Author: E.E. Byrum
This is the question foremost in the mind of every sinner who has become awakened by hearing the Word of God, the promptings of the Holy Spirit, or some manifestation of the power of God.
John the Baptist required the people to repent and confess their sins. (Matt. 3:2, 6). He would not baptize them until they showed by a change in their lives that they had repented. (Matt. 3:8.)
Jesus began His ministry by saying, “Repent,” (Matt. 4:17). In Matthew 11:28-29, He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Luke 11:9 says, “Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Hear What the Lord has to Say:
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Prov. 28:13.
“If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; None of his sins shall be mentioned unto him.” Ezek. 33:15-16. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isa. 55:6. The Sinner’s Hope
Every sinner is lost and without hope of heaven unless he repents and believes on Jesus Christ for pardon. Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isa. 55:7. “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. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. We Must Forgive Others
“…If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” Matt. 6:14. “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:26. “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy.” James 2:13)
The Lord will save the worst person in existence if such a one will do the best he can to get saved. The murderer must cease to murder; the thief quit stealing; the liar stop lying; the adulterer turn from his adultery; in fact, every sinner must turn from his sin, repent, and believe on the Lord for pardon. We Must be Converted
A mere profession of religion will not suffice. Nicodemus was a man who had a profession of religion, but had not yet experienced the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He had become interested, awakened to some extent, but Jesus said to him, “…Ye must be born again.” John 3:7. He needed to be converted-saved from his sins.
There are people today who are hoping to get through all right at the judgment because of their good moral lives, charitable deeds, or belonging to some church. But to such Jesus says, “Ye must be born again.” “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 18:3.
When Peter was preaching after the day of Pentecost, he delivered a similar message when he said, “Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19.
Do not be satisfied with a mere profession. Press your case before the Lord until you know everything is surrendered to His will; until you know every evil habit and sin has been forsaken and confessed, then mercy and pardon are yours. You may not be able to recall all the sins of the past-it is not necessary. Just cast them all aside, and accept His mercy, and you will be forgiven.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9.
When the prodigal son, who was deep in sin, made up his mind to turn from his sinful life and go and confess to his father, he did not know whether his father would receive him, or acknowledge him as his son any more, but he decided to do his part-make the confession and ask forgiveness; he would wait no longer, but would do it now. He started out, and his father saw him coming. He did not have half his confession made before the father forgave him and accepted him as his son. And there was great rejoicing. (Luke 15:11-24.)
Sinner, when you come to the Lord in like manner, your sins will be blotted out, and the Heavenly Father will accept you as His child, and there will be rejoicing.
It need not take a long time to gain this favor from the Lord. The publican realized his condition and with an humble prayer of seven words, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13), was accepted, and Jesus said that he went down to his house justified.
The thief on the cross, in the hour of death, believed on Jesus, and said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” (Luke 23:42.) He prayed a prayer of just nine words and was accepted. When Paul and Silas had been beaten with many stripes and cast into the prison at Philippi, at the midnight hour while they were singing praises to God, the Lord sent an earthquake, “And immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”
At the time, the jailer was in his house asleep. He was awakened by the crashing of falling timbers or stones, and the roaring of the quake. Seeing the doors open, and the prisoners still there, but loosed from their bands, and their feet free from the stocks whereby he had made them fast, and hearing the voice of Paul saying, “We are all here,” it sent conviction to his heart. He knew God had spoken. It was then that the jailer fell down before them and with much humility of heart said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Then they preached to the jailer and those of his household, instructing them in the way of salvation and they were all saved, and the same night were all baptized. (Acts 16:25-33.)
The prophet Isaiah (53:5), in foretelling the coming of Jesus, said, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.” That is, He gave His life for our salvation. The words of His burning message just before leaving this world were, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16.
Sinner, the Lord wants to save you. Will you believe and accept Him now as your Saviour?
