How know
For Sure
Better Than I Deserve
A message from Pastor Turner
An informal polite greeting often asks the question, “How are you doing?” The standard reply is “I’m doing well, and how are you?”. Sometimes though I will respond by saying, “I’m doing much better than I deserve.” This statement may be received with a bit of confusion or maybe even shock. Permit me to explain!
I understand that our culture wants us to believe that we are good people by nature, who make mistakes mostly because of the influences and faults of others. My creator, however, tells me that my condition is not so rosy as I might like to think. He tells me in His Word, the Bible, that I am, by nature, a sinful being. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: . . . . there is none that doeth good, no, not one. . . . For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”1 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 2
Sin is the breaking of God’s laws, and all of us, each and every one of us, have done that.
Not convinced that you have sinned against God? Let’s see . . . . .did you ever disobey your parent(s)? God says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.”3 Have you ever told a lie? God Says, “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD:”4 These are only two examples of how all of us break God’s law. The reality is that you are a sinner. Don’t feel alone; all of us are sinners. Some would think that sin is nothing more than making a mistake, like doing something to which you would say, “oops” or “uh-oh”. Please understand sin is much bigger than “oops” and “uh-oh” and it has grave consequences.
God says, For the wages of sin is death.5
Wages are what we deserve for the work we have done. God is saying that what we deserve and earn by our sinning is death. This death has two parts: a physical part (when our spirit and our bodies part ways and our hearts stop beating), and a spiritual part. The spiritual part concerns our relationship with God. Our sin has caused a separation in our relationship with our creator. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”6 If we die physically while we are dead spiritually we will end up in hell; a place that God created for the devil and His angels.7 Therefore it is of utmost importance that we establish a relationship with God as soon as possible, because we never know when we may die. A car accident or heart attack could end our lives and our opportunity to have that relationship with God.
How do we obtain that relationship with God?
The only way we can have that relationship with God is by having the penalty of our sins paid. God says that the only way that can happen is by the death of a sinless person by shedding of blood. “…without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness).”8 Since no man on earth is without sin, God sent His perfect son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin, to live a perfect life and to die by shedding His blood. Though he was not guilty of any sin, He paid the price of all of our sins by dying in our place. He then conquered death and came back to life to offer his death as payment for sin to each individual. The only way for man to have his sins forgiven is by accepting the gift Jesus offers and coming into a relationship with Him.. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.9
How do we obtain that gift that He offers?
God says, Repent! Turn away from your sin and to God asking Him to forgive you for your sins against Him. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . .”10 Believe! Place your dependence totally in the shed blood of Jesus for forgiveness of your sins. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”11 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”12
Do you see what I mean by saying that I am doing better than I deserve?
I deserve eternal death;
separation from God forever in a place called hell. But because I repented of my sins and placed my trust in the shed blood of Jesus, I have received eternal life; He lives in me now, and I’ll live with Him forever. Would you also receive God’s gift right now? Repent of your sins and ask Jesus to save you by the blood he shed for you. You can do this right now by calling on Him. Sincerely pray something like the following: “Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you and deserve to be separated from you in hell. I also know and believe that you died to pay for my sins and rose again to offer me forgiveness.
Prayer
Please forgive me. I place my trust in you. Thank you for saving me. In your name I pray, Amen!” If you prayed this sincerely, God has saved you, because He promises to do so. Call us and let us rejoice with you. We also want to help you as your begin your new life as a child of God and help direct you to a church that will guide you in your growth.
