Good News

I have made an Instructible like this before, and I know it's very unusual. However, what I want to tell you about is something that has changed my life forever, and I pray it will do the same to you. Straight up, I'm going to tell you about the gospel. This is not me trying to force anything on anyone. If you don't want to read this, that is ok. I'm glad you even came this far. Although, I pray you would give it a chance.

My goal is to present the gospel to you in a way that I pray makes sense and to clarify some rather popular misconceptions. Furthermore, I don't want to use a ton of 'Christian-y' sounding language but to present the gospel to you in a pure and simple way. As the Bible says, "My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 ESV.

Take a moment to consider the size of the universe. Based off all of the descriptions and animations we have seen on the size of the universe, we know that its magnitude is nearly impossible to comprehend. Perhaps, all of the universe that we can see is not even the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully, this exercise helps you to get an idea of the grandeur and majesty of the universe with all of its innermost design and intricate detail. We are told that this was all just an accident that somehow it always existed, and the present age is just another second in the physical processes that guide our universe. On the other hand, do we really believe that? Certainly, none of us want to believe that because we know the implications of that belief.

If we are really just an accident then life has no meaning, and there is no good or bad. Therefore, we should all just do as we please. Could something with as much detail, design, and splendor really be an accident? If you look at a cake, don't you assume there exists a baker? If you look at a painting, don't you assume there exists a painter? If you look at a house, don't you assume there exists a builder? How much more then should we look at the expanse of the universe and know without a shadow of a doubt that there is a maker?

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. - Romans 1:20 ESV

Well if there exists a creator, logically one might then wonder why there is so much pain and suffering in this world. If He is so powerful cannot He just reveal Himself and rid us of our pain? Also, why does this God punish people who do not believe in Him, even if they are "good" people, by sending them to hell? Many struggle with these questions, even myself at times.

Regarding the first question, pain and brokenness were not part of God's original creation. When humans entered the picture, we chose sin, that is our desires, over God and His desires. You may wonder why we are being punished for some other persons bad decisions thousands of years ago. Well it turns out that we are not somehow so much more righteous that we would have chosen to obey God. The Bible says, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" - Romans 5:12 ESV.

Secondly, you may still be asking why doesn't God just reveal Himself, so everyone can believe in Him? First, God doesn't want people to accept Him because they have to. He wants only those who will truly love Him. Regardless, He did come to earth, and He did do many signs and wonders so that those who saw them could not deny His claim, but they didn't believe Him because they loved their sin over Him.

Lastly, why does God send those who don't love Him to hell even if they are good people? Let's get something straight. We aren't good people. It's not that we were born good and somehow the world corrupted us, or it's not that you are better than that other person down the street. No, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." -Romans 3:23 ESV. Perhaps, one of the greatest responses to this question I have ever heard is by Francis Chan in his book Crazy Love, "If God is truly the greatest good on this earth, would He be loving us if He didn't draw us toward what is best for us (even if that happens to be Himself)? Doesn't His courting, luring, pushing, calling, and even 'threatening' demonstrate His love? If He didn't do all of that, wouldn't we accuse Him of being unloving in the end, when all things are revealed?"

Think of it this way. You are in court with a ton of speeding tickets, and you say to the judge, "I know I messed up, but consider all of the times I helped my neighbor." Obviously, the judge won't take that. The judge is going to judge you based on the crime you committed not on your good works. If a judge on this earth won't accept our good works as restitution for a minor offence, how much more should we expect the God of the universe, who is infinitely just, to accept our good works, which the Bible compares to filthy rags, as payment for our lifetime of sins? Therefore, because God is perfectly just and good, He cannot just overlook our sins and sweep them under the rug. The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23 ESV. This verse says that the wages of sin is death. We have earned death for our sin and negligence of God's commands.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16. Whether you grew up in a church or not, you probably know how this story ends. Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins and rose on the third day. It's ok if you have never heard this before, and I'm very glad you are here reading this if that's you. Regardless, please I beg you. Don't just skim over this. Genuinely, stop and consider what these words mean. The literal Son of God, the creator of the trees, the sky, the earth, and the entire universe, thought that you were worth dying for.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5-11 ESV.

We all, to some degree or another, have grown complacent to hearing stuff like this. We think, if we even accept it at all, we understand it, but do our lives really back that up? I know that many many times my life hasn't, but that really is the essence of the gospel; isn't it? If you genuinely believe this, what you were no longer matters. God has wiped your record clean at His own expense and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, you can do to change that. God's sacrifice wouldn't mean much if we could sin our way out of it. He knew you and every time you have messed up and every time you will mess up before He got on that cross, yet His love is greater than our sin.

I genuinely pray that you believe this, but be careful that this belief isn't just acknowledgement. For the Bible says, "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!" - James 2:19 ESV. Even the demons believe God exists and believe He died on the cross. However, the belief that John 3:16 talks about is so so so much more than just acknowledging His existence and His sacrifice. God wants to get to know you on a deeply personal level. God wants a relationship with you. This doesn't mean sitting in a church service for 45 minutes a week and living however you want the rest of the week. It does not mean giving to the poor only when it is convenient to you. It does not mean grudgingly sitting down for 20 minutes to read your Bible today just to get it done. It does not mean setting up your life so that nothing you do requires faith.

Do not believe for a second that you are gonna do this perfectly. Certainly, I have not done so. There are many times where I have been content to just live life only half-heartedly following God because I was still holding onto my desires. However, His grace, mercy and forgiveness are there to meet our shortcomings. However, God's love is not to be abused. The Bible says, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" - Romans 6:1-2 ESV. God knows your heart. You cannot fool Him.

Just like any relationship, a relationship with God requires effort. You don't have to worry about God holding up His end. He just wants your heart. This relationship should be completely and entirely be driven by love for Him. God calls us to abide in Him so that He can model us into an image of Himself. When you abide in Christ, your life won't be controlled by your circumstance or emotions. His joy will be in you and your joy will be full!

I [Jesus] am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. - John 15:1-11 ESV

One quick thing, the only book I quoted here other than the Bible is Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It does a much better job explaining all of this than I do. If you are able, I highly recommend you read it. The link provided is NOT an affiliate link this is just me genuinely recommending you something that I think is worth your money.

Ok, I have done enough talking. If anything I said had any sort of impact on you and I pray that it did, please go read the Bible yourself - I recommend starting with the book of John. If you do not have a Bible and cannot afford one, message me and I will see about sending you a Bible.