The first book of the Bible, Genesis, teaches us that mankind fell into sin (wrongdoing against God) early--in the Garden of Eden--with the temptation from Satan.  To honor God and pay for their sins, people brought flawless animals to sacrifice before God. 

So it went for thousands of years.  However, God had been speaking to the hearts of men for many years, telling them that He would send the Messiah into the world who would provide the permanent and only means of salvation from sin for all mankind.

And so, God loved us so much that He sent his precious Son, Jesus, into the world. 

For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 

There it was--the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person.

John 1:9 (AMP)

Jesus was born of a virgin (Mary) and lived in a human body, but he was without sin.  He went about teaching, healing, and doing good, showing the true nature of our God.  The disciples of Jesus said that if all the good works of Jesus were written in books, the whole world could not contain them--how GREAT is our God's love for us!  

 [Jesus told us,] I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (John 14:6)

Although many knew that Jesus was the Messiah foretold in prophecy--God in the flesh--some did not recognize Him as such, and many were suspicious, jealous, and unbelieving.   He was eventually tortured and crucified (nailed to a wooden cross, shed his blood, and gave up his life) as the final blood sacrifice to atone for our sins once for all.  But Jesus was raised from the dead (resurrected) on the third day, in victory over Satan and the grave.

Jesus appeared to his disciples and many others  after His resurrection.  Before ascending to the Father in Heaven, He promised to return to us.

¹⁵If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.

¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever--

    ¹⁷The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.

    ¹⁸I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you.              

                         James 14:16-18  (AMP)

Jesus promised that He will return one day to take His Church (those believers who are alive at the time, as well as those believers who have died), to the place He has prepared in Heaven.  Although many have made predictions, only the Father in Heaven knows the day on which Jesus will return.  The Bible promises this day to be a glorious one for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

God’s Word teaches us that our souls spend eternity in one of two places after our earthly lives end--Heaven (in the presence of God and everlasting love and beauty) or Hell (in the presence of everlasting evil and torment--eternal separation from God). 

The Bible also tells us that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  There is only one way to be saved and to spend eternity in Heaven--by confessing and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.  If you choose, you can trust in the Lord  today and have the assurance that you will spend eternity with our Almighty God in Heaven, by praying a prayer similar to the following:

"Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner.  I believe that You shed Your blood, died on the cross for my sins, and arose from the dead on the third day.  I repent and turn from my sins.  I need You, and I ask You to come into my heart, forgive me of my sins, and be my personal Lord and Savior.  I ask You to give me the strength, through Your Holy Spirit, to follow You and live according to Your will for the rest of my life.  Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift of Salvation.  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen."

If you need prayer or if you have asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart today, we invite you to contact us by e-mail at pastor@cvbaptistchurch.org or by phone at 409-935-2743. 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

"I am the LORD your God. . .You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:2-3).

"You shall not make for yourself a graven image" (Exodus 20:4).

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8).

"Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12).

"You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13).

"You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).

"You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15).

"You shall not bear false witness" (Exodus 20:16).  

"You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:17).