We at Thru the Word Ministries appreciate your time spent with us.  This site is dedicated to the glory and praise of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.  His desire is that He be glorified in our lives every moment of every day.  The studies on this site are designed to highlight Christ as He is depicted on each page. 

But as certain as some read this, it may not make sense.  Possibly this describes you.  If it does, there may be a problem.  It could be that you've not been properly equipped to assimilate and/or process the information on these pages.  The Bible says the natural man cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14).  Those that are able to comprehend these things are able to do so because they are taught of the Spirit of God.  This is the same Spirit Jesus taught would "guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). 

The key to understanding what is taught of the Spirit of God is to be in right relationship with Him.  This is the main thing according to God's plan of salvation.  In and of ourselves, however, this is not possible.  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).  As surely as we trust in ourselves and our natural resources for our salvation, we will surely be lying to ourselves concerning our condition before a holy God.  


                                                                                                         THE BOTTOM LINE

We all are sinners by nature.  "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  Everyone of natural birth suffers from this condition.  Though we like to think of ourselves as being naturally good, we're deceiving ourselves if we claim we haven't sinned.  

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.  1 John 1:8-10

Fortunately for us, Jesus came to help people who have sinned.  "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mark 2:17). 

The way to God is only through Jesus Christ, God's Son.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6).  Forgiveness, or salvation, cannot be earned; rather, it is a gift offered to everyone to bridge the separation of human beings from God.  "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men..." (Titus 2:11).  Have you ever received a gift you didn't earn?  That is exactly what God's great salvation is for you and I! 

To be forgiven, we must admit we're going the wrong way.  We must ask God to forgive our sins, and we must choose to turn to God's way.  "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).  No one deserves forgiveness.  If we deserved it, it wouldn't be forgiveness, would it?  Yet God and God alone offers such forgiveness by way of His great salvation.  Whatever we've done, we can rest assured it does not disqualify us from being forgiven.  Someone has said there's only one group of people who can be forgiven: those who sin.  Guess what?  That's all of us! 

The only sin that can never be forgiven is to not come to God and ask His forgiveness for our sin condition (see Matthew 12:32).  That is the ultimate rejection of God's free gift based on grace for which only He can make provision.  How did He do so?  


                                                                          JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS TO PROVIDE SALVATION

Jesus' death and resurrection provided the only way to restore our relationship with God.  To receive salvation and eternal life, we must trust in Jesus' sacrifice for our sins and confess Him as Lord.  

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  Romans 10:9

How could you reject the One who loved you enough to die in your place?  To do so means one will spend all eternity apart from Him in a real, literal place called Hell.  Let's face it: that's what we all deserve anyway, right?  Think for a moment.  How can any of us meet the standards set for us by holy and righteous God as set forth in the Ten Commandments?  Answer: We can't!  God is sinless, man is sinful.  Therefore on paper, so to speak, we get what we deserve. 

By the way, is Hell real?  Here's what God says:  

And in hell [the rich man] lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.  Luke 16:23-24

Surely you realize...  


                                                     ONLY SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST ESTABLISHES A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

When we ask Jesus Christ to be our personal savior, we receive the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit lives within the believer, gives the power necessary to live a life pleasing to the Lord, and provides strength to withstand trials and temptations.  In other words, you would then have a personal relationship with God and have His help available to you every day! 


                                                           GOD HAS DONE EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO PROVIDE US WITH SALVATION

In order to receive eternal life, all we need do is accept in faith what God has already done for us through Jesus Christ, believing His payment for our sin debt is sufficient to ransom us.  

For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

What does the term 'eternal life' mean?  To some it refers to a point in the future when one dies and spends all of eternity in Heaven.  Well, that's partially correct.  One may spend all of eternity in Heaven or Hell at the point of death, depending on what they decided to do with Jesus Christ.  But most importantly for the Christian it refers to the time spent on earth prior to death where one walks in right relationship and fellowship with God.  As we live for Him, we bring Him the honor, glory, and praise He and He alone is due.  Life apart from Him for the believer is separation from Him in fellowship, but not relationship (John 6:37; 10:28). 

What would there be to keep you from asking God to save you from the penalty of your sin and turn in repentance to Him and away from your sin?  Feel free to open up your heart to Him in prayer, sharing with the Lord that He is Lord and that He and He alone is able to save you from the penalty of your sin.  Tell Him you want Him to be your Lord; that you desire to change your direction (repentance), no longer living for self and in a manner that will bring the honor due Him. 

If in fact you have asked the Lord to save you, He has now taken up residence in your heart and life.  Therefore you are a brand new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Please feel free to get in touch with us at feedback@thrutheword.com and we will be more than happy to help you take the next step in your brand new life.  Oh, and by the way ... welcome to God's forever family!! 

    Portions excerpted from "The KJV Minister's Bible"; Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers LLC, 2005.