There were three crosses on Calvary. Christ hung on the middle cross, He was sinless, dying for sinners, His enemies. There were two thieves hanging on the other two crosses on either side of Jesus. Everyone in the world is on one of these crosses. It is not just Christ's cross that symbolizes Christianity, it's all three crosses. Religion leaves out the other two crosses that the thieves died on. All humanity is on one these crosses. Every person is on one of the two crosses on either side of Jesus Christ. The Man on the Middle Cross is sinless - God manifest in the flesh. The one thief died with sin in him, and with his sins on him - He went to hell. The lost thief died IN his sins and with his sins ON him. That is a picture of every unsaved man that dies in his sins, and with his sins on his soul. If you die in your sins, you have chosen to reject Christ and pay for your sins yourself in hell forever.
The other thief died SAVED with sin IN him, but his sins were ON Christ. He called upon Jesus for mercy, and his sins were then put ON Christ before he died. There was one saved thief and one lost thief on Calvary's hill that day. The only people on Calvary that day were thieves. Christ was numbered with the transgressors. Christ became Sin that day and suffered for it in your place. Christ died with no sin in Him, but with your sins on Him. The one thief went to Paradise with Jesus, the other thief went to Hell with his sins. Which thief are you? If you ever get saved, you will have to take your place with a thief. Self-righteous people never want to do that. But remember this: Christ died for the 'ungodly,' not for good people.
What then shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ? Will you take Barrabas (sinful self) or Jesus Christ (the God-man). Barrabbas was a sinner, Jesus was God. A good man will love Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the best man that ever lived on the face of the earth, and if you're a good man you will receive Him and love Him. For 2,000 years, the world has been trying to trim Jesus Christ down to the size of just a man. Jesus Christ wasn't the son of Adam, He was the seed of the woman, and the Son of God. When He came to this earth, He was God manifest in the flesh. And men don't like to have God to near to them. Jesus never had to confess sin, He had no sin nature and never committed one sin in thought, word or deed. He said, "He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father." He was God in flesh and bones. And you will have to believe that, or you will go to straight to hell when you die. Jesus said, "If ye believe that I am not He, ye shall die in your sins."
Folks don't like God around too close. They like to box him up in a building somewhere. Man is not looking for God, God is looking for man, and when God gets too close to a man, the man wants to run and hide from God. Man is always trying to run away from God, and try to cover up his sins with his good works and intentions. Only the Holy Ghost can draw a man to God, for man's sinful nature continually pulls him away from God. Man is an immortal being, he has to live somewhere forever, he will never be satisfied without God. Money, pleasure, religion, programs, pills, liquor, drugs, education, honor, science, the world, or sin can never satisfy the soul of man.
A man will never be satisfied without being born again and knowing Jesus Christ as His personal Savior. No sinner is ever satisfied without Christ, there is no contentment for the unsaved sinner, they are discontented, they have to live forever, they are not satisfied, unless they receive HIM which is eternal. Man goes on in his own sin's darkness, man doesn't want God, he is a rebel against God. Man comes into this world, and as he grows, he strikes backs at and hates God's commandments. He defies God, and turns his back on God.
Religion is always trying to trim God down, so man will accept God. That is the religious movement of our day. The greatest peril that faces America today is a religious peril. You will either exalt and glorify God, or you will trim Him down and make a 'god' like yourself, bring God down to the low level sinful human nature. Religion is always trimming Jesus down. They crucified Jesus because He claimed to be God. The Pharisees wanted to trim Him down to their level, and when He wouldn't change, they killed Him.
Some people believe in the divinity of human nature. Man wants to be like God, and make Jesus Christ just a man. The devil whispers in their ear, "You're a little god, exert yourself, be independent, you don't have bow down and worship God Almighty, no one has a right to tell you what to do, do your own thing, you can be god.
Man is comfortable with sinners, but not with the Christ of the Bible. Sin separates men from God. The more closer man gets to God, the more miserable he gets, until that man gets right with God. Barrabas was the son of Adam, Jesus was the Son of God. Barrabas was a bad man. A sinner makes a sinner comfortable, but good folks make him nervous. A sinner naturally gravitates to sin and hell. Jesus Christ was God, He made all things, and He loved everybody, and they still killed Him. You can judge a church by the type of preacher it chooses. The church is under attack today, we are not attacking.
The sinful tendency of man is to exalt man and not exalt God. The world will someday diefy a man and accept him, that will be the Antichrist, the son of perdition. He will be man's choice, instead of God's. There was only one sinless person that ever lived on this earth, and the world spit in His face, platted a crown of thorns and pressed it on His brow, they beat Him into a pulp, what was done to Jesus would have killed anyone else, but not Jesus, they couldn't kill Him. What was done to Him, would have killed anyone else before they got to the cross. Jesus said, "You cannot take my life from me, I lay my life down, I take it again, you can't take it." And one dreadful morning 2,000 years ago, He climbed up Calvary's mountain, and laid His life down for you. His blood is on your hands right now, you have sinned, your sins killed Him.
Man trims God down to suit his love for sin. The heathen overseas make their own gods, and the heathen in America make their own god. Man is trying pull God down, man cries out, "God come down, down, come down off of your throne, and be one of us. We are gods too!" They chose a sinner, Barrabas, instead of Christ. The Antichrist will claim to be a god.
Goverment: Politicians and religious leaders, common folks, religious folks. They has never been a Christian nation on the face of the earth. America has never accepted Jesus Christ. The Christ of the Bible, they trim him down, He was not born of a virgin, He's just like all of the other religious leaders, He was a mystical sort of person. America is not a Christian country. You can live in America and be a Christian, and not be jailed and killed for it. Christianity has influenced and affected this nation, but it is not a Christian government on earth - there is no such thing.
Religion: If you let us make Jesus like we want Him, we will take Him. You are to test your religious experience with the Bible. Religion test the Bible with their religious experience. Man tests the Bible by what he 'thinks,' and then he goes to hell. America is going to hell faster than it ever travelled, and the true Christians are to blame. They have trimmed God Almighty down to human level. They will not accept the Christ of the Bible. Jesus Christ was and is God. The religions of today doctor up Jesus to suit themselves. They change Him so He won't be distasteful to them. Man struts with his intellectual ego, and says, "The Bible, that just couldn't be. I wouldn't do what the Bible says God did, I'm going to fix me up a god, that would do what I would do." And you will go to HELL too. Religion mixed with the sinful imagination of man is the most subtil and dangerous thing on earth. The imagination of man is evil and vain, he cannot understand God. Man will take anyone before they will have the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
Pilate (Individual): What shall I do? An individual. You will have to face this issue yourself. You will either take the Christ of the Bible, or you will take yourself. If you don't receive Christ, you will die in your sins. Christ or Barrabas (sinful self). Which one will you take?
There is going to be an Antichrist. The world will receive him. The Jews will receive him. No man will buy or sell unless they receive his 'mark.' He will be a religious, political, and economic genius. He will be the greatest man the devil has ever been able to produce. He will be satanically empowered with signs and wonders. The stage is being set on earth right now for this man. Unless you receive Jesus Christ, you will be bewitched with strong delusion and believe a lie from the Antichrist one day. Ye must be born again, you need the divine nature in order to go to Heaven. The world says today, "We accept Christ." But they don't accept the Christ of the Bible. The religious world accepts the Christ they have trimmed down to suit their own tastes. The Christ of the Bible (the God-man), or the Antichrist (the devil-man), it will be your choice.
The word *salvation* means the cleansing of your conscience from all the past guilt and the delivery of your soul from habits of evil by the blood of Christ. Salvation is the total restoration of man from his fallen state. It fixes your condition more secure that is was before Adam's fall. You sin has defiled, stained, and accursed your soul. Christ's salvation can heal your sin wounds, and removes your soul's diseases. It will deliver you from Hell and admit you to Heaven.
Salvation seeks you in your wanderings from God. It puts you on the shoulders of the Shepherd and carries you to the fold of God. It will carry you to the Green Pastures of Heaven and leads you beside the still waters flowing from the throne of God.
Biblical Christianity is an intolerant religion. A thousand lies can live in peace with one another, but the Truth of Christ stands alone and cannot tolerate the lies of religious man. A hundred deceiving religions may sleep peacably in the same bed, but Biblical Christianity is like an alarm clock that awakes them all to their deception and danger.
Do you think anyone can be saved and enter Heaven's bliss apart from Christ's precious blood being applied to their soul? If you do, you are deceived by the lies of Satan. You must believe Christ and 'receive' Christ Himself.
Dear friend, you may believe there is salvation in your good works, and you may be laboring hard and striving diligently to maintain your character and integrity. But the law of God (the 10 Commandments ) will come and show to you that that which you thought has been good in your life is really evil.
Your very best actions and intentions are sinful. The sooner you realize you can't save yourself the better. You are seeking salvation by the works of the Law. You are doing good works for a selfish motive - to save 'yourself' and rejecting the free pardon that comes through Christ's blood and righteousness - this is not acceptable to God. You cannot be saved by your 'good works' for two very good reasons - first, you don't have any, and second, if you had any, they could not save you. You may 'think' that your salvation may be obtained partly by reformation and partly by trusting in Christ. You may have labored hard again by prayers here and there, tears of penitence, and a few resolutions of improvement, but these are all to no avail.
Still, the curse and wrath of God are hanging over your head. For as many as are of the 'works of the law' are 'under the curse:' for it is written, Cursed is every one that 'continueth not' in 'all things' which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Gal 3:10) Unless you have 'continually' obeyed all of God's commandments (all things) every day of your life, you are guilty and cursed of God. It only take one sin (one lie, theft, evil thought, gossip, lust) to curse your soul. If you are lost now, there is still an aching void in your heart that 'religion' and this world's pleasure can never fill - a void of distress and care - you are sorely troubled because you cannot attain by your self-efforts the rest of soul and peace of mind desired.
You have tried many ways. You may have been baptized in your infancy, taken the Mass or Lord's Supper regularly, attended your church, and went ceremony after ceremony. All of these cannot help you one step towards acceptance with God. There a thousand different inventions of men whereby they seek to save themselves, but salvation from Sin is only in Christ Jesus.
I know your condition, Sinner. You have been long trying to find peace and the road to Heaven and you have missed it in the darkness of sin. You may have tried many of this world's religious gimmicks and they have all deceived you and have never set your soul's weary foot on one solid ground of comfort. You are still laden with your sins, you are not able to look up. Guilt, like a heavy burden, is on your back and your hand is on your mouth for you dare not cry for pardon. Satan whispers in your ear, "It's all over for you, there is no mercy for such as you are - Christ can save some sinners, but He is not able to save the likes of you."
Poor Soul, come to the Cross of Christ and you shall there see something which shall remove your unbelief and hard heart. The Man that was nailed to the Calvary's tree was without spot or blemish. He was no thief or murderer, He was pure and without a sin. His life was holy, without a single flaw. His mouth only gave blessings, His hands were full of good deeds, and His feet were swift for acts of mercy. His heart was pure white with holiness. Do you see Him dying for you? There is merit in His death for He was without sin Himself, He was put to death for other men's sins. Christ died for the ungodly and for His enemies. For sins, not His own, He died to atone. Come now with your blackness all over you and look at His whiteness. Come with your defilement and look at His purity. He is able to save you, Sinner, for the merit of His blood is great. Oh, may God help you to believe on Him!
Remember, He who died on the Cross of Calvary was no less than the everlasting Son of God. Do you see Him dying for you? Come, turn your heart's eye once more to Him. Do you see His hands and feet trickling with streams of blood? That Man hanging there is Almighty God. Those hands that were nailed created the universe. Those feet hold up the pillars of the earth now. That Head that was crowned with thorns is the wisdom of Godhead, and with a nod could cause the heaven and earth to pass away. He who was crucified is the One without whom was not anything made that was made - and by Him all things consist. He is the Maker, Creator, Preserver, the God of all grace. He is none other than God Himself incarnate in human flesh. Cast yourself upon Him. He is able and willing to save you now, doubt no more. He is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him.
God the Father has accepted Christ's sacrifice. We know this by proof of His resurrection, ascension, and His sitting down at the right hand of God. It is God the Father anger and wrath that you must dread. God is angry with you right now (John 3:36) for you have sinned against His law and rejected His Son's mercy, and He will punish you if you die in your sins without Christ as your Savior. Jesus Christ was punished in your place. He stood as your Substitute and Scapegoat. Christ's atoning blood has satisfied God's divine justice and vengeance. Christ rose again from the dead from the prison of the tomb. If God had not accepted Christ's atonement, He would still be in the tomb to this day. Jesus Christ has paid the full price for your sins. His bloody agony in Gethsemane, His dreadful death on Calvary, the three days of hopeless gloom while He laid in the tomb, but now He is risen and is alive forevermore. He reigns victorious over the sin, death, the grave, the devil, and hell at the right hand of God. Love's redeeming work is done. Christ has opened wide the doors of Paradise, and He bids you enter while you may.
You must receive Christ's righteousness (His perfectness) as a free gift. He lived a sinless life in your place, and then He died in your place. You need His righteousness (sinlessness) and His precious blood to wash you clean. When you stand before God, you will want God the Father to see you as He sees His Son, perfect, holy and blameless. The only way you can be 'perfect' is to receive the Perfect One into your body and soul - the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. (John 1:12)
If you do not find salvation in Christ it will be because you do not look for it, for it is certainly there. If you die in your sins and perish without being saved by the blood of Christ, it will not be because that Christ's blood did not have the power to save you. It will be entirely because you 'will not' come to Christ and be washed in His precious blood.
The sins of your childhood and youth are haunting you. Your evil habits and addictions are like an evil net that has captured you. Your guilt clings to your soul and you cannot wash yourself clean. You have prayed and sought for peace in your own efforts and found no mercy. Sinner friend, you must cast yourself simply and wholly upon Christ's doings and sufferings alone. Only trust HIM, for there is salvation in Him alone - you can rest assured of that. What a dreadful thing it will be for you if you should lose your own soul when Christ has worked out so great a salvation freely for you. How shall you escape if you 'neglect' so great salvation? If His precious blood is not sprinkled on your soul, you are lost, indeed. There is none other, no other way, no other hope, no other refuge. The gate of salvation is a low gate, you must creep on your hands and knees to enter. It is a strait and narrow gate, you must leave behind your dead works and proud self-righteousness and creep though the wicket gate of eternal life.
Sin is in your very best efforts and duties. Do not lean on anything but the finished work of Christ to save your sinful soul. Come as wicked wretch now, or go to hell with your good works and religion. Stop trusting in your own doings, stop clinging to false hopes and vain efforts, there is nothing in yourself which will do you any good, flee from depending on your own doings. Believe [totally depend] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Only one thing can hinder you from coming to Christ; you can't receive a 'gift' with a *full hand:* come empty-handed to the Cross. Salvation is offered on no other terms, and it can be had on 'no' other, than as a 'free gift.' Gift too, not to friends, but to debtors and enemies. Who can dare say they have rendered obedience to all of God's commandments? We are all debtors to God, and need His free redemption that comes through Christ's shed blood - God's blood.
You can have eternal life now - This very moment, Now! He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. (John 3:36) Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47) No reason in delay: If you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all. Will you not come to Him for Life? Why will ye die without Him, oh, why? He gave His life for you, for you. The gift is free, the word is true. Will you not come? He shed His precious blood for you; He waits patiently to save you. Jesus is calling now, "Come unto Me!" Flee from the wrath of God to come on sin.
