...would you do? Obeying the Ten Commandments won't make you right with God - they were never meant to save you. God's Law is like a mirror - it can't remove a smudge of dirt from your face, but it's very effective showing you where the smudge is. So too, God's Law can’t save you, but it can show you your need for God's forgiveness.
See how you do....
Have you ever told a lie? (even a "fib" or a "white lie")
Have you ever stolen anything? (the value is not important)
Have you ever used God's name in a bad way?
Have you ever hated anyone? (Jesus said hatred is like murdering them in your heart with your words or thoughts)
Have you ever lusted after another person? (and that lust is like adultery of the heart)
How did you do? That's only five.
If God who made you were to judge you by the Ten Commandments, do you think you would be innocent or guilty? …would you go to heaven or hell?
Heaven? Why would God simply overlook your sins? ....because you haven't lied, stolen, blasphemed, hated or lusted recently?
No earthly judge would let you off with that excuse.
Maybe comparing yourself to others you feel you're not as bad as they are? God is a just judge who will punish all sin - others' as well as yours.
Or maybe He will just let you off because He's good and kind, right?
His goodness demands He be just and His kindness was only giving you time to repent.
Maybe you now realize you will be in desperate trouble on Judgment Day.
Does that concern you? It should! You will stand before the Judge of the whole earth who gave you life and who is absolutely holy and just and give account of everything you've done - even the careless words you've spoken.
Why not confess your sins to Him right now, instead of denying them, recognizing how greatly you have offended His love for you. Ask His forgiveness. He will. Turn from your sins and trust Jesus took the punishment your sins deserved on His cross. Jesus’ sacrifice, as fully God and fully man, was big enough to assure everyone who trusts in Him will receive eternal life and be empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit to follow the Savior in love-proving obedience.
See how you do....
Have you ever told a lie? (even a "fib" or a "white lie")
Have you ever stolen anything? (the value is not important)
Have you ever used God's name in a bad way?
Have you ever hated anyone? (Jesus said hatred is like murdering them in your heart with your words or thoughts)
Have you ever lusted after another person? (and that lust is like adultery of the heart)
How did you do? That's only five.
If God who made you were to judge you by the Ten Commandments, do you think you would be innocent or guilty? …would you go to heaven or hell?
Heaven? Why would God simply overlook your sins? ....because you haven't lied, stolen, blasphemed, hated or lusted recently?
No earthly judge would let you off with that excuse.
Maybe comparing yourself to others you feel you're not as bad as they are? God is a just judge who will punish all sin - others' as well as yours.
Or maybe He will just let you off because He's good and kind, right?
His goodness demands He be just and His kindness was only giving you time to repent.
Maybe you now realize you will be in desperate trouble on Judgment Day.
Does that concern you? It should! You will stand before the Judge of the whole earth who gave you life and who is absolutely holy and just and give account of everything you've done - even the careless words you've spoken.
Why not confess your sins to Him right now, instead of denying them, recognizing how greatly you have offended His love for you. Ask His forgiveness. He will. Turn from your sins and trust Jesus took the punishment your sins deserved on His cross. Jesus’ sacrifice, as fully God and fully man, was big enough to assure everyone who trusts in Him will receive eternal life and be empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit to follow the Savior in love-proving obedience.