“He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds.” (Isaiah 53:5, GW)
Have you ever wondered what the most fundamental truth of the Bible is? Here it is:
“He was wounded for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from His wounds. We have all strayed like sheep. Each one of us has turned to go his own way, and the Lord has laid all our sins on Him.” (Isaiah 53:5-6, GW).
That’s the most basic truth of the whole Bible. Everything you’ve ever done wrong — and everything you ever will do wrong — has already been paid for. All you have to do is accept God’s grace and goodness.
One day a man came up to me frantically after a church service and said, “I need to know — what do I need to do to get to heaven?”
I said, “Well, you’re too late.”
And he said, “What do you mean? There’s got to be something I can do.”
I said, “There’s nothing. It’s already been done by Jesus Christ, 2,000 years ago.”
This is what makes Christianity different from every other religion. Every other religion has a list of things to do to get to heaven. Other religions can be summed up in the word “do.” Christianity is summed up in the word “done.”
When Jesus was on the cross, He cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30, GW). That means you don’t need to add anything to what Jesus has done for you. You simply need to have the humility to admit, “I’m a sinner, and I need a Savior.”
Prayer
Dear Father, You have promised that if I trust in Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I will know that I am saved — not by my works, but by Your grace alone. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I confess my sins and ask that You forgive me. And I surrender my life to You. Guide me, lead me, and help me to follow Jesus in faith and obedience. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Pray, praise, give thanks, and stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
