Other spiritual fruit will include character, qualities, such as “…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control,” (Galatians 5:22-23). Spiritual fruit is produced in and through our lives as we abide in Jesus, His Word and His church.

God’s first recorded words to Adam were, “Be fruitful and multiply,” (Genesis 1:28). This meant having children but it also meant being fruitful in serving God and other ways. Jesus gave a similar commission when He said, “I chose you and appointed you that ye should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain,” (John 15:16). Just before His ascension, Jesus commanded His followers to, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

How can you work with God in His garden? Jesus said, “Abide in Me.”

First, you must have the right seed. Jesus is the seed of Salvation. You must receive Him and be vitally connected to Him. When you believe in Jesus, yielding your life to Him, He grafts you into Himself. This speaks of personal salvation. Has that happened to you?

The soil of your life must be cultivated. This involves abiding in Jesus. He said “If you abide in Me {worship}, and My words abide in you {Bible study}, you will ask what you desire (prayer) and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). Having good soil also includes getting the rocks and weeds out of the soil. Rocks and weeds could refer to sinful attitudes and habits, which prevent spiritual fruit bearing.

Jesus said, “My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). “Vinedresser” could be translated “farmer” or “gardener.” God’s Holy Spirit tenderly shows Christians areas that need changing. Humble response to His conviction allows God to get the rocks and weeds of sin out of our lives. Jesus says the vinedresser “takes away” or “prunes” the unfruitful branches to increase their fruitfulness, (John 15:2). Many plants produce too many leaves and unfruitful branches. This compares to Christians who get too busy or get their priorities confused. Our lives may be filled with many good activities while neglecting the best, such as worship, Bible study, prayer and witnessing. Does God need to prune your life of unfruitful activities so that He can make you more fruitful for Him?

Gardens also need to be protected from enemies like rabbits, deer and insects. This could compare to the attacks of Satan. Our divine “vinedresser” will defend us as we abide in Christ. Sunshine and rain involve God’s gracious response to our prayers. The nutrients from the soil could be likened to the food of His Word. Fertilizer could be our kind deeds to others preparing them for the seed.

So, how is your spiritual garden? Is it fruitful for God? Abide in Christ and His Word. With His power and grace you can have a bumper crop. Amen.

No. Salvation is much better than that. Once a person is truly saved through personal faith in Jesus Christ, he will never lose that salvation. Here’s why:

THE GOSPEL. The very word “gospel” means “good news.” The good news is that Jesus paid for all our sins on the cross. When you receive Jesus Christ with all your heart, all your sins, past, present and future, are transferred to the cross, and His perfect righteousness is transferred to your soul. God sees Christ and His righteousness in your soul and declares you perfect in Him. God cannot see your sins through the blood of Jesus.

ETERNAL LIFE. Over and over again the Bible says that true Christians are given eternal life as a present possession. The apostle John said, “These things have I written unto you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that ye have eternal life” (I John 5:13). Notice that this eternal life begins the moment you believe in Jesus. If eternal life could end, it would be a lie to call it eternal life. It would have to be called “temporary life.” Esus said in John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one” ( “ … the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b)

JESUS DOES THE KEEPING! “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Peter 1:3-5). “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed unto Him until that day” (2 Tim. 1:12b). “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24-25).

WHAT ABOUT APPARENT CHRISTIANS WHO QUIT FOLLOWING JESUS? John answers that question in I John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” John is simply saying that those who stop following Jesus were never saved in the first place. Undoubtedly, many join the church without truly receiving Jesus and being born again.

Be sure you are trusting Jesus with all your heart. If He comes into your life, He will never leave you. His salvation is guaranteed to be eternal. Amen.

The baptism of Jesus opened Heaven! To understand this verse it is important to know that John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River by immersion (vs. 13). Our text verse above also says Jesus “went came up immediately from the water,” meaning He had been in the water. Even Roman Catholic leaders, who know the Bible and history, grant that Jesus was baptized by immersion in the Jordan River. Several years ago on a mission trip to Europe, I saw a baptismal pool in a very old Roman Catholic Church. The guide explained that originally the Roman Catholic Church practiced baptism by immersion. The bible does not authorize changing baptism to sprinkling. Here’s why.

The Greek word for “baptize” literally means, “immerse” under water. So the baptism of Jesus was a prophetic picture of what He came to do as He began His public ministry. When He was immersed, He was saying, “I came to die and be buried.” When He came up out of the water, He was promising His resurrection.

Paul later explained our application, “Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4). Note that Paul clearly relates water baptism to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, which is the gospel. Paul added, “I declare to you the gospel… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day…” (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

So God opened Heaven at the water immersion of Jesus to confirm the message of the cross and resurrection of Jesus pictured in baptism. Believing the message of the cross and resurrection opens Heaven to everyone by faith. Only baptism by immersion conveys the gospel picture. Sprinkling misses both the meaning of the word and the purpose of baptism as well. This does not mean baptism by immersion is necessary for salvation, as we shall see below.

God also opened the Heavens to send the Holy Spirit. As soon as Jesus was baptized, … The Heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God ascending like a dove and alighting upon Him” (Matthew 3:16b). Here we have Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist had said, “I indeed baptize you with water …, but He who is coming after me (Jesus) is mightier than I,… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and fire” (Matthew 3:11).

Paul explains it, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body –whether Jews or Greeks, or whether slaves or free –and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:13). This is a spiritual baptism (without water) and is the same as the new birth. Jesus told Nicodemus he had to be “born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-6). When you receive Jesus as your personal Savior, the Spirit of Christ comes in and baptizes your soul into Christ. This is spiritual baptism and is the baptism that saves.

So the issue here is not whether you have been immersed or sprinkled. You are not saved by any kind of water baptism, including immersion. Believing the gospel, which baptism teaches, saves you. If you have personally believed in Jesus Christ and claimed His cross and resurrection for you, you are saved. If this is true, then why have water baptism? Because Jesus commanded it as a public confession after you are saved. Jesus intended it as a public identification with the local church. It also helps spread the gospel. It pleases God, adding the joy of obedience. Water baptism is not necessary for salvation but it is necessary for obedience, showing you want to please Jesus and follow Him.

First, be sure you are baptized spiritually by receiving Jesus as your Savior. Then, celebrate it publicly by water baptism by immersion.

God will bless you and the local church, and someone else may be saved through the gospel sermon you picture in the waters of baptism. Above all, Jesus will be honored! Amen.

BECAUSE YOU NEED THE CHURCH. Babies and children need to be in a family for food, protection and love. Christians also need to be in a spiritual family for spiritual food, protection, love, and training. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Some say, you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian. While that may be technically true, what kind of Christian would they be? They could read their Bible and pray but would they? They could witness to others but would they? If they led someone to Christ, would they be able to help them grow? They could live a Godly life but would they without the prayers and help of other Christians. You need the church to live a successful Christian life.

BECAUSE THE CHURCH NEEDS YOU TO BLESS THE WORLD TODAY.
Paul called the church “…the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12 & 27). Jesus is doing through the church today much of what He did when He was here in the flesh. Someone has well said, “Ours are the only hands, feet, and voice Jesus has in the world today.” He commissioned His church to preach the gospel, teach His Word, minister to the sick and needy, and comfort the troubled. His church is to be “salt and light” upholding righteousness in a sinful dark world. Can you imagine what the world would be like without the church? If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you need to join and support a local church. Allow a local church to bless you and help you grow spiritually. Then be part of that church to be a blessing to others.

HOW TO JOIN THE CHURCH.
Salvation. First you must repent and believe in Jesus Christ whole-heartedly. Believing the gospel saves you. The word “gospel” means “good news.” Paul defines the gospel, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:1 & 3-4). -And it was for you. Do you believe the gospel? When you believe that with all your heart, you are “born again.”

Public Profession of Faith. Jesus said, “whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven (Matthew 10:32). At the close of the services in most Baptist churches an invitation is given for people to come forward to either pray to receive Christ or make a previous decision public. This does not mean making a speech. It is just telling the pastor they want to take their stand professing Jesus as their Savior. Either the pastor prays with them or passes them to a counselor who answers their questions and prays with them.

Baptism. Jesus commands all who come to Him to baptized. Peter expressed this, “Repent, and everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;” (Acts 2:38). We believe baptism is immersion in water following salvation. It is a picture of the gospel, “…buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).Water baptism is not necessary for salvation but it is necessary for obedience. It pleases Jesus, blesses the new Christians and others.

Letter or Statement. If you have already been saved and baptized by immersion following your salvation…and been a member of a church of like faith in the past, you may be able to join the church on what we call the transfer of your membership by letter or the statement, confirming previous church membership.

The church is the only human institution Jesus established on earth. It will live forever. Don’t miss being part of it. Amen.

You can be saved and know that you are going to Heaven now. It rests totally on receiving Jesus into your soul. 1 John 5:12 says, “He who has the Son [Jesus] has life and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” This involves a definite decision to believe in and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Jesus is God. He died on the cross for your sins and arose from the dead. Have you believed in Him with all your heart? You may be saying, “I hope so.” You can know for sure. The apostle John wrote the little epistle called 1 John to help Christians have assurance of salvation. (Note: Not the Gospel of John). He gave these four evidences of real Christians:

ONENESS WITH CHRIST. “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God” (1 John 4:15). A real Christian is spiritually married to Jesus. Ninety six times in the New Testament Christians are described as being “in Christ” or “Christ being in them.” This is much more than believing facts about Jesus. You must confess Jesus as Lord, believing in Him with all your heart (Romans 10:9). Have you done that?

OBEDIENCE. 1 John 2:3 says, “Now by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” If you belong to Jesus, you will want to please Him. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” No, you are not saved by obedience. I am not speaking of perfection but rather a tender love for Jesus that grieves when you let Him down. Is this true in your life?

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14). “Brethren” are other Christians. Devoted Christians want to be with others who love Jesus. Do you love other Christians? Most churches are blessed with traveling Christians who visit their services. Often there is an immediate awareness of Christian love and fellowship. Going to church is not drudgery to real Christians. Don’t think you will enjoy Heaven if you don’t enjoy being in Church now. I am very suspicious of professing Christians who say they love Jesus but dislike being in church.

INNER WITNESS. 1 John 4:13 says, “By this know we that we dwell in Him and he in us, because he hath given us of His Spirit.” 1 John 5:10 says, “He that believes in the Son of God (Jesus) has the witness in himself.” If you have the Spirit of Jesus in your soul, He will bear witness in your soul that you are saved. Paul says in Rom. 8:16, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Peace will be the primary inner witness. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

If you have these evidences that you are a Christian, praise God! If not, don’t try to work them up. You can fake most of them and still be lost. Instead, “Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith;” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Rather than trying to defend a fuzzy past profession, just make a fresh decision now to believe in Jesus with all your heart, trusting Him to give you clear assurance of salvation.

Ask a Christian friend or pastor to pray with you to confirm your decision. Read the Gospel of John through. Pray every day. Get in a Bible believing church. Confess any known sins and ask Jesus to help you turn from them. Unforsaken sin can cause doubts. If you have not done so, share your decision in church and follow the Lord in baptism. If you let Jesus be Lord of your life, he will produce assurance of salvation inside out. Rest in his finished work on the cross. You can have assurance of salvation!

If this very religious preacher was lost, could you be? Why must we be born again? Because we have all sinned and are dead spiritually until we are “born again.” God originally created Adam and Eve with a spirit, soul and body (I Thessalonians 5:23). The body is what you see. The soul includes the mind, will and emotions. Only man was created with a spirit able to know God and live forever. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they died spiritually (Genesis 3:6-9). Everyone since that time except Jesus has also chosen sin, with the same result, spiritual death. That is why we all have to be “born again.”

French scientist, Pascal, said we all have a “God shaped” vacuum inside us that can only be filled by Jesus Christ. Do you sometimes feel empty inside? Perhaps you have tried to fill that emptiness with pleasure, money, power, or, like Nicodemus, even religion, but you are still not satisfied. Could it be that you need to be born again?

Here’s how you can be born again: First, you must sense your need. Nicodemus heard Jesus preach and saw His miracles. He said to Jesus, “… no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2). Nicodemus longed for something more and came to the right person. Nicodemus was the first person to hear the most famous verse in the Bible, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Then you must want to be born again. Do you long for something more to fill your emptiness? Thirdly you must come to Jesus.

You may be saying, “How can I be born again?” Receive Jesus. As your personal Savior. The Bible says, “… as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but [born] of God” (John 1:12-13). To be born again you must believe in Jesus so much that you receive Him in a definite personal way. The moment you believe in Jesus and receive Him as your Lord and Savior, you are “born of God.” You can do it anywhere.

Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, [of your heart] and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and dine with him, and he with Me.” When someone knocks on your door, they want to come in. Jesus is talking about the door of your soul. He wants to come into your life. Will you open the door of your soul and invite Him in? He will come in if you receive Him. He added, “and will dine with him…” Jesus wants to have supper with you. He will be family to you. You and Jesus can enjoy supper fellowship together forever. When Jesus comes into your heart, your dead spirit comes alive. He paid for your sins on the cross so He could forgive you and save you. This is what it means to be born again. Receive Jesus as your Savior and be born again today. That is how to be born again.

The apostle Paul was asked one night, “What must I do to be saved?” He answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,” (Acts 16:30-31). What does it mean to be saved? It is forgiveness of our sin and receiving the gift of eternal life in Heaven. Paul’s own confident testimony was, “I have believed.” Have you?

Faith involves KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL. Paul says, “I know whom…” Paul knew that Jesus is the Christ, the only divine Son of God. He knew that Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins and arose bodily from the dead the third day. Finally he knew that Jesus saves all who believe in Him. Paul says, “I know whom I have believed…” “Whom” refers to Jesus Christ. Certainly Paul believed all the gospel facts, but the object of his faith was not the gospel facts but Jesus Himself. We are not saved by a book, a creed, a sacrament, a priest or a church but by personal faith in Jesus Christ, Himself.

Some say that it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. Wrong! Suppose you lay a 2 X 4 across a river and try to walk across. Sincere faith in that 2 X 4 will still land you in the river. Mustard seed faith in a concrete bridge will get you across the river. The object of your faith determines its effectiveness. Jesus is the only bridge that will get you to Heaven.

Faith is BEING PERSUADED. Paul adds “…I am persuaded that He is able…” Do you believe Jesus is able to save you and keep you? Paul describes Abraham’s faith, “And being fully convinced that, what He (God) had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:21:22). Saving faith is not a “hope so” thing. It is a wholehearted response not only to the gospel facts but also to the revelation of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. Paul says, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).

Some people delay becoming Christians because they are afraid they won’t be able to be good enough. That is precisely the reason you need to come to Jesus. He is the only one who is good enough. If you receive Jesus into your soul, God accepts you because He sees the perfection of Christ in you. Jesus also gives you His power. “As many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). He is able to save you and keep you eternally.

Faith involves COMMITMENT. “…that He (Jesus) is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” What did Paul commit to Jesus Christ? His soul, his body, his service and all his future. Have you made that kind of commitment to Jesus Christ?

John G. Paton, missionary to a South Pacific island in the nineteenth century was translating the New Testament into the local language. He was struggling to find a word in the language for “faith” or “believe.” A native Christian helper returning from a long journey used a native word as he sat down wearily into a chair.

“What does that word mean?” Paton excitedly asked. “I rest my full weight here,” replied the native in English.” That’s it!” exclaimed Paton and used that word to translate the Bible word for “believe.

Have you “rested your full weight on Jesus?” That is saving faith.

Consider other references to repentance. The message of John the Baptist was: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus began His first recorded sermon with those same words (Matthew 4:17). Peter concluded his sermon on the Day of Pentecost with “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, …” (Acts 2:38).

So what does it mean to repent? The word “repent” literally means to change one’s mind and direction, specifically concerning God, Jesus, sin, and righteousness.

In the Garden of Eden, God had said, “… the day you eat of it [i.e., of the forbidden tree] you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and died, not physically or mentally, but spiritually. They were cut off from God and with them the whole human race. Paul said, “… in Adam all die, …”(I Corinthians 15:2). We are all sinners by nature and by choice. “All have sinned, …” (Romans 3:23). “The wages (results) of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23). -not just in eternity, but sin makes us spiritually dead now. Paul explained it this way, “You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,” (Ephesians 2:1, essentially repeated in verse 5).

How then can a person who is spiritually dead repent? It is impossible without God’s help. Jesus said, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will” (John 5:21). Before a person is saved he is dead to God. However, when the gospel of Jesus Christ is presented to that dead lost person, his soul is awakened by the Holy Spirit and convicted of sin. He sees his sinfulness and Jesus Christ as Savior. In that spiritual awakening that lost person’s will is activated. Repentance, then, is the decision by a spiritually awakened soul to agree with God about sin, and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Consider some Bible examples of this awakening. The prodigal son was in the pigpen when it says, “… he came to himself…” (Luke 15:17). Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus to kill Christians. God used the previous witness of Stephen to Jesus Christ to “awaken” Saul (Acts 7:54-60). “…Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ” (Acts 9:3-4). Saul was blind for three days before he had his eyes opened, received the Holy Spirit, and was baptized (Acts 9:17).

Biblical repentance includes saving faith. You can’t have one without the other. When an awakened soul sees Jesus, he also sees his sinfulness and condemnation. Repentance is the brokenness of conviction, and faith is the joy of receiving Jesus and forgiveness. Repentance is also a continuing experience. The more we know of God’s holiness and His word, the more we are motivated to express a repentant attitude and willingness to let God continue to make us more like Jesus Christ. God sent Paul “To open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light, …” (Acts 26:18).

Repentance that does not result in a changed life is not biblical repentance. Have you repented?
“Behold the Lamb of God [Jesus], who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)! 
Repent today and trust Jesus to transform your life. He will! Amen.

This is the most important question ever asked, “What shall I do with Jesus?” Have you answered this question in your life? Your answer will determine your happiness on earth and your eternal destiny as well. 

Why did Pilate ask that question? During the previous night, Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus in Gethsemane, condemning Him in an illegal night trial. Early that morning they had brought Him to Pilate, the Roman Governor, demanding the death penalty. Pilate found no fault in Jesus but played politics by offering to release either Jesus or a dangerous murderer named Barabbas. The mob, spurred on by the Jewish leaders, shouted their choice that Barabbas be released instead of Jesus. Surprised, Pilate asked them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified’ ” (Matthew 27:22).

Suspense was growing! Pilate had to either crucify Jesus or let Him go. He tried to dodge the issue by passing the decision to King Herod and the Roman soldiers. Then Pilate called for a basin of water and washed his hands, thinking he could be neutral and escape the responsibility of making a decision concerning Jesus (vss. 23-24).

What about you? John said of Jesus, “He came to His own [the Jews], and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name:” (John 1:11-12). Most of the Jewish people of that day rejected Jesus as their Messiah, but not all. The believing apostles were Jews and thousands of other Jews of that day also received Jesus as their Messiah and Savior.

To all who believed in Him, Jesus gave “the right” to become children of God. He still does! Believers receive forgiveness of sins, abundant life on earth and eternal life in Heaven. Rejecting Jesus leaves people with their guilt throughout this life and condemns them to Hell forever when they die.

Many, like Pilate, say, “I haven’t rejected Jesus. I’m neutral.” If a man asks a woman to marry him and she ignores his proposal, he rightly concludes her answer is “No.” If you do not take seriously God’s proposal that you receive Jesus as your Savior and act on it, you are also rejecting Him. Jesus said, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God? (John 3:18b). Many people are on God’s death row and don’t know it.

On Sunday night, October 8th, 1871, evangelist Dwight L. Moody, was in the midst of conducting a series of evangelistic services in the 2500 seat Farwell Hall in Chicago. The house was packed. Moody was preaching on this text and subject, “What Will You Do With Jesus?” Thinking he might be pressing people too hard, Moody did not give a public invitation for decision that night. He closed the service requesting the people to go home and think about the message and come back the next night ready to make a decision.

That very night the Chicago Fire broke out. 17,000 buildings were destroyed, including Farwell Hall, Moody’s home and 50 church buildings. More than 300 people died and thousands suffered injuries. 90,000 people were left homeless. Of course, there was no service the next night. Moody was devastated. He vowed to never again preach without inviting people to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. He continued preaching across America and other countries until his death in 1899. Everywhere he went, he told of the Chicago Fire, pleading with people to receive Jesus as Savior that day for they had no promise of tomorrow. What will you do with Jesus? Receive Him as your Savior today. Tomorrow may be too late. Amen.

GOD LOVES YOU. Bible is God’s love letter to everyone in the world, including you and me. However, there is a problem. We are all sinners and God can’t have fellowship with us. To solve this problem He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. The holy, sinless Son of God took our sin in His body on the cross. Paul described it, “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let’s consider the measure of God’s love found in the Cross.

THE CROSS PROVES GOD’S LOVE. Before the cross, Jesus endured thirty-nine lashes of a Roman whip, a crown of thorns and cruel mocking of being slapped and spat upon. Then the nails in His hands and feet drained the blood from His body until He bled to death on the cross. When Jesus bore our sin in His body on the cross, God had to turn His back. Out of the mid-day darkness Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Bearing our sin and being separated from His Father brought Jesus indescribable suffering. The death of Jesus was worse than any other death could ever be.

Just before He died, Jesus shouted, “It is finished” (John 19:30).“It” was the full payment for our salvation. Jesus died in our place on that cross, that we might have forgiveness and eternal life through Him. He was buried but on the third day He arose from the dead. He ascended back to Heaven and is now preparing a place for us there. 

The third verse of the beloved hymn, “The Love of God”, expresses the magnitude of God’s love.

“Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.”1
–Frederick H. Lehman

JESUS LOVES YOU ASKS YOU TO BE PART OF HIS BRIDE! So, there you have it, the greatest love story ever told. Jesus, the ultimate bridegroom, came into the world seeking His bride. The plan of salvation is a proposal of spiritual marriage by Jesus to all people. The engagement is our salvation. God’s Holy Spirit says to you, “Do you take this Man, Jesus Christ, as your spiritual bridegroom forever?” If your answer is, “I do,” then Jesus will write your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life to be His forever! If you have not already done so, answer God’s love letter today with an eternal “Yes!” and live in His love forever. Someday Jesus will come for His bride, the church. All who believe in Him, receiving Him as personal Lord and Savior are part of that bride. Amen.

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1 These words are thought to be adapted from an ancient Jewish poem called “Hadamut,” written in 1096 A.D. by a Rabbi Mayer in Worms, Germany. In 1917 Pastor Frederick M. Lehman heard the words quoted at a Nazarene Camp Meeting and revised them to fit his song, “The Love of God.”