Everywhere you look on the news channels, it’s one negative thing after another.  Is there any GOOD NEWS?  YES!  And I want to share that with you today.

It is written in John 3:16-18,
Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

So many people for one reason or another believe either that God is mad at them, or He is not there for them.  But these verses absolutely refute that lie, in that, if God were not FOR you, He would not have sent His Son into the world to save you.  We see these tidy pictures of Christ Jesus on the cross with a drop of blood on each nail pierced hand, and a drop of blood on His nail pierced feet, and a drip or two on His brow from the crown of thorns, in order to minimize the suffering He went through.

That is part of the lie that the devil wants you to believe.  He doesn’t want you to realize the horrible agony that Christ Jesus suffered, not only from the beatings on the way to the cross, but on the cross, as payment in full for YOUR sins.  It is written, in Isaiah 52:14  As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

They pulled out pieces of His beard, beat him with flails that had bone on the ends that tore out pieces of His flesh with each merciless lash.  He was beaten so badly, He was absolutely unrecognizable as a man. Then they nailed Him to a cross, and if that wasn’t bad enough, they lifted Him up and dropped that cross into a hole dug in the ground meant to hold the cross upright.  They spared no expense in hurting Him.  He was tortured in a slow, agonizing death, the most horrible form of execution they could dream up at the time.  And He endured it for YOU!  I wish I had a way to more graphically depict to you what He went through, to make you realize how much God loves you.  He did it so YOU may be saved!  Does that tell you anything about the nature of God, how committed He is to giving YOU everlasting life?

What do you have to do to have that free gift?  Glad you asked!  Jesus Himself answered that question in the latter part of John 3:16: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Something I want you to get here:  It doesn’t say, “that whosoever is a member of a church” or “whosoever gives a significant seed offering to so-and-so ministry” should not perish, but have everlasting life.  It said “whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM”.  Now, if you believe, you will repent, that is, forsake your sins, turn away from them and love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Here’s where I get in trouble with “denominations”.  One believes one way, one believes another.  Well I don’t care what denominations believe, I believe the HOLY BIBLE, for it is the very Word of God.  From Genesis to Revelation, God is concerned with one thing, and that is YOU being saved and being His disciple, and living according to His Word.  He is not concerned with “doctrines of men”, for they lead men astray, get them off-track from the Word of God, and get their focus on earthly things.  Some denominations push “prosperity” to the point that men are led astray by the love of money and possessions, and they lose their focus on serving God, but rather, they want God to serve THEM.  Some denominations push “holiness” to the point that everything becomes fleshly works, that if you don’t do this or that, or eat and drink this or that, or abstain from eating or drinking this or that, you will spend eternity in hell.  Some denominations slide off into the other ditch saying you can do anything you choose because we are in an age of Grace.

But this I have found, in researching many, many denominations, according to them, I and everyone else, am going to hell because we have violated some tenet of their religion.  I’m so thankful that CHRIST JESUS saved me from hell, by what HE did, and He is not depending on ME to get the job done in any way, shape, or form.  HE alone is our salvation.

I teach a lot about healing, but even that can be over-emphasized to the point that it’s all about healing, and we can get off-focus and neglect that being a disciple of Christ Jesus is the first and foremost thing.  Yes, healing is part and parcel of our offer for salvation, for it is written in Psalm 103:2-3,
Psa 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

But you see, forgiveness of sins and healing for your body is part of His “Benefits” package.  ANYONE WHO BELIEVES can have it, but It isn’t the whole enchilada, only part of it.  Your heavenly Father, as part of His wonderful plan for mankind, freely offers this gift to “whosoever will” take Him up on it.  That means ANYONE can receive it.  Even YOU!  Jesus paid the price of all that for YOU!  And you must remember, YOU have absolutely nothing invested in His sufferings, nor can you earn His free gift to you.  That’s why “religion” is so dangerous.  Religion tries to make you “earn” your salvation, and you can’t.  You can never be “good enough” to be saved, and that’s why the Lord Jesus had to go to the cross to pay the debt YOU could never pay.  Only HE is without sin, perfect, Holy, and undefiled.  The only way you can have His gift is to BELIEVE upon Him.

Some say, “Well, if it were THAT simple, everyone would receive Him and be saved….” Yes it is that simple, but sadly, many won’t, because God has given each of us free will, and it won’t be HIM stopping us from receiving everlasting life if we fail to, it will be OURSELVES.  Like I said, He CHOSE, of His own free will, to give us His gift, His present, if you will.  And speaking of the present, NOW is the time for YOU to be saved if you are not already.

It is written,
Act 2:21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Many are having “so much fun” living in sin, they choose to ignore His gift. Many are sick in their body, running from doctor to doctor trying to get well, but unable to do so, loading up with medicines that cannot heal, but only mask the symptoms. But there IS a cure for every sickness and every disease, and that is CHRIST JESUS.   And, in case you are wondering, the Lord Jesus makes house calls.  If you can’t go to Him, He will come to you, just call upon Him right now, and receive the free gift of everlasting life.  Now, isn’t THAT good news?  I thought you’d agree.