Becoming One of Christ's Warriors

Let’s start with a question:

If you died today where would you go?

If heaven, why would God let you in?

We hold to the Bible as the source of truth, so let's see what it has to say about this question.

Romans 3:23

"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

This verse tell us that we have ALL sinned and that we need God.

Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

In this verse death means spending eternity in Hell, forever separated from God. God's gift is Jesus. Let's remember that word "gift" as we continue...

John 14:6

"I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

When asked about how to receive the "gift" we just saw in Romans 6:23, Jesus is clear it can only be received through him.

Romans 10: 9-11

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Here the Apostle Paul points out what separates Jesus from every other man or prophet who has ever walked the earth. These are the historical facts: Jesus was crucified on a cross. He died. Three days later he rose from the grave and appeared to many people before returning to heaven. Believing these things is the starting point of our faith.

Many people feel this is too easy, or that they must do something. Many people feel they have done too many bad things and God does not want them as a Warrior in his army. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus was not crucified alone. He was crucified with two other men - two thieves. The Bible tells us in Luke 23:42-43 that one of the thieves cried out for mercy, asking Jesus, “'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'"

There was no time for the thief to earn salvation, to be good enough or clean himself up enough for God to love him. It was simply this man's belief in Jesus and God's grace that made it possible for him to enter eternity with Jesus instead of separated from him in Hell.