The following is the second of a Seven Part Series By Bob Hugeri
The answer to this question is much easier than to the previous one of Who is God? Again, let’s take a look and see what we can come up with from the clues God has given us through His Word.
The first thing we need to realize is that the Bible, God’s perfectly preserved word, teaches us the depravity of man and that every aspect of our being has been corrupted by sin. We will look at ourselves in the mirror of God’s 10 Commandments in just a moment.
The underlying message of the entire Bible is that God has provided salvation for the lost. The Bible is very clear that we all are lost and need to be saved.
But why do we need to be saved? We need to be saved because God’s Word tells us that we are in danger of spending our eternity in a very bad place called hell. After we die, since God is a righteous Judge, He will judge us. He will judge us according to His Holy Law, The 10 Commandments.
One day, one second after we take our last breath, we will no longer have control over where we will spend our eternity. We must be saved before that day, before that second happens. We must be saved because our soul and spirit will leave our bodies and where they end up will depend on whether or not we are saved.
Unfortunately for us, James 2:10 tells us, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” We are all sinners and God’s rule is that with sin there must be death. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, an animal was sacrificed to provide their clothing.
Since this very first sin, when sin entered into the human race, we all have been dead in our sins and are spiritually dead and in need of salvation. Before Jesus Christ became the perfect sacrifice, the consequence of sin was the sacrifice of an unblemished animal
We need to be saved because we are slaves to sin and Satan. The Bible tells us we are held in satan’s grasp. We need a Savior to free us. The Bible tells us Jesus Christ sets us free from sin. More on that later.
We need to be saved because we are at odds with God. In our natural state, since sin entered the world through Adam, our mind is governed by the flesh and is hostile to God.
We need to be saved because, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3, we MUST be born again. What does it mean to be born again? It means we are saved.
Finally let’s ask this question “If you died tonight are you 100% sure that you would go to Heaven?” This is the most important question you will ever ask yourself. You MUST be saved to be able to answer this question yes. How do you know you need to be saved? Let’s take a look at God’s Law, The 10 Commandments. Remember, what James 2:10 tells us.
I. You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me – Have you always put God first in your life, above everything else?
II. You Shall Not Make Yourself Any Graven Image – Have you ever made a god to suit yourself with your hands or mind?
III. You Shall Not Take The Name Of The Lord In Vain – Have you ever used God’s name in place of a bad word?
IV. Remember The Sabbath Day, To Keep It Holy – Have you always rested at least one specific day per week?
V. Honor Your Father and Mother – Have you always respected your parents in word and deed?
VI. You Shall Not Murder – God tells us if we get angry without cause, or hate someone, we are guilty.
VII. You Shall Not Commit Adultery – Jesus tells us, whoever looks at anyone to lust after them has already committed adultery with them in their heart. Have you ever looked with lust?
VIII. You Shall Not Steal – Have you ever taken something that did not belong to you no matter the value?
IX. You Shall Not Bear False Witness – Have you ever told a lie? Even just one little “white lie”?
X. You Shall Not Covet – Have you ever wanted something that belonged to someone else?
We can violate God’s Law by attitude or intent. Since God is a righteous Judge, all sin requires punishment and as we already discussed, the punishment for sin is separation from God in a place called hell. Romans 3:10 tells us “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one.’” Romans 3:23 also tells us “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Then Romans 5:12 says “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people because all sinned.” That is why we need to be saved.
Next time we will discuss God’s awesome plan to save us. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
