Do you know Christ?

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
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By implication, that means that none of my attempts to get to God will work. Not my good works, not my church attendance, not my giving to charities or any other "good things" will be sufficient. They will all fall short because Jesus is the only way. But what does that mean?

The truth is that I have sinned against the creator of the universe, who also created you and me and in fact sustains us each and every day. We are told in Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned and fallen short from the glory of God." God is a holy and just God and so it is impossible for Him to overlook our offences against Him. But in His grace and mercy He has already told us what the punishment for our rebellion will be - eternal death in a place called hell.

This truth is not our opinion, rather it is Gods. The same One who told us the way also tells us in Luke 16:23-24 that there is "a place of torment and fire." (see also Matthew 3:12 and Matthew 25:41)

This same gracious and loving God has also provided a way for us to be restored into a personal relationship with Him! He sent his one and only Son into the world to "seek and to save the lost". (Luke 19:10) We are those who are lost!

When Christ was crucified on the cross it was not for the sins that He had committed, rather it was for yours and mine. He bore the righteous wrath of God against sin so that you and I might not have to! Jesus did not stay dead, but rose again the third day from the grave victorious over sin and death! He accomplished it all! That is why it says in Romans 10:9 that "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved!"

"Saved" does not only imply saved from eternal punishment, but also I am saved to life! The life I now live is not my own, I have been bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:20) It cost Jesus His life to purchase mine. I now surrender my life to Christ, He becomes Lord of my life and I seek to obey Him out of love for Him!

To know Christ is to have life, life eternal! Do you know Christ?