THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE
MANY PEOPLE CLAIM THAT THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS TO GET TO HEAVEN.
"Jesus said, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father, but through me.'" (John 14:6)
At Oakwood Baptist Church, we believe fully in the bible's teachings about the need for and access to salvation from sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the ONLY way to life in heaven with God. Below are some biblical truths that we believe and the simple message of the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ.
TRUTHS WE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD AND MAN
WE WERE CREATED TO LIVE FOR GOD’S GLORY.
"Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth,... whom I created for My glory" (Isaiah 43:6-7).
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
God's glory is His reputation (all He is and does). His glory then includes His all knowing, all powerful, all existing abilities, but of all of God's attributes, He created man to reflect His holiness. Holiness is His eternal separation from sin.
WE ALL HAVE FAILED TO give GOD the glory (praise) he deserves.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
God’s holiness is the separation from sin. We fell short of our responsibility to reflect God because of our sin (disobedience). When we love and praise anything more than God, we live for ourselves with no regard for God's pleasure and moral expectations for us (Romans 1:23).
WE HAVE ALL disobeyed and are therefore guilty before god.
Our failure subjects us to God's just and wrathful judgment.
"The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23).
"They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might." (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
The Bible clearly teaches that eternality is bestowed upon all. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:46 that all will exist eternally, some for life with God and some for punishment and separation from God. This is the just judgment of God for all who have sinned and therefore trampled upon God's glory.
GOD SENT HIS SON, JESUS, TO SAVE UNDESERVING REBELS LIKE US.
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1 Timothy 1:15)
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God"
(1 Peter 3:18)
Humanity, based on God's expectation and our failure to live up to it, is deserving of eternal wrath and punishment. However, in God's love and mercy, He made a way for sinners to be saved from their sin and its punishment through His Son, Jesus Christ.
SALVATION IS AVAILABLE TO SINNERS BY GRACE THROUGH REPENTANCE, BELIEF AND CONFESSION.
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out" (Acts 3:19).
"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).
God offers salvation through Christ’s death on the cross, that sinners may be saved and restored spiritually to eternal life and blessings from Him. This requires repentance (a change of mind and heart towards sin, resulting in new living), faith (trusting in the cross as a means of forgiveness), and confession (your demonstration of faith by following Christ according to His word).
SALVATION IS THE SECURE AND ETERNAL WORK OF GOD.
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand” (John 10:28-29).
The work of salvation through faith in Christ is God’s alone and is therefore secured eternally according to His power and might. Therefore, your salvation can never be lost.
HOW YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN BY GOD (THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST)
SALVATION NEEDED
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Q: Do you understand that you, like all people, are disobedient, are separated from God, and that makes you the target of His wrath?
SALVATION PROVIDED
Romans 5:8-9
“But God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we are saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
Q: Do you understand that because of God’s love, Christ died for sinners that they may be saved from judgement?
SALVATION OFFERED
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Q: Do you understand that God is offering salvation to you through the FREE gift of Christ’s sacrifice, and it is not something earned by your efforts?
SALVATION RECEIVED
Romans 10:9
“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.”
Q: Do you understand that all you must do to be forgiven and inherit eternal life is to believe and confess your need and trust in Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?
The next step
If you understand and believe all that you have read and would like to follow Christ as Lord and Savior, we are excited about your decision. We would love to talk with you about obedience to the Lord in baptism as a profession of faith and how you can serve God by joining in fellowship with a local church.
If you have read the previous information and still have questions about it, please contact our church office and ask to speak with a pastor for more information.