed; there is no way out from Your Sin, Your Death, and God’s Wrath. Therefore, the second of Urgent 5 Ways Jesus Rescues You From God’s Wrath is the fact and reality that nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus.
No world religion, government, or world system can save or rescue you. |  |
Nothing, not ethnic group, race, nation, or gender can save or rescue you. | |
No sum of wealth, amount of power, high position, or person (no matter how intelligent, great, or powerful they appear) can save or rescue you. | |
Nothing, not an ideology like saving the planet, being tolerant, or believing your own truth can save or rescue you. |  |
No Ism (Socialism, Atheism, Communism, Secularism, Agnosticism, Feminism) can save or rescue you. | |
Nothing, not media propaganda, civil unrest, protests, riots, or supremacist groups can save or rescue you. |  |
No guns, gun control, emergency-readiness-food storage programs, survival-techniques-training-properties can save or rescue you. | |
Nothing, not social engineering, historical revision, or lies can save or rescue you. | |
No political party (Democrat, Republican, Libertarian) can save or rescue you. | |
Nothing, not laws, Police, a system of justice, judicial preference, military might, and even anarchy can save or rescue you. |  |
No medicine, science, artificial intelligence, or alien life can save or rescue you; especially not, | |
Sexual pleasure, addictive highs, prescription drugs, marijuana, or any other legal or illegal substance can save or rescue you. |  |
...FROM GOD’S WRATH ON THOSE WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN JESUS
Nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus. Only God in His infinite love can save and rescue YOU from the impending doom caused by sin, death, and a rebellious unbelieving world! So, what does it mean to be saved, and, more importantly, how? Does God have a plan?
Jesus Is the Only Way
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
You need to be saved because you have two significant problems. You are born with the sin nature of Adam—you are a sinner. You are born spiritually dead—you are separated from God. If you die a sinner spiritually dead, then you will be separated from God for eternity.
Therefore, two things must happen for you to be saved. The cause of death must be eradicated or cured, and the spiritually dead man must be brought back to spiritual life. It only stands to reason that the God who created you can save you from this state of eternal sin and death.
Therefore, Salvation from sin takes place in the “forgiveness of sins,” and Salvation from eternal death takes place in the “resurrection of the dead.” It is precisely what Jesus did. At the cross of Christ, the cause for death, which is sin, was forgiven. At the resurrection of Jesus, the spiritually dead were restored to spiritual life—the eternal life of Jesus.
There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus. You are dependent on and in desperate need of a Savior. That Savior is Jesus Christ. Only Jesus was the incarnation of God; God became man and dwelt among us.
In the Beginning
Another reason why nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus.
"In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth—grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:1,14,17).
In the beginning, was the Word (Jesus), and
the Word (Jesus), was with God,
the Word (Jesus), was God,
and the Word (Jesus), became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we beheld His glory,
glory as of the only begotten (Son) from the Father.
full of grace and truth, and
Grace (love and mercy) and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
God’s Holy Scriptures are very clear about the truth. Only the God who created you can save you from this state of eternal sin, death, and His coming wrath. This is exactly what Jesus did for you and He’s coming back for those who believe in Him soon, very soon.
Self-sufficiency or Abiding Love
Another reason why nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus. In the beginning, Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, according to His likeness (Gen 1:26). Human beings, you and I, are meant to bear the image of God, to be His representatives. Adam and Eve had only to believe in God and not eat of “The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,” they were free to eat of “The Tree of Life.”
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil represents your way of meeting your need for love, security, and worth, by your own resources, independent of God. A self-sufficient person is capable of knowing and possibly doing good and evil but cannot produce life or the fruit of the Spirit—love. Independence leads to performance and works; man reasons, if I can do enough good things, then eventually I’ll be good, and God will be obligated to accept me. But just the opposite is true, self-sufficiency leads to a separation from God and ends in destruction (Romans 6:23).
"For apart from Me (Jesus), you can do nothing” (John 15:5b).
The Tree of Life represents God Himself. You are called to a life of dependence on God’s resources and plan leading to an intimate and satisfying life. Responding to God produces the abundant and eternal life of Christ living in and through you.
"Abide in Me (Jesus), and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me . . .” (John 15:5a).
Believe or Reject God’s Way to Salvation
Whether Adam would live dependent on God or independent of God was determined by what he believed. After Adam’s sin, all humanity is born in the image and likeness of Adam (Gen 5:1, 3). You are born with a sin nature (Rom 5:12) and are spiritually dead (Eph 2:1). You are also confronted with believing the truth of God or the lie of the devil. Believing is to accept Jesus (The Tree of Life), and unbelief is to reject Him.
If you don’t believe God’s “Plan of Salvation” in Jesus Christ, you will remain a slave to your sin nature and spend eternity spiritually dead separated from God. This is why you are under God’s wrath. Your fleshly nature is to sin, just like Satan’s nature is to lie. You will live in his domain and by his rules. He cannot tell the truth because it is his very nature to lie.
"You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44).
You will continue to sin because you are a sinner. So, you believe his lies and slide down the dark path from sin, to debauchery, and finally death. A death that separates you from God forever!
Likewise, Jesus cannot lie because the truth is His very nature.
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one can come to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
When you believe in Jesus, you receive a new divine nature, your sins are forgiven, you have eternal life and God's wrath is removed forever.
THREE: Understand True Biblical Christianity
The third of the Urgent 5 Ways Jesus Rescues You From God’s Wrath is the fact that true Biblical Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is a relationship with God through the finished work of Jesus Christ and Him alone. This relationship is eternal and is not accomplished by human achievement, moral behaviors, or religious rituals, but by divine accomplishment––the work of Christ. You are saved forever by the grace of God through faith alone in Jesus alone. It is what true belief is. It is in the failure to believe and understand the finished work of Jesus Christ, the cross and resurrection, that religion repeatedly misses the reality of God’s presence and Salvation.
All religious systems inevitably teach that Salvation will ultimately be obtained by human merit and good deeds. Thus, if you believe in God (whomever that God maybe) and sincerely try to do your best (follow the prescribed religious doctrines), your chances of obtaining an after-life are good (heaven, nirvana, reincarnation) but never, I emphasize never, guaranteed. And this does not preclude many of America’s denominations.
ALL RELIGIONS ARE MERIT-BASED
It is true whether it be the religion of:
Buddhism (following the seven-fold path).
Hinduism (bathing in the Ganges River to wash away sins).
Islam (praying five times a day, making a pilgrimage to Mecca, and ridding the world of all who do not believe in Allah).
Roman Catholicism (observing the sacraments for salvation, last rites, living by Church tradition, praying to saints).
Legalistic Protestantism (keeping the 10 Commandments, continual confession of sins for forgiveness, works to stay saved).
Faith Movement Protestantism (believing that if you have enough faith, God is obligated to give you what you desire: money, success, influence, etc.).
Mormonism (the ultimate works-oriented religion that promises one day, if you keep the rules, you will be a God and rule your own planet).
Seventh Day Adventist (you’re only to worship God on Saturday and if you don’t, you're not a true Christian).
Jehovah Witnesses (don’t believe in Trinity—God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; based on one man’s biblical interpretations, only 144,000 people will go to heaven).
New Age Ideology (humans are good, moving into a new age of enlightenment, and the world will live in harmony).
Secularism (human knowledge, enlightenment, and science are ultimate truths and replace God).
Atheism (there is no God, yes, it’s a religion).
Agnosticism (skepticism, maybe there’s a God, but it can’t be proved, so I don’t know).
Idolatry (worshiping anything before God—political parties, addictions, strategies, materialism, wealth, comfort, world isms—communism, Marxism, socialism, totalitarianism; music, media, creation, sexuality, etc.).
Self-absorbed Focus (worshiping, focusing, obsessing, loving of self).
Therefore, none of these religions, none of them rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus. These merit approaches to eternal Salvation run contrary to the Gospel of Grace and say in effect that Christ’s work on the cross is insufficient to save you from sin, keep you saved, and nullify your death sentence.
The Apostle Paul says,
"I do not nullify (frustrate—KJV) the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law (or any other works), then Christ died needlessly (then Christ is dead in vain—KJV)” (Galatians 2:21).
Therefore, it is a question that you must resolve for God to truly heal, restore, and redeem you from sin, death, and His wrath to come. If the truth is that Jesus did not die in vain but died to forgive your sins and give you who believe in Him eternal life, then Salvation is available to you.
Right Now, This Very Moment!
Only Jesus!
Our emphasis is that nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus. So why is Jesus Christ the only way to be saved from God’s wrath? Why can’t other religious leaders like Confucius, Mohammed, Buddha, Krishna, Allah, etc. save us? Isn’t it shallow thinking or dogmatic to say Jesus is the only way to God? Some will say this is a narrow approach and that all roads lead to God. Is that true? Are there many truths leading to your Salvation? These are good questions and need to be answered. The answer is straightforward. Jesus Christ is the only way (path, road, access) to God the Father because He is God.
Jesus is God the Great "I Am"
I Am" is the name God used in Exodus, Isiah, Revelation, and the gospel of John.
“And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14).
“I AM” may easily escape our attention, but we should note that these are the same words and construction as Jesus used in the gospel of John and for which the Jews sought to stone Him for claiming to be God! This is the phrase that the Lord God used with Moses when the Lord said from the burning bush: “Tell them I AM has sent you!”
“I, I alone, Am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25).
I Am in Greek is ego eimi, which is a claim to deity. When it is said twice it is for emphasis, I Am God, I Am God! In both cases, it is an emphatic statement about who God is and His uniqueness in all of existence, as the creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
The book Revelation uses the "I Am" statement often. In Revelation 1:8, 17, 18; 2:8; 21:6; & 22:13.
"I Am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8).
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. The Jewish rabbis used to say that God was the Aleph and Tov – the first and last letters in the Hebrew alphabet. It means God is over everything, there is nothing outside His sovereignty, understanding, or capacity. There is no time that exceeds His domain. He is not subject to the limitations of time, as we know it. Why, because He is God.
The key points here are that Christ is deity and He dwells in the eternal present, and is not subject to the limitations of time, having created it as a basic aspect of the present universe, nor does He change in time.
"The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” (John 10:33).
In the Gospel of John, there are seven times Jesus says I Am, referring to that He is God and offers graces and blessings to those who believe in Him. He uses metaphors with common items to emphasize His divine nature and Godhead.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty" (John 6;35).
"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12).
"So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:7-9).
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (John 10:11-15).
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies" (John 11:25).
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:1, 5).
Jesus is God
All others were mere men. Were they religious men, probably; wise men, possibly; men sent from God in heaven, no. Only Jesus is God.
He was not just a good man though He was.
Jesus was not just a prophet though He was.
He was not just a great teacher or Jewish Rabbi though He was.
Jesus was God before He came to earth. He was fully God and fully man while He walked on this earth. He is God right now in heaven. Therefore, Jesus says,
"I Am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’…And He laid His right hand upon me (Apostle John) saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I Am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead and, behold, I Am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Hell)” (Revelation 1:8,17,18).
Lunatic or God?
It is why C.S. Lewis wrote the following, in his book Mere Christianity,
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic, on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg, or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man Jesus was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool (as the Romans did), or you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon (as the Jews did), or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God (as all Christians do). But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great moral teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
YOU MUST DECIDE
Is Jesus God?
Another reason why nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus is only Jesus is God. Only Jesus came from Heaven. Only Jesus lived a perfect life without sin. He took all the sins of the world upon Himself. Only Jesus died on the cross for all sins, past—present —future. He descended into hell to defeat death. Only Jesus rose from the dead. He ascended back into heaven. Only Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father.
At the cross of Christ, all man’s sins were forgiven. At the resurrection of Christ, all humanity was restored to eternal life—reconciled to God. God is calling you to Himself. It is a free gift, but you must respond!
Today, if you hear God’s voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Heb 4:7).
Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling (to Jews) and a rock of offense (to Gentiles), and he who believes in Jesus will not be disappointed" (Rom 9:33).
But as many, as received Him, to them, He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
The appropriate response to the calling of God is to believe by faith in Jesus.
Do You Believe It?
FOUR: Accept Jesus and Escape GOD’S Wrath
The fourth of the Urgent 5 Ways Jesus Rescues You From God’s Wrath is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. The following tells you how and why!
Holy Scriptures Reveal Jesus
In my personal testimony, I say all I ever taught my kids was Jesus. Well, Jesus is all I ever teach to anyone. I can’t separate Jesus from any part of the Holy Scriptures. He is all in all. He is the manifestation of God’s grace, truth, and light. He is the manifestation of God’s love and mercy. So, this blog is all about the revelation of Jesus Christ. Believe in Jesus, and the gift of salvation and grace is yours, forever and ever and ever.
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
Salvation, grace, and faith are all free gifts from God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). This message is manifested to us through the works of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the gospel, the good news, and all that we will ever need for forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and godliness. Jesus is the absolute and perfect expression of the Father in heaven.
You Must Believe the Biblical Jesus!
To continue our discussion on “who is Jesus?” and why He is the only way to the Father in heaven we will now consult the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, and the Word of God. God’s Word is clear about the essence, character, and purpose of Jesus Christ, the promised and foretold Jewish Messiah. Why do we go to the Bible? The Bible is God-breathed and given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, what does the Bible say about Jesus Christ?
This is not an exhaustive list, just enough to give you a hint of His majesty. Jesus was God in heaven (in unity with the Trinity) who created the world. Not only did He create but He holds all things together. He is the light that dissipates the darkness. Jesus became flesh and lived among His creation (Emmanuel-God with us). He brought grace (love and mercy) and truth to a dying world. Jesus explained the radiance of God the Father and is the exact representation of His nature. He literally is the image of God. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus is mankind’s salvation and eternal life. Is it any wonder that all believers live, move, and exist in Him?
Jesus Is God In Heaven
In the beginning, was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him, not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it” (John 1: 1-5).
Jesus Is God Made Flesh
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior because He existed before me.’” For of His fullness, we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:14-18).
Jesus Is God’s Authority
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Jesus Is the Creator of ALL Things
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. (Colossians 1:13-17).
Jesus Is Our Faith
But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined to the faith that was destined to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:22-26).
Jesus Is Grace
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2: 4-7).
Jesus Is Your Life
for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’ (Acts 17:28).
Jesus Is the Glory of God the Father
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-4).
Jesus Is your Salvation
and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31).
Jesus Is your Eternal Life
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).
How Are Christians Saved?
By God's Grace, not of Works
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph 2: 8-9).
Through Faith in Christ Alone
"The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who does not [a]obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
From Sin's Punishment and Power
"in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9).
Because of God's Love and Mercy
"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).
On the Basis of Jesus Christ's Death and Resurrection
"Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to [a]the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed down to you [b]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
At the Moment of Faith
"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Throughout All Eternity
"And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, (Hebrews 5:9).
REALIZE GOD LOVES YOU
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” (John 3:16, NASB).
ADMIT YOU ARE A SINNER
For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NASB).
SEE YOU ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD SPIRITUALLY DEAD
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins (spiritual death), in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2, NASB).
BELIEVE JESUS DIED FOR YOU
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners (unforgiven and spiritually dead), Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).
CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus (forgiveness of all sins at the cross) and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead (spiritual life from the resurrection), you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
FIVE: Respond to God's Call
The fifth of the Urgent 5 Ways Jesus Rescues You From God’s Wrath is to respond to God’s calling. All that is necessary is to believe and have faith in Jesus the savior of the world. God is calling you to pray and be thankful. God is the only one who can save you. He does so according to His sovereign will and purposes. He calls His children to run to the living waters and drink freely. He offers Salvation as a free gift of His choosing. He is now calling you to respond to His initiation of grace and love through confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart. God the Father draws you to Jesus. Jesus sets you free from sin and death. God the Holy Spirit gives you life, eternal life. You now can by faith trust in what the Triune God has done for you. If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, repeat the following prayer. All praise and glory to God Almighty!
PRAYER
Prayer of Salvation
Dear Heavenly Father, I now see that I am a sinner, that I cannot save myself, and that I need a Savior. I repent of all my sins. I am also spiritually dead separated from God under His wrath. I believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was God in heaven. He came to earth to identify with His creation as “Emmanuel,” God with us. Jesus was born of a virgin making Him fully human. He was conceived by God the Holy Spirit, making Him fully God. Jesus lived a perfect life, tempted in every way, yet without sin. He died on the cross as a substitute for my sins, giving me complete and total forgiveness (past, present, future). He rose from the grave, defeating death and giving me eternal life. Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for me. And He will come again to judge the world of unbelief. I believe by faith that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Jesus. In Jesus’ glorious and saving name, I pray amen.
You Are Now a Child of God Born of the Spirit
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your “great love” and that you’re “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4) to me and all who love you. “Because of Your great love (loving-kindness, mercies), I am not consumed, for Your compassion will never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” Lord unto me (Lam 3:22, 23). Father God, it is of great comfort to me that Your plans for me are “plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future” (Jer 29:11). When I am faithless, You remain faithful (2 Tim 2:11), I thank you, Holy God, that nothing can separate me from Your love (Rom. 8:39).
I ask right now, Father, that “You’re perfect will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10) in my new life of freedom, faith, and love. That you would open my eyes, so I see the Salvation and Guidance of the Holy Spirit in my daily walk. Thank You, Father, for saving me from my sins and giving me eternal life in Christ Jesus, my Lord, and Savior. Thank you for removing your wrath and giving me the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23,) and I give thanks in Jesus’ loving and saving name, Amen.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY AND FEEL HIS LOVING PRESENCE NOT HIS WRATH?
Come To Jesus All Who Are Weary and He’ll Give You REST, PEACE, GRACE, LOVE & MERCY
SINCE YOU READ THIS BLOG, YOU QUALIFY FOR A 50% DISCOUNT
CODE: GIP-50-JESUS
JESUS PLUS NOTHING SAVES YOU
This is a detailed discussion on who Jesus is and how you get saved!
We All Have the Same Dilemma, We're Dead in Sin
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe Only Jesus plus nothing not only saves you but answers these three questions.
Comments