Brutal Honesty

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If we are brutally honest, all of us have issues of shame and fear and regret in our lives. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard. This reality keeps us from God (Romans 6:23). To what extent are you willing to acknowledge this in your own life? What are the ways in which you know these things to be true of you? (see Romans 3:23 and Psalm 14:3)

Because we have fallen short of God’s standard, we need help. We cannot appease God or in any way earn his favor. Knowing this reality, God sent his son Jesus to die on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin, thus purchasing for us passage from shame and fear and regret to honor and peace and forgiveness (see John 3:16 and Romans 5:8). What might this mean for you?

On the third day following his death Jesus rose from the dead. By dying on a cross Jesus paid in full the penalty of our sin. By rising from the dead he demonstrates victory over sin and death and the devil, and proves that anyone who calls on him in faith can also have that victory. What are the implications of this for your life?

The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). It also teaches us that “Everyone who believe in him (Jesus) will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11). If you have not already done so, is there anything keeping you today from calling on Jesus for salvation? What are those things that might keep you from calling on him? Ask yourself if they are worth forfeiting a new life filled with peace and hope and the assurance of a safe and certain relationship with God. If you decide you can honestly call on Jesus for salvation , you might do so like this: Lord Jesus, I understand that you died to set me free from the power of sin and damnation and hopelessness, and that you rose from the dead to demonstrate your ability to ensure I can have new life forever. I am a sinner wanting that hope realized in my life, and so I confess this to you and ask you to forgive me.

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