The bible is NOT a self help book that tells you how to be a good person or how to be the best you there is and get your blessings. The bible is so we can know and understand who God is and what His will is.
There's no such thing as a good person. The Ten Commandments tells us how sinful and wicked we are and how holy God is (Exodus 20:3-17). Moreover, Romans 3:10-19 says that there is no one who is good, not one, and no one seeks after God.
What is sin? Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Such as:
Loving stuff and even people more than God or making a God to suit your own image and evil desires/lifestyle (idolatry)
Using God's name as a cuss word to express your disgust about something or even saying "oh my #*@!"(blasphemy)
Being rebellious and not doing what you're told and mouthing off to your parents (dishonoring them),
Murdering people physcially and mentally by hating them
in your mind (murder)
Wanting things for yourself that belong to others (coveting),
Looking at someone, whom you're not married to, with sexual lust (Jesus calls that adultry in your heart),
Telling half-truths/exaggerations/lying on people (bearing false witness)
Taking things that you haven't paid for and don't belong to you (theft)
All these things are what God hates and is an affront to His nature and character. Moreover, sin is destructive to us . People say "my God doesn't send anyone to hell". Well, then He's not the real God of the bible that you're talking about. Because He hates sin and judges it. Why? Because that's what a just judge does: he does not coddle evil and if he did, then he'd be an unjust judge who can't be trusted. In order for justice to be done, he must punish those who break the law and send them to jail. Would you trust someone who doesn't punish lawbreakers, but just pats them on the head and tells them to go about their merry little way? Reason says no. "Well, God is merciful and if I just tell Him I'm sorry, then He'll forgive me." Yes, God is merciful and forgiving. But the ones who are shown mercy and are forgiven are those who repent. It's not enough to apologize to the judge for breaking the law and tell him that you won't do it again. You should be sorry! But justice still must be done and you're still going to jail........that is, unless someone comes to pay your fine that you've accurred in all of your lawbreaking.
Recall what Galatians 3:24 says: "The law was our our guardian until Christ came, in order that we may be justified by faith". And those who've been justified by faith are at peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).
Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ came into this world; He was born through the virgin Mary and was born under the law. He lived a perfectly sinless life, suffered, was crucified on the cross, shed His blood and died, and rose from the dead to redeem those who're under the curse of the law. Jesus came to save sinners - those who aren't good people, but who're bad people who've broken God's law and are under His wrath (John 3:36). It is written that every human being has sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). Now, God commands all men everywhere to repent because He's fixed a day in which He will judge the whole world in righteousness by that Man whom He's appointed (Acts 17:30-31). This is not about having a better happier more fulfilling and purpose driven life where you can dream big, have it all and be somebody. This is about sinners being reconciled to the Father.
"What do I have to do to be saved"? You must repent and trust in the person and work of Jesus to be reconciled to God, not in the 'good' deeds that you do, have done, or plan on doing. Your good deeds will not save you (Isaiah 64:6, the whole book of John, Acts 20:21).
It was Jesus' work on the cross alone that fulfilled the whole law and satisfied divine justice. Jesus is the one who took our punishment that should have been dealt to us. Jesus is the one who died the death we should die and gave us life that we do not deserve nor could ever merit in any way.
When you repent, not only are you saved from your sins but you're saved from death, from hell, from satan, and from God (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Paul Washer said it best: "You're saved by God, you're saved for God, and you're saved from God." (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:36). When God saves you, He gives you a new heart and new godly desires. And from the point on, He seals and santifies you through His Holy Spirit to conform you into the image of Jesus Christ, all to His glory (Psalm 4:3, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2, Ephesians 1). "What is God's will for my life?" Read your bible and do what He's said. Your obediance shouldn't be to try to earn anything from God, but it should be because He's been so good and kind and gracious to save you. It's His kindness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4) It's about grace. That doesn't mean you can go and just do whatever you want. Shall we go on sinning so that grace may abound? Certainly not (Romans 6)!
But unless you repent and trust in Christ alone, you will perish and go to that place of eternal conscience torment called hell to suffer God's wrath forever with no rest; where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth; where the worm does not and will not die nor is the fire ever quenched (Daniel 12:2, Luke 13:1-5, Matthew 25:41-46, Mark 9:43-48, Luke 16:23-24, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, Revelation 20:11-15). Hell is just, it's reasonable, and it's right for any who insist on remaining in their stubborn hard-heartedness and refuse to repent. The fool has said in his heart "there is no God" and "who is Lord over me? It's my life and I do as I please! Forget this so called 'God'! I don't want it or him!"
But, God is longsuffering and it's not His desire that any perish but that all instead, come to repentance (Ezekiel 18:21-23, John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9).
Don't supress the truth in unrighteousness anymore. Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ so that you may be forgiven of your sins, washed, sanctified, and justified in Him (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
There's no such thing as a good person. The Ten Commandments tells us how sinful and wicked we are and how holy God is (Exodus 20:3-17). Moreover, Romans 3:10-19 says that there is no one who is good, not one, and no one seeks after God.
What is sin? Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Such as:
Loving stuff and even people more than God or making a God to suit your own image and evil desires/lifestyle (idolatry)
Using God's name as a cuss word to express your disgust about something or even saying "oh my #*@!"(blasphemy)
Being rebellious and not doing what you're told and mouthing off to your parents (dishonoring them),
Murdering people physcially and mentally by hating them
in your mind (murder)
Wanting things for yourself that belong to others (coveting),
Looking at someone, whom you're not married to, with sexual lust (Jesus calls that adultry in your heart),
Telling half-truths/exaggerations/lying on people (bearing false witness)
Taking things that you haven't paid for and don't belong to you (theft)
All these things are what God hates and is an affront to His nature and character. Moreover, sin is destructive to us . People say "my God doesn't send anyone to hell". Well, then He's not the real God of the bible that you're talking about. Because He hates sin and judges it. Why? Because that's what a just judge does: he does not coddle evil and if he did, then he'd be an unjust judge who can't be trusted. In order for justice to be done, he must punish those who break the law and send them to jail. Would you trust someone who doesn't punish lawbreakers, but just pats them on the head and tells them to go about their merry little way? Reason says no. "Well, God is merciful and if I just tell Him I'm sorry, then He'll forgive me." Yes, God is merciful and forgiving. But the ones who are shown mercy and are forgiven are those who repent. It's not enough to apologize to the judge for breaking the law and tell him that you won't do it again. You should be sorry! But justice still must be done and you're still going to jail........that is, unless someone comes to pay your fine that you've accurred in all of your lawbreaking.
Recall what Galatians 3:24 says: "The law was our our guardian until Christ came, in order that we may be justified by faith". And those who've been justified by faith are at peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).
Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ came into this world; He was born through the virgin Mary and was born under the law. He lived a perfectly sinless life, suffered, was crucified on the cross, shed His blood and died, and rose from the dead to redeem those who're under the curse of the law. Jesus came to save sinners - those who aren't good people, but who're bad people who've broken God's law and are under His wrath (John 3:36). It is written that every human being has sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). Now, God commands all men everywhere to repent because He's fixed a day in which He will judge the whole world in righteousness by that Man whom He's appointed (Acts 17:30-31). This is not about having a better happier more fulfilling and purpose driven life where you can dream big, have it all and be somebody. This is about sinners being reconciled to the Father.
"What do I have to do to be saved"? You must repent and trust in the person and work of Jesus to be reconciled to God, not in the 'good' deeds that you do, have done, or plan on doing. Your good deeds will not save you (Isaiah 64:6, the whole book of John, Acts 20:21).
It was Jesus' work on the cross alone that fulfilled the whole law and satisfied divine justice. Jesus is the one who took our punishment that should have been dealt to us. Jesus is the one who died the death we should die and gave us life that we do not deserve nor could ever merit in any way.
When you repent, not only are you saved from your sins but you're saved from death, from hell, from satan, and from God (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Paul Washer said it best: "You're saved by God, you're saved for God, and you're saved from God." (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:36). When God saves you, He gives you a new heart and new godly desires. And from the point on, He seals and santifies you through His Holy Spirit to conform you into the image of Jesus Christ, all to His glory (Psalm 4:3, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2, Ephesians 1). "What is God's will for my life?" Read your bible and do what He's said. Your obediance shouldn't be to try to earn anything from God, but it should be because He's been so good and kind and gracious to save you. It's His kindness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4) It's about grace. That doesn't mean you can go and just do whatever you want. Shall we go on sinning so that grace may abound? Certainly not (Romans 6)!
But unless you repent and trust in Christ alone, you will perish and go to that place of eternal conscience torment called hell to suffer God's wrath forever with no rest; where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth; where the worm does not and will not die nor is the fire ever quenched (Daniel 12:2, Luke 13:1-5, Matthew 25:41-46, Mark 9:43-48, Luke 16:23-24, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, Revelation 20:11-15). Hell is just, it's reasonable, and it's right for any who insist on remaining in their stubborn hard-heartedness and refuse to repent. The fool has said in his heart "there is no God" and "who is Lord over me? It's my life and I do as I please! Forget this so called 'God'! I don't want it or him!"
But, God is longsuffering and it's not His desire that any perish but that all instead, come to repentance (Ezekiel 18:21-23, John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9).
Don't supress the truth in unrighteousness anymore. Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ so that you may be forgiven of your sins, washed, sanctified, and justified in Him (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
