The Gift of Salvation Never Expires

Have you ever felt unworthy of God’s love? Do you believe that your past actions or current behaviors are so sinful that God will not forgive you, or He’ll withdraw His offer of salvation to you? 

I write these words because I have had conversations with people – some friends, some strangers – about this very topic over the years and it’s apparent to me that they were misled. It’s not their fault, though. When you look at a lot of Christians and their “better than thou” attitudes, one would think that having a relationship with God requires perfection. 

That is so far from the truth!  All you need to begin having a relationship with God is the desire and honesty – God will meet you right there.

Hope for Salvation

The first thing you need to know is that God “wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4 NLT).  And, by “everyone”, God means everyone. 

God is talking about people from all walks of life, every ethnicity, every socioeconomic class, every education level – all people who sin (which is everyone who still has breath in their lungs). 

One of my favorite verses in all the Bible is when Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees (these were people who taught on religion) as to why He would eat with sinners. Jesus replied, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.  I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (Mark 2:17 NLT).  If God only wanted a relationship with righteous people, He would have never sent Jesus to die on the cross to allow sinners to have a relationship with God and to be able to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you are reading this message, then there is still hope for you.  The only reason you aren’t in this relationship with God yet is because you are running from the call of Jesus or you haven’t recognized the call as what it really is. Jesus is waiting for you to come to Him.  Jesus says in Revelation 3:20-21, “Look! I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.  Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my father on His throne.”  I know that if you are reading this it is because you have heard the knock, but maybe you aren’t sure if it is the voice of Jesus behind that door. Maybe you aren’t sure what your next steps should be. 

The best thing that you’ll ever do in life is to open that door.

So, What’s The Play Call?

• The first thing that you’re going to want to do is answer the call of Jesus by opening that door immediately. Don’t hesitate to let Jesus into your life.  It’s time to stop questioning and start doing.
• Confess all of the sins that you can think of to God and ask for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9 NLT).  God knows what you’ve done without you telling Him – your confession is simply an act of obedience and proof that you are ready to enter a relationship with God based on honesty and openness.
• If you’ve never been saved, you must “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31 NLT).  “And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago.  The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people.  He did this so we would praise and glorify Him” (Ephesians 1:13-14 NLT).
• If you have already been saved, but have separated yourself from God for any reason, God is waiting for you, too!  Isaiah 55:7 (ESV) says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”  You are known by God and your actions did not catch Him by surprise. He just wants that relationship with you to be back and stronger than ever. Repent and pick up where you left off.
• Be patient with yourself.  Leaving a sinful life behind can take some time. I highly recommend finding a church that not only preaches but teaches the Word of God in truth.  The more you know, the more you will progress into righteous living.