Why do you Live?

Richard Hollerman

We know that many of our readers live from day to day with some semblance of hope for the future. They think that tomorrow or ten or twenty years from now, they will be received by God—or perhaps even know God presently. If you were to ask them, “Are you right with God?” they would probably say, “Definitely!”

But are they? Or do they merely think that they are right with Him but give very little thought to the matter? They go on from day to day, from year to year, and know little about what the future holds. In fact, surely they are oblivious to the future and what God has in store for them! They just think that they “invited Jesus into their heart” some years ago and assume that this is all it takes, thus they are on their way to heaven right now! Is this the way it is with you, my friend?

I’ve come to the conclusion that most folks are totally wrong about salvation and the way of salvation. That is a big conclusion, I know, but I just can’t seem to arrive at a different view of the matter if I am being honest. Friends, this is a very, very important matter. Regardless of how many people think that they are saved and assume that they are saved, or have heard that they are saved, are they really saved?

Probably we have written enough about both salvation and how to be saved that I need not say more or discuss more. You can find more on this website by means of the Search engine (upper right). The question now before us would be “How can I be Saved?” Saved from what? Saved from sin, saved from condemnation, saved from perishing. Saved from death, saved from oblivion, saved from hell. With all of the false doctrines and sin in the world, how can you and I be saved from this and find salvation from sin, death, and hell? This is an exceedingly important matter for there are now about seven billion people on earth, and most are religious in some measure—but most are lost in sin and will spend eternity in hell! Wouldn’t you say that this makes the subject utterly vital?

To be right with God, we must have our “sin” problem solved. By this we mean that all people fall into sin but “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). In order for one to escape these wages and find freedom from the sin, we must come to God through Christ, His Son. In other words, we must be properly oriented to God and to Christ Jesus, His Son. Thus, we read the words of Jesus: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). In other words, Jesus Christ, our only Savior and Lord, and is the only “way” to God the Father and eternity with Him!

In order to avail oneself of this means of “escape,” we must turn from our sins (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21; 26:18, 20) as well as place all of our faith or confidence in Christ and His saving merits (John 3:14-18; Acts 10:43). We must also confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized (immersed) into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-5) for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38-39; 22:16) into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). Of course, there is the matter also of living faithfully for the Lord Jesus henceforth (Revelation 2:10-11).

Are you willing to submit your will to the will of God? Will you turn your life over to the One who created You and loves you? Are you prepared to begin a new life with Christ as your very life (John 11:25-26)? Deep in your heart, we think that you know that this is the only Way to God, the only Truth that will save, and the only Way that will enable you to escape from the condemnation of the world! Will you do this without delay?