The Ultimate Valentine Gift
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Rom 5.8
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. - Jn 3.16
These 2 verses tell us of God's amazing love in the gift of Christ. So why is this a big deal? Because God is so loving, doesn't everyone just go to heaven? Well, conversation heart candy like is shown here is popular on Valentine's Day, so let's have a conversation with Jesus to ask Him about this & see His very own words.
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. - Jn 3.16
These 2 verses tell us of God's amazing love in the gift of Christ. So why is this a big deal? Because God is so loving, doesn't everyone just go to heaven? Well, conversation heart candy like is shown here is popular on Valentine's Day, so let's have a conversation with Jesus to ask Him about this & see His very own words.
Aren't we all OK? Wouldn't we still go to heaven without this gift?
Whoever believes in [God's Son] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. - Jn 3.18
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. - Mt 7.13-14
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. - Jn 10.9
Well, most people are pretty nice, doesn't their good outweigh their bad?
No one is good—except God alone. - Lk 18.19
Doesn't being religious at least count for something?
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ - Mt 7.21-23
If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins. - Jn 8.24
So it's not about “good” we've done but about judgment of our sins?
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. - Lk 5.32
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. - Mt 12.36
What happens to those who die in their sins?
They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. - Mt 13.42
Eventually, will they make it to heaven?
A great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to [them] cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. - Lk 16.26
They will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. - Mt 25.46
Unless you repent, you too will all perish. - Lk 13.5
Repenting & turning from our sins is critical, but why do we have to believe in you?
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Mt 20.28
So when you died & shed your blood on the cross, you were punished for our sins?
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. - Mt 26.27
And if anyone really believes this with all their heart, they'll be spared eternal punishment & enter into a relationship with you right now?
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. - Jn 5.24
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. - Jn 3.36
Now this is eternal life: that they may know [the Father], the only true God, and Jesus Christ - Jn 17.3
So what do you say to those who believe in you?
Friend, your sins are forgiven. - Lk 5.20
Come, follow me. - Mt 4.19
Jesus, why did you do this if we have sinned against you?
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - Jn 15.13
Whoever believes in [God's Son] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. - Jn 3.18
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. - Mt 7.13-14
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. - Jn 10.9
Well, most people are pretty nice, doesn't their good outweigh their bad?
No one is good—except God alone. - Lk 18.19
Doesn't being religious at least count for something?
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ - Mt 7.21-23
If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins. - Jn 8.24
So it's not about “good” we've done but about judgment of our sins?
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. - Lk 5.32
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. - Mt 12.36
What happens to those who die in their sins?
They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. - Mt 13.42
Eventually, will they make it to heaven?
A great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to [them] cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. - Lk 16.26
They will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. - Mt 25.46
Unless you repent, you too will all perish. - Lk 13.5
Repenting & turning from our sins is critical, but why do we have to believe in you?
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Mt 20.28
So when you died & shed your blood on the cross, you were punished for our sins?
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. - Mt 26.27
And if anyone really believes this with all their heart, they'll be spared eternal punishment & enter into a relationship with you right now?
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. - Jn 5.24
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. - Jn 3.36
Now this is eternal life: that they may know [the Father], the only true God, and Jesus Christ - Jn 17.3
So what do you say to those who believe in you?
Friend, your sins are forgiven. - Lk 5.20
Come, follow me. - Mt 4.19
Jesus, why did you do this if we have sinned against you?
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - Jn 15.13
Wow! God's love & gift of eternal life through Christ really is a big deal & shouldn't be taken lightly! Anyone who has believed not only has been spared eternal punishment in hell, but has a relationship with God Almighty! Now that is a sweet gift & all other Valentine's gifts will pale in comparison!
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! - 2 Cor 9.15
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Rom 6.23
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. - 1 Pt 3.18
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. - Rom 3.23-24
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Rom 6.23
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. - 1 Pt 3.18
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. - Rom 3.23-24