By John W. White
In the following passages of Scripture, references are made to Christ's death:
Romans 5:8, "... while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 1 Corinthians 15:3: "....Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15: "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." Hebrews 2:9: "We see Jesus ... that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."
There are a few key words in the above verses: Sinner ... Sins... Death... Every Man...All ... Rose Again.
We can clearly see that in the Word of God 'every man' is a sinner. "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (God) a liar ..." (I John 1:10). Apart from salvation, everyone is spiritually dead. There are no exceptions when we notice the words "All" and "Every man."
The coming of Jesus Christ into the world was no accident, but was according to God's purpose. "When the fulness of the time was come. God sent forth His Son, made of a woman..." (Galatians 4:4). Revelation 13:8 makes clear that this planned event was made "From the foundation of the world." His coming was deter- mined by the "Counsel and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23). The crucifixion of Jesus Christ for "every man" is an expression of God's love and concern for "All" mankind. "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). The death of the Lord Jesus Christ was the supreme expression of God's love to you as well as to the whole world. "For God so loved the world (you) that he gave his only begotten Son..." (John 3:16a). The love of God is directed to you personally and individually.
It is our God-given right to accept this expression of His love or reject it. To accept Jesus Christ's supreme sacrifice for your sins means life. To reject this sacrifice is to remain in your sins; dead and already judged!
Revelation 20:10, 13, 14 tells us that the dead from the sea and the grave are cast into the lake of fire; and there shall be torment day and night for ever and ever. There is no reason for you to be afraid unless you reject Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.
In Acts 16:28-30 Paul cried out to a frightened Roman Jailor "Do thyself no harm...Then he (the Jailor) called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, What must I do to be saved? And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." This is the only place in the Bible where the word "saved" is in the question and the word "saved" is in the answer. Because of these verses in Acts, there should be no doubt how one is to be saved. The tense of the verb "believe" expresses the idea that you believe one time. To graph the action of the verb "believe" is to use a dot (.). When one accepts salvation through believing that Jesus Christ died for him and his sins, he is saved at once.
"He came unto His own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him to them gave he the power (liberty, authority) to become children of God... (John 1:11, 12). The words "receive," "gave," and "become" all express the action of a dot (.). When you receive once, He gives the power or authority at once and you become at once a child of God. Becoming a child of God can never be reversed.
Why did Jesus Christ die? It was for you and the rest of mankind. Won't you receive Jesus Christ now as your personal Saviour? Your sins will be forgiven and you will become one of God's children. Just simply bow your head in prayer and thank God that He loved you and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you. Tell Him that you believe Jesus Christ died for your sins. Tell Him that you are receiving and accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour from sin and death. Thank Him for saving you just now. "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen."
Now that you are alive from the dead, live not for yourself "But unto Him which died for them (you), and rose again." Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and became "An High Priest of good things to come · · " (Hebrews 9:11). The "Good things to come" are rewards for service which is our inheritance. "Ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:24).