Letter to a Friend (cont.)

IV. The Destination Of Man

Until one receives Jesus Christ as his saviour he is condemned by God to eternal death. That death will be ultimately the Lake Of Fire with no relief. Oh what an awful eternity many are facing! And we once faced it too. Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:29-30; Daniel 2:2; Revelation 20:15

V. The Love And Grace Of God.

God's love, infinitely strong, sent His only begotten Son to become "The Lamb Of God that takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29). Therefore Jesus died on the cross in our place to pay for our Sins.

God's grace(undeserved mercy) made salvation possible when the Son of God became our substitute. Because sin was paid for, the way was open for those who would receive Jesus Christ as their sin-bearer to receive Christ's righteousness and be saved from eternal punishment. What love God showed toward man who was His enemy! John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:5-9; Phil. 2:5-8; I Pet. 2:24

Christ's offering of Himself on the cross was a once-for-all sacrifice, never to be repeated, and fully sufficient for our complete salvation. God is not waiting for us to do anything to complete the work of salvation. It is a finished work. And the sacrifice of Christ was accepted as full payment for our sins by the Father. I John 2:2; Isaiah 53 (especially verse 11); Heb. 10:12; John 19:30

VI. The Provisions Of God

Below are some of the wonderful benefits that make up a part of our salvation.

A. We are forgiven of all our sins because Christ died for all sins. All sins have been paid for. Thus, when one receives Christ as his savior all his sins are forgiven. Because this is true, God is not waiting for you to do anything in order to be forgiven. You are fully forgiven. That is and always will be a settled fact. Furthermore, when a believer sins (and we all do), he has an advocate (a representative) before the Father, Jesus Christ who speaks on our behalf and whose blood cleanses us from all sin. This truth is very important, Matt.

I John 1:7 in the Greek text means that this cleansing work is continually going on. There is never a moment when the child of God is not cleansed from sin. What a fact! Colossians.2:13; I John 1:7;2:12.

B. We have been made righteous. The purpose of salvation was to make us righteous. That was the only way we could ever come into God's presence eternally (John 14:1-3); the only way we could glorify a righteous God (Romans 3;23); the only way we could be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). As amazing as it may seem to you, you stand before God as righteous. Only Christ's work on the cross could accomplish this. I Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 4:1-5; 1I Corinthians 5:21.

"We are forgiven of all our sins because Christ died for all sins"

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