Can a person sin too much to be saved?
Bible Study Network
You can take a thousand steps away from God, but it only takes one
step to get back to Him.
Long ago, there was a man who believed he was doing the right
thing, but he was actually doing evil. His name was Saul. In fact, Saul
was participating in the murder of people who believed that Jesus of
Nazareth was God’s promised Messiah.
However, one fateful day, as Saul was traveling down a road to find
more Christians to persecute, he had an encounter with God. Jesus
(after His resurrection from the dead) spoke to Saul from a blinding light
and asked why Saul was persecuting Him. Saul was made blind for
several days, but later something like scales fell from his eyes and he was
made to see clearly, not just his eyesight, but something more.
Saul was able to see his life more clearly. Saul recognized that,
although he had believed it was right to kill Christians, he was sinning
against God. Saul became a new person based upon a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. God changed Saul’s name to the name we
know today—Paul, an Apostle called by God. (Read about these events
in the Book of Acts, Chapter 9, verses 1-22.)
Saul’s experience shows us that no matter how bad we are (even
murder), God still loves us and we can begin a relationship with Him
starting right now. The problem is that our sinful condition separates us
from God. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot
save; Nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your inequities
(unforgiven sins) have separated you from your God . . ..” (Isaiah 59:1.)
The Bible says we will be punished for our unforgiven sin: “The
wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23.) Of course, no one is perfect.
“All have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory.” (Romans 3:
23 NCV.) “If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8.)
The good news is that we don’t have to “get our act together”
before getting right with God. “God demonstrates his own love for us in
this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NCV.)
God gave us—anyone in the world—a way to get to Him, through
His son Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but
that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17.)
The Bible tells us that “Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas [Peter],
then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred
brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present.” (1
Corinthians 15:3-6.) Imagine how amazed those 500 hundred men must
have been to have seen Jesus back from the dead after having been
publicly crucified just days earlier.
“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so
that He might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB.) “In Him [Jesus]
we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7.) In other words,
Jesus took our punishment for us. He was brutally beaten, whipped, and
crucified to His death. There is nothing we have done in our lives that
deserves more punishment than that! And to think that Jesus, God’s
son—the Messiah or Christ—loves us so much that He would take this
kind of punishment for each of us.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.” (John 14:6.) “The gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23.) “For as many as received
Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become the children of God.”
(John 1:12.)
When we truly accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, He
can help us change so we will be better able to do those things that are
pleasing to God. Years later, Paul wrote to encourage us to “. . . be
strengthened with might through His [Jesus’] Spirit in the inner man. . .”
(Ephesians 3:16.) “Also, the Spirit helps us with our weakness.”
(Romans 8:26 NCV.) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become
new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17.)
We need to stop trying to get it together under our own power, but
instead to seek God’s power. “With man this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV.)
We need to turn and face our Creator. We need to ask Him to lead
us away from our sinful lifestyles and into a more righteous—but a more
joy-filled—life. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may
be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence
of the Lord . . .” (Acts 3:19.) Accept Jesus’ offer, “Come to Me, all you
who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke
upon you and learn from Me...for My yoke is easy and My burden is
light.” (Matthew 11:28-30.)
If you are ready to receive Jesus as the Lord of your life, pray this
prayer right now:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my
sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart
and life. I receive you as my personal Lord and Savior. Please send
your Holy Spirit to me and help me to do those things that are
pleasing to God. I can’t change myself, but I know that you have the
power to change me. Thank you for saving me. Amen.
The Bible tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NASB.) God also promises that, “He has
removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” (Psalms
103:12 NLT.) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7.)
If you prayed this prayer, go and tell someone about it. You can
also send us an e-mail. We will respond with encouragement and love.
God bless you.
See also, How Can I be Saved? and Plan of Salvation.
Back to FAQs. Back to top of page.
Home.
step to get back to Him.
Long ago, there was a man who believed he was doing the right
thing, but he was actually doing evil. His name was Saul. In fact, Saul
was participating in the murder of people who believed that Jesus of
Nazareth was God’s promised Messiah.
However, one fateful day, as Saul was traveling down a road to find
more Christians to persecute, he had an encounter with God. Jesus
(after His resurrection from the dead) spoke to Saul from a blinding light
and asked why Saul was persecuting Him. Saul was made blind for
several days, but later something like scales fell from his eyes and he was
made to see clearly, not just his eyesight, but something more.
Saul was able to see his life more clearly. Saul recognized that,
although he had believed it was right to kill Christians, he was sinning
against God. Saul became a new person based upon a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. God changed Saul’s name to the name we
know today—Paul, an Apostle called by God. (Read about these events
in the Book of Acts, Chapter 9, verses 1-22.)
Saul’s experience shows us that no matter how bad we are (even
murder), God still loves us and we can begin a relationship with Him
starting right now. The problem is that our sinful condition separates us
from God. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot
save; Nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your inequities
(unforgiven sins) have separated you from your God . . ..” (Isaiah 59:1.)
The Bible says we will be punished for our unforgiven sin: “The
wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23.) Of course, no one is perfect.
“All have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory.” (Romans 3:
23 NCV.) “If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8.)
The good news is that we don’t have to “get our act together”
before getting right with God. “God demonstrates his own love for us in
this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NCV.)
God gave us—anyone in the world—a way to get to Him, through
His son Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but
that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17.)
The Bible tells us that “Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas [Peter],
then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred
brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present.” (1
Corinthians 15:3-6.) Imagine how amazed those 500 hundred men must
have been to have seen Jesus back from the dead after having been
publicly crucified just days earlier.
“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so
that He might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB.) “In Him [Jesus]
we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7.) In other words,
Jesus took our punishment for us. He was brutally beaten, whipped, and
crucified to His death. There is nothing we have done in our lives that
deserves more punishment than that! And to think that Jesus, God’s
son—the Messiah or Christ—loves us so much that He would take this
kind of punishment for each of us.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.” (John 14:6.) “The gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23.) “For as many as received
Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become the children of God.”
(John 1:12.)
When we truly accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, He
can help us change so we will be better able to do those things that are
pleasing to God. Years later, Paul wrote to encourage us to “. . . be
strengthened with might through His [Jesus’] Spirit in the inner man. . .”
(Ephesians 3:16.) “Also, the Spirit helps us with our weakness.”
(Romans 8:26 NCV.) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become
new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17.)
We need to stop trying to get it together under our own power, but
instead to seek God’s power. “With man this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV.)
We need to turn and face our Creator. We need to ask Him to lead
us away from our sinful lifestyles and into a more righteous—but a more
joy-filled—life. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may
be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence
of the Lord . . .” (Acts 3:19.) Accept Jesus’ offer, “Come to Me, all you
who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke
upon you and learn from Me...for My yoke is easy and My burden is
light.” (Matthew 11:28-30.)
If you are ready to receive Jesus as the Lord of your life, pray this
prayer right now:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my
sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart
and life. I receive you as my personal Lord and Savior. Please send
your Holy Spirit to me and help me to do those things that are
pleasing to God. I can’t change myself, but I know that you have the
power to change me. Thank you for saving me. Amen.
The Bible tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NASB.) God also promises that, “He has
removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” (Psalms
103:12 NLT.) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7.)
If you prayed this prayer, go and tell someone about it. You can
also send us an e-mail. We will respond with encouragement and love.
God bless you.
See also, How Can I be Saved? and Plan of Salvation.
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