New Life

John 1:12-13  "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

John 3:3-6  "In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'  
'How can a man be born when he is old?'  Nicodemus asked.  'Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!'  
Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.' "


Your salvation is not going to be obtained through your family's good deeds or beliefs.  It's your own personal choice.
You cannot pray a family member into heaven.  It's their own personal choice.
Have you hardened your heart to the Lord hoping that your father's faith will cover you in the end?  Do you try and do good deeds so that hopefully your good will outweigh your bad on the day you stand before the Lord?


The Lord is a good judge.


If your sister was murdered and the person who did it stood on trial saying, "But look at all these wonderful things I did for the poor, and all of those charities over the past ten years that I supported.  I helped at the soup kitchen a few times too.  Surely my good outweighs this one bad deed.  It was a mistake.  Can't you just have a little mercy and let me off this once?"  Would you be satisfied if the judge did a tally and decided that the person could go free because the good seemed to outweigh the bad in the judge's eyes?  No.


God's gift of salvation is free.  We can not do enough good things to earn it.  Once we have turned our lives over to Him, then our slate is wiped clean.  Jesus took the penalty for our sin upon himself.  Our penalty has been paid for!  If we reject it, then He will be the good judge.  We will pay our own debt if we say no to His gift.  Unfortunately, it isn't a one time punishment and then we get to try again.  Hell is the eternity chosen when Christ is rejected.

Romans 6:23  "For the wages of sin is death.  But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 3:23-24  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."


Allow the Lord to free you.

Jeremiah 29:11 " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord.  'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "


The awesome thing is, your life will never be the same if you surrender your heart to the one who created you and loves you with an everlasting and unchangeable love.  You will be a new creation the Bible says.  Allow Him to run your life.  Live a life of testimony for your family and friends who don't know God.  Pray for them unceasingly BEFORE they die.  Share and live your faith boldly.  You have a new hope that should be shouted from the roof tops!!!