For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… - 1 Cor. 15:3-4 (ESV)


Jesus said, "…unless one is born again he can't see the kingdom of God." And "…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 & 5)


The way that one lives reflects his nature. 1 John 3:8-10 (ESV)


    Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.  [9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.  [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.


The reason that we must be "born again" or "born of God" is because we are sinful by nature. 2 Cor. 5:17 (KJV)


    Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.


God set the standard for His followers a long time ago when he told Abraham


"…I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. "- Genesis 17:1 (KJV) The standard did not change when Jesus came to earth because He told the people to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."- Matthew 5:48 (KJV)


Some may say that no one can live righteous, but the Bible gives us examples of several people who did just that. Speaking to Satan, the Lord said, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? "- Job 1:8 (ESV) And of Noah the Bible says, "Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. " - Genesis 6:9 (KJV)


We can see in scripture that God commands us to be righteous before him, and we have clear examples of men who did just that! Yes, we also know that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but in Jesus Christ, God has made a way to remove all of our sin if we believe in Him! John the Baptist said of Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." - John 1:29 Furthermore, "if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.  [8] If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:7-9 (ESV)


Scripture says that Jesus' job is to both forgive us for our sins and wrongdoing and also to take away our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness. In addition to ridding us from our sinful nature by giving us new life, God Himself, as the Holy Spirit, enables us to live according to His ways. Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV)


    And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  [27] And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.


It is not by our own might or power, but by the Holy Spirit that we are able to live Godly lives. The only thing that you have to do is ask for forgiveness, and believe in the name of the Only begotten Son of God and his power to give you life, and He'll work in you both to desire and to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).


John 3:16-18 (ESV)


    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.


[17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.


He's alive and well [the Lord Jesus]. And He's waiting on you to turn to Him for salvation and eternal life. If in your heart you know that you truly believe in Him, confess right now with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, and you WILL BE SAVED. Because with the heart one believes and is justified and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10)


If you just confessed your true belief in Jesus Christ as your Lord, welcome to The Family. Begin to talk with God regularly to strengthen your relationship. Read the Bible to learn of Him and His ways and to grow strong in the faith. May God bless you and keep you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Liquid Ground Music
Raise Your Kids to This