N.Y. police officer DePrimo gives homeless man a pair of boots
Recently while street witnessing on a Friday night, two different people told me similar things. One said that she believed Jesus was a good person and the other (an agnostic) said that he thought the Bible had some good things in it for us to live our lives by, but he didn’t believe in God. Bill O’Reilly (the writer of the blasphemous book – Killing Jesus) told an interviewer that Jesus’ last words on the cross were not “It is finished.” The interviewer asked Mr. O’Reilly if he picks and chooses what he believes in the Bible. Mr. O’Reilly said yes. She wisely asked him if that didn’t make what he believed the gospel of Bill O’Reilly?
So do you believe Jesus was “just a good man?” (Like police officer Lawrence DePrimo pictured above. He’s the New York police officer that gave the homeless guy a pair of boots last December). If you believe Jesus was just a good person, how do you pick and choose the parts of the Bible that you believe? Do you just believe the golden rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you? (Matthew 7:12). Do you cut out the supernatural parts of the Bible (like Thomas Jefferson did)? How do you pick and choose WHAT you believe? Was Jesus just a good man?
Don’t you see that you are putting yourself in the place of almighty God when you say that you believe part of the Bible but not all of it? You are ignoring 2 Timothy 3:16 which states, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. If you don’t believe all of the Bible, then you are calling God a liar.
Jesus said that He is God. He said, I and my Father are one (John 10:30). Jesus said in John 8:24, I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. John 5:17-18 states But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. John 1:1 says In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. So don’t you see that you are calling Jesus a liar if you only believe part of the Bible?
Jesus was more than just a good person. He fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. He fed the 4,000 with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. Jesus healed the blind, the lame and He cast out demons. Even the wind obeyed Him. Jesus was so much more than a mere man. Jesus was fully man and fully God when He walked on this earth 2,000 years ago. Jesus is God.
I’m sure most people don’t have a problem with Jesus’ words Love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:38). But do you accept that Jesus died on the cross as a substitute for you and me? 1 John 2:2 says And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Do you accept that God poured His wrath out on His perfect, sinless Son while He hung on that cruel cross for six torturous hours because God was angry at us over our sins? (1 John 2:2 said that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. Propitiation means the wrath was satisfied!).
Do you accept that Jesus died on the cross, was buried and on the third day He rose from the grave? This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-47). Do you realize that Jesus defeated sin, death and Hell? 2 Corinthians 5:21 states For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Romans 6:9 says Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead,dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. In Revelation 1:18 Jesus says I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
If you die in your sins as an unrepentant sinner, then Hell will be your destination. Hell is not the party place that so many people wrongly think it will be. Jesus described it as a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. When’s the last time you gnashed your teeth? For any reason? Jesus said Hell is a place of torments. Please notice the s on the word torments. The Bible also says that the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. They have no rest day or night.
Your sin separates you from God. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us to get back in a right relationship with God. But you must repent and put your faith in Jesus. God offers eternal life for those who turn away from their sins and put their trust in Jesus. If you foolishly reject the amazing free gift of salvation found through Jesus alone, then you will pay for your sins YOURSELF for all of eternity. Please recognize that you are a sinner. Please recognize that you can’t wipe out your sins (Romans 6:23).
Please recognize that Jesus is the only Savior. Jesus is the only way of salvation (John 14:6). There is no other way of salvation (Acts 4:12). Jesus also said that unless you repent, you will likewise perish. In Mark 1:15, Jesus said, repent and believe the gospel. Please repent and believe the Gospel. Do this tonight. Don’t put it off.
The Bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 14:11). But you must confess and believe in this lifetime in order to be saved. If you wait until Judgment Day, it will be too late. You will confess Jesus is Lord, but you will still be sentenced to Hell. Jesus was more than just a good man. Jesus is Lord. Confess and forsake your sins. Put your trust in the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).