TEN IMPORTANT THINGS
 

  1. We are created in the image of God. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27). Man has dominion over the things of the earth including the animals and is made just a little lower than the angels (Ps. 8). He also has an eternal soul which is also called his spirit. When God breathed into his nostril the breath of life man became a living soul (Gen. 2:7). God is the Father of our spirits (Heb. 12:9). When death comes here is a description of what happens: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

  2. God wants fellowship with man. In the garden of Eden God walked and talked with man (Gen. 3:8ff). Because of the light of the gospel we can have fellowship with God and Christ if we are willing to walk in it. (I John 1:7).  

  3. Man sinned and severed his fellowship with God. In Genesis 3:8-24 we read of Eve eating of the forbidden fruit and giving to Adam and he also ate. They disobeyed God and as a result they were driven from the garden, separated from the tree of life, and death came upon the human race. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12). 

  4. The penalty of sin is eternal death. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). It is spoken of as everlasting destruction from the presence of God and the glory of his power (2 Thes. 1:7-9). It is a lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death (Rev. 21:8). It is called everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels but which also will be the destiny of the unprepared in the day of judgment (Mat. 25:41-46). When man does not obey the truth of the gospel he is told that he will have this awful punishment (Rom. 2:8,9). 

  5. God in mercy put forth a plan to redeem man. In Genesis 3:15 God said the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. In Revelation 12:9 the serpent is called the devil. In the form of the serpent he tempted Eve to sin in the garden and thus man was condemned in sin with all its penalties. Christ came and shed his blood for the remission of our sins (Mat. 26:28). Through this sacrifice he destroyed the power the devil held over the human race (Heb. 2:14). Jesus was “delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). God loved us and gave his son so we could be saved (Joh n 3:16).

  6. Man must submit to Christ’s plan to be saved. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,” said Jesus in the Great Commission (Mk. 16:16). Some object, saying, “Jesus paid it all and there is nothing for us to do”. Even though salvation is the free gift of God we must respond to the Lord’s commands of faith, repentance and baptism to accept that gift.

  7.  The Lord also shed his blood to purchase the church. (Acts 20:28). The Lord adds the saved to the church (Acts 2:47). The church is the center of the Christian’s activities. He assembles with the church to worship (Heb. 10:25). He develops his spiritual talents in God’s service (I Pet. 4:10, 11). He is a member of the institution that God has ordained to teach the gospel to the world, to edify the saved, and to help the needy. All faithful Christians enjoy the fellowship of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and other Christians (I John 1:1-10).

  8. We must die and face Christ in Judgment. It is appointed to man once to die and after this will be the judgment (Heb. 9:27). Christ will sit upon judgment throne and all mankind will appear before him (2 Cor. 5:10; Mat. 25:31,32). We will be judged by our works (Rev. 20:12). In Rev. 14:13 it is stated “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” To die in the Lord one must first get into the Lord and secondly remain in Him until death. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). This is the only way to get into Christ, so we need to believe and be baptized to get into Christ so we can  die in Christ. Then we need to abide in him  faithfully bearing fruit (John 15:1-6). When death comes we will then be ready for the judgment.

  9. There will be a resurrection of all the dead (John 5:28,29). Some will be raised to eternal life, and some to damnation. We are responsible for our lives. Life here is in vain if we do not learn and obey the gospel so we can  have eternal life. 

  10. There are only two eternal destinies – heaven or hell. Faithful servants of Christ are promised that they will enter into the joys of the Lord (Mat. 25:21, 23). “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile” (Rom. 2:8,9).

            Gospel meetings are times to think about these ten things and to be sure you are right with God. Please take advantage of this effort by attending, studying, and obeying the Lord.