Deceived? Then, Believe!

Everything on this planet screams, "This is all there is. Live for today. Make the most of this life. Gain, acquire, store up wealth. Etc, etc." Uh...everything is temporary and doesn't last. Anything you can think of on this planet will not last. YOU will though. Mankind is the only ones that will last forever because we have an eternal soul. We are made in the image of God our Creator and He is eternal.

God the Father (Jehovah) said to God the Son (Jesus) and God the Spirit (the Holy Spirit):

Genesis 1:26-27 NIV

[26] Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” [27] So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

https://bible.com/bible/111/gen.1.26-27.NIV

See? God made us in their image so we are eternal beings. So we will live forever in eternity. So, this world and all it offers is temporary and should not be the main focus of our lives. Do not be deceived, there is more to your life than what you can see and do. When you die, you WILL cross over into the spirit realm of eternity.

Having said that, where are you going to go to when you die? At this point you might say, "How in the world am I supposed to know that?" Well, according to the Bible, you can go live with God forever or not. That's our two choices. There are no other options. You will either live with God forever, or you won't. 

Ok, how can we live with God forever? By being adopted as His children into His family, the Kingdom of God, the Church. How are we adopted into His family? By being "born again," or "born of God," "born of the Spirit." This is being spiritually reborn by God-the Holy Spirit. How so? By believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

Jesus said we have to be born again by the Holy Spirit to enter into the kingdom of God, which is God's family. We do that by believing in Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son. 

John 3:1-8 NIV

[1] Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. [2] He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” [3] Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” [4] “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ [8] The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.3.1-8.NIV

1 John 5:1a. NIV

[1] Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God,...

When we believe in Jesus Christ, which is "receiving him by believing in his name,"we are born again by the Holy Spirit. Being adopted into God's family, the kingdom of God, we are God's children and given the free gift of eternal life. He saves us forever by adding us to His family. This is only possible because of Jesus and his finished work he completed on Earth.

John 1:12-13 NIV

[12] Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 3:16-18 NIV

[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 

https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.3.16-18.NIV

Jesus laid down his life for all humanity when he was crucified on the cross. He paid the penalty for all sin by his blood. He took our sin upon himself on the cross. He became sin for us on the cross. Simply? He took our punishment for sin that naturally inhabits all of us, so that we could could be freed from the penalty of sin, which is eternal separation from God. 

So, if you believe in Jesus Christ and what he did for you, then you can be saved by being born again by the Holy Spirit. You can be adopted by God into His family. You can then live with God for all eternity because of what Jesus did for you. 

God made a way for us to live with Him forever, through the finished work of Jesus Christ. We could not get to God, so He came to us through Jesus. We could not save ourselves because of the sin in all of us, so He made a way to save us through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Do you believe this? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? If you do, you can be born again by the Holy Spirit and added to God's family. How?

 Romans 10:9-13 NIV

[9] If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. [11] As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” [12] For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, [13] for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.10.9-13.NIV

That's how. Receive Jesus by believing in his name and be born again now.

Change how you have thought, which is repentance, by believing in Jesus, and then be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He will come to live inside your spirit as your helper and teacher. You will be "in Christ" forever. You will be in God's family forever. You will live forever!!

Acts 2:38 NIV

[38] Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV

[13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Don't be deceived by everything around you. This is temporary. You are not. You are eternal. Live with God forever by believing in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!!!! Come to Jesus!! God loves you and made you to live with Him forever!! Come to Jesus!!

Love you all dear readers,

Jeffrey Post