Faith and Salvation

John 3:16-21

 

1. It is interesting that October 31 is both the Reformation Day and Halloween Day. In Halloween night, children shout “Treat or Trick!” The Reformation declared God’s salvation. God does not trick us, but He sent His Son Jesus Christ to treat us sinners with eternal blessing of wonderful salvation. Humans invented many man-made religions to save themselves and imposed so many rules and regulations to be saved. Human efforts for salvation cannot succeed, because sinners cannot save themselves. As Karl Barth pointed out, all human religions are human attempts to reach God, while Christianity is God’s coming to humanity.

2. Therefore, Martin Luther returned to the Bible and proclaimed “Justification by faith”, God’s salvation of free grace in the Savior Jesus Christ. Whatever we do, we cannot be saved by our works. We are saved only and simply by faith in Christ. The Gospel of Jesus is simple and clear: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”(16) God loves you and sent His beloved only Son for you. Christ loves you and he died on the Cross to forgive your sins and make you righteous. Believe it! Believe Jesus Christ as your personal Savior! And thank God for His love for you! Faith is to believe it as true and believe Jesus as your Savior. It is your choice and decision, the most important crucial one in your whole life. It will affect not only in this life but also in your future life of eternity. It is exactly same with marriage vow. The officiating minister asks a very important question to you: Do you take this woman as your wife? Do you take this man as your husband? You have only two possible answers: Yes, I do, or No, I don’t. Your answer affects your whole remaining life. God asks you the most important question: Do you believe my Son Jesus that he died for you? If you answer “I believe Jesus”, God will give you eternal life of salvation and love you as one of His children. However, if you answer “I don’t believe; it is a lie”, God will be angry and you will be condemned and punished for eternity, because you despise His Son’s sacrifice for you. In fact, whether you believe or not, it is true that Jesus died for your sins. So, I ask you to believe Jesus.

3. Hebrew 2:3 says that “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.” We may not believe anything, but the Gospel is the best proven truth to believe. Jesus is the most honest and true person in the human history. If we do not believe Jesus, who else may we believe? His life and word is most respected and believed among humanity. He cannot lie to us. Also, his truth was confirmed by his disciples and followers who heard and saw him directly. They met the risen Christ and they fully devoted their lives to witness the truth of His resurrection and His Gospel of salvation. Now two billion people believe Jesus, and many of them are willing to pay their life for it. Even though we did not see the risen Christ, the Holy Spirit gave us sure conviction and faith as same as we saw. Believe Jesus! It is the safest thing to believe. The proof of its truth comes only to those who believe first. To those who say “I believe Jesus”, God gives the wonderful conviction of forgiveness and the peace of the Holy Spirit. God settles our life that you are no longer wandering but live the way of life. If not, why do we Christians believe Jesus and devote our life for Him?

4. Whatever you have achieved in this life, “what good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”(Mk 8:36) It is a matter of your soul. Are you prepared to die? I love you, and therefore I give your warning. If you reject Jesus, the gate of hell is waiting for you, but if you believe Jesus, the gate of heaven is waiting for you. After your death, there is no turning back. It will be too late. You have to confess that you are sinner. You are sinning everyday. Your conscience knows it. You pile up your sins every month and every year in your whole life. God exists, and you have to pay it. A sinner walks freely until he is arrested and imprisoned. A sinner does not sense it pain until he is imprisoned and punished. Confess that you are sinner and ask God to forgive you before you die. If you believe Jesus, God is gracious and He will surely forgive all your sins because His beloved Son paid your debt of sin on the Cross with his precious blood instead of you and asked Him your forgiveness.

5. My beloved people, I love you, and I have served you for the last two years. The day of departure is approaching. I wish that none of you are condemned and punished by God. I wish that every of you are saved. Accept Jesus as your Savior and be forgiven and saved! Christianity is not a theory of religion that you may agree or not. It is a matter of life and death. It is a matter of being forgiven or condemned. Do not run away from God any longer! Jesus says to you: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”(Rev 3:20) Do not let Jesus stand outside the door of your soul any longer! It is enough! Now open it and welcome Jesus to your heart! And enjoy wonderful life with Him forever!

6. I invite you to Jesus! Jesus said that “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”(Mk 16:16) This is my last opportunity to baptize you. I wish to baptize all of you who are not baptized yet. Let me have this great honor and joy to baptize you in this coming Thanksgiving Sunday! Amen.