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“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” – Matthew 16:15

From the trivial to the tremendous and from the measly to the momentous, questions confront us every hour of life. No doubt you have faced some important questions, but perhaps life’s most important question has escaped your consideration.

My friend, life’s most important question is not “How much money do you have?” Neither is it “Where have you been?” nor “Who are your friends?” Nor is it “Do you attend church?” or “Are you religious?”

Jesus Christ asks you the crucial and all-important question: “Whom say ye that I am?”

The question is extremely important because it concerns Jesus Christ, and your decision about Him involves eternal consequences.

The Answer is Provided

God’s Word alone supplies the question’s proper answer. The Bible tells us not only who Jesus Christ is but also why He came to earth. God’s Word proclaims these key truths concerning Him:

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (I Timothy 1:15). Jesus Christ is the Savior provided by God for lost and sinful mankind. “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (I John 3:5).

The Answer is Good News

It is a wonderfully welcome answer because God’s Word declares that you, as all individuals, have sinned against God. “There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin is falling short of God’s perfect standard.

God is holy, and His perfect righteousness demands that sin be paid for and judged. It cannot be overlooked. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The death referred to is eternal separation from God in the place of punishment called hell.

The good news, however, is that Jesus Christ shed His sinless, precious blood and died in the sinner’s place – your place – on the cross to pay the debt you owe. He suffered the terrible judgment of God you deserve so that you might be forgiven and reconciled to God. Quite simply, He died in your place as your substitute because he loves you.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (I Peter 3:18). “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “In whom [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Christ rose from the dead and now lives in Heaven as proof that God is satisfied with the payment Jesus Christ made for your sins. “He [God the Father] shall see of the travail of his [Jesus’] soul, and shall be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11).

Accept God’s Answer,
Not Your Own

God’s way of salvation is Jesus Christ. It is not in a church or a religion; it is in a person. He is the Door by whom “if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Only the One who paid your sin debt is able to give you eternal life.

Therefore, do not mistakenly depend upon your own efforts to take you to Heaven. Neither good behavior, church attendance and membership, helping and giving to others, communion nor baptism will save your soul or make you a child of God.

Salvation is entirely by God’s grace. The Scriptures tell us salvation is a gift, something you cannot earn, merit or deserve. “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Jesus Christ made a complete payment for your sins, but His work will be of no benefit to you unless you receive Him as your Savior. The gift of eternal life and forgiveness with God must be made your own through faith. The death and resurrection of Christ made possible your salvation – it opened the door of salvation – but you must enter in order to be saved. The door is open to all.

Rejection of Christ and His payment for your sins leaves you without hope. Jesus said, “If ye believe not that I am he [your Savior], ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). How needless to pay for your own sins when God has provided a wonderful, complete pardon!

Believing God’s Answer

Brings Assurance of Salvation

Do you realize your lost condition and guiltiness before God? Do you recognize your need of salvation? Come to Jesus. Ask Him to save you. You need not remain in doubt about your eternal destiny. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

You can know for certain that you are going to Heaven by asking God to forgive you – because Jesus Christ has paid for your sins – and believing that He will. This is what it means to trust Him as your Savior.

The Savior will receive you. He has promised, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Simply rely on God’s unfailing Word that says, “But as many as received him [Jesus Christ], to them gave he power [authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

So, Jesus Christ asks you, “Whom say ye that I am?” It is life’s important question. Can you answer that He is your Savior? If not, why not settle this question today? “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Call upon Him while He is near.

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