NO REASON TO BE LOST
LIBERTY AND LOVE #119
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16)
God sent his Son Jesus into the world to save, not condemn. We were condemned already. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son” (John 3:16-18). God is a God of salvation. He wants to turn your life around if you will come to him. You are not waiting on him. He is mighty and able to save.
Notice that John wrote that we are condemned already. Some seem to think of God as difficult, as though he were looking for reasons to condemn. But if such were the case, would we not all be in hell already? God seeks opportunities to save. Condemnation is something we have done to ourselves. You have questions about that? Join the club.
But when we think of it logically, what could be more sad than a group of sinners sitting around discussing whether or not they are sinners. A group of condemned people sitting around arguing and debating about the nature of condemnation. If you are honest in your heart of hearts, you know that you have rebelled against your creator. We all know that deep down.
To be condemned is to be in a state of alienation from God. Separation from God means that we are God’s enemies. “Condemned already." Think of that: not waiting to be condemned—condemned right now. How do we know? The same way we know anything in the spiritual realm. God has told us. It is your choice, if you want to roll the dice and take a chance with your eternal soul by refusing to acknowledge what God has said. But it is much wiser to believe what his word and love his son for what he did for you.
There is no reason for anyone to be lost. Jesus will receive and accept anyone who comes to him. He died a criminal’s death to save criminals. He bore the penalty of sin to save sinners. He took the wrath of God to save God’s enemies. He wants to save anyone who comes to him more than they want to be saved. Jesus is always willing and mighty to save. Turn to him, not away from him. Come to him in faith. You can have a savior. There is no reason for you to be lost.You can have a savior. There is no reason for you to be lost.
Dewayne Dunaway
