The way to redemption
1 - the death
2 - the origin of death
3 - the devine standard
4 - the world judgment of God
5 - salvation through Jesus Christ
6 - victory over sin and death
7 - the forgiveness of sins
8 - the return of Christ
9 - the eternal life - the new earth
10 - God's call to all people
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1 - the death
"So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom."
The Bible: Psalm 90, verse 12
Everyone knows that death is the end of their life. Sooner or later, this fate befalls every person in the world. No one is exempt. For most people, the thought of death is associated with fear, grief, and pain. For many, the loss of a loved one robs them of their will to live. For some, the fear of dying is linked to the assumption that everything ends with death; for others, it's linked to the uncertainty of what comes afterward.
Many therefore try to suppress this unpleasant subject. But sooner or later, everyone will be confronted with death. While some resign themselves to their seemingly hopeless fate, others seek ways to stay young, prolong their lives, or immortalize themselves. But no matter whether young or old, tall or short, rich or poor, famous or not – the fact remains:
Everyone has to die one day.
2 - the origin of death
"For the wages of sin
is death (...)"
The Bible: Romans chapter 6, verse 23
Many people believe that death is natural and has been a part of life from the beginning. But God's Word, the Bible, tells us that death has its origins in the fall of mankind. The first humans, according to the Holy Scriptures, lived in paradise, where neither suffering nor sickness nor death existed, and where neither human nor animal lacked anything. In everything God created, humans were to recognize God's love for him.
After the first humans were created, God gave them a commandment. This commandment was meant to be the test of whether humans would trust their Creator and reciprocate His love. But despite all the good things God had blessed them with, humans acted unfaithfully by breaking God's commandment and thus despising God's love. God calls this "sin."
The Fall led to a rift between man and his Creator. Through his disobedience, man not only lost his innocence but also his right to the eternal life for which God had created him. Thus, through sin, death entered the world. Furthermore, humans were forced to leave paradise—the place of complete bliss. Thus, man became mortal, and his life became transient. The further man distanced himself from God, the more arrogant and stubborn he became, until he finally lost almost all connection to his Creator. Suffering and injustice on earth increased at the same rate... (see: God and suffering)
3 - the devine standard
"Everyone who sins breaks the law;
in fact, sin is lawlessness."
The Bible: 1st John chapter 3, Verse 4
Lying (including so-called "white lies"), theft (including illegal downloads), binge eating and drinking, adultery and pornography, sexual immorality and prostitution, even murder (which includes abortion), selfishness, and wickedness of every kind are the consequences of man's separation from God. Even if some of these are tolerated or even encouraged by society, by God's standard they are and remain sin, and its consequence is death....
God's Word makes it clear that all the evil a person does comes from their heart and begins in their thoughts. Thus, the Bible equates anyone who hates or insults their fellow human being with a murderer. And anyone who looks at another person's wife with lustful eyes has already committed adultery with her in their heart. These two examples show that we are dealing with a completely different standard than the one we are accustomed to judging our actions by. It also becomes clear that fallen humanity today is far from living up to God's holy standard.... Because we humans frequently compare ourselves with others, trivialize our own actions, or assess ourselves more favorably than the facts, we often fail to recognize the extent of our guilt. People usually seek reasons and excuses to justify and excuse their behavior. But God's Word makes it unmistakably clear:
Jesus Christ says:
"But I say to you that whoever looks
at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
The Bible: Matthew chapter 5, verse 28
Many people think that their sins remain without consequences. But this is a fatal error. For God has set a day on which he will call all people—the living and the dead—to account for all the sins they commit. From God, who knows the hearts and minds of all people, nothing is hidden. This means that there is nothing people think or do that God does not know. For before God, our lives are completely open to the world. Most people shy away from facing the truth about themselves. But by denying or repressing it, they lie to themselves. At the very latest, on the Day of Judgment, all of humanity's deeds will come to light, even those that are still hidden....
Everyone is guilty before God.
4. the world judgment of God
"The Lord comes with tens of thousands
To be the judge of all, and to give a
decision against all those whose lives
are unpleasing to him, because of the
evil acts which they have done."
The Bible: Jude chapter 1, verses 15-16
Many people believe that the sins they commit have no consequences for them. But this is a fatal mistake. For God has appointed a day when he will judge all people, living and dead, for their sins in righteousness. Nothing is hidden from God, who knows the hearts and minds of all people. That is, there is nothing that people think or do that God does not know; Our life is fully revealed to God. God's Word also reveals the deepest secrets of the human heart. Most people are afraid to face the truth about their lives. Instead, they try to avoid the truth. But by denying or distorting the truth, they lie to themselves. At the latest on the Day of Judgment, all of people's deeds will come to light; even those that are still hidden....
Jesus Christ says:
"For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light."
The Bible: Luke chapter 8, verse 17
Unlike in the world, neither strength, nor beauty, nor intelligence, nor wealth, nor special abilities count before God. For all these things are gifts from God that do not make anyone better or more esteemed in God's sight. Likewise, a person cannot buy himself out of his guilt and thereby preserve his life through his knowledge, power, or money. Even the greatest wealth cannot protect a person from death or from God's judgment.
There are certainly many people who do good deeds, support honorable causes, or protect the environment. Very few have robbed a bank or murdered someone. Yet no human being is capable of living up to God's holy standard, since we all fall short of God's righteousness due to our imperfect lives. The consequence is:
Man needs redemption.
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (...) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire,
this is the second death."
The Bible: Revelation chapter 20, Verses 11-15
The Bible mentions books in which the deeds of every individual, as well as their motives and intentions, are recorded. On the Day of Judgment, every person will be confronted with their sins and convicted of them, so that no one will be able to deny their guilt. Then, no excuses or excuses will count. Everyone will receive the judgment that corresponds to their deeds. The judgment that awaits every person who has sinned against God is eternal damnation, that is, eternal separation from God and from life. This means...
Without redemption
man is lost.....