Jesus Christ: What will you say to Him when you meet Him?
Hopefully you realize that the day will come when you WILL meet Him face-to-face. Are you prepared for that day?
Romans 14:11-12
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. [Emphasis added]
This statement applies to you no matter what you think of Him. Again, the day WILL come when you are going to meet Him. The Bible gives us several descriptions of that coming meeting.
Matthew 7:22-23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [ANOMIA = lawlessness]. [Emphasis added]
What God requires as one’s means to salvation has changed from time to time. It has always involved the expression of faith, but what God required as the way people had to manifest their faith has not always been the same. I have other articles about that on this website—
Essentials: What are they for Salvation & Spiritual Growth?
To gain salvation today, it is faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he [God] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
This perfect righteousness and resultant justification for our salvation is only gained by grace through faith in God’s provision for us.
Romans 3:27-28
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law [NOMOS = law or principle]? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. [Emphasis added]
The specifics on this are given in many other passages.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
All anyone must do to be saved is believe on these things as the sole basis for their salvation. Even other members of your household can be saved this same way.
Acts 16:31
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. [Emphasis added]
No work on your own will provide this. It is all provided by grace through one’s personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Every which way you turn you’ll find people who claim YOU must DO some form of work to earn your salvation. But the Bible tells us such is incorrect thinking.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
What all must realize is that the correct information for us about this and many other spiritual truths are found in the apostle Paul’s writings because it is this man who is said to be OUR apostle today, not Peter or anyone else.
Romans 11:13
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [Emphasis added]
If you want to know the specifics about this, please go to my article about it—
Paul: Who exactly is this man to us?
Before our time and the revelation given through the apostle Paul, people had to simply believe what God said about certain things. What God promised Abraham is an example of that.
Romans 4:2-5
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
It is in that same context that we are told that now our works have nothing to do with the attainment of one’s salvation. They’re not needed at all for that.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
Faith and belief in what God said was always the heart of the matter.
Galatians 3:6
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
James 2:23
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. [Emphasis added]
Today, salvation comes to someone when they put their faith in what Christ accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
We then have what I mentioned above as “the bottom line” to all this in verse twenty-one .
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
Only in this one manner is one made acceptable to God and saved forever.
Always bear in mind that even in times past when works were required for salvation, it was one’s faith expressed by doing what God commanded that provided it. This principle is seen in the text I used for the first sermon I ever preached.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth THE WILL of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [Emphasis added]
And exactly what is this WILL that must be done for salvation? It is accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Savior. Yes, it is that simple. And some day you’re going to face Him, the One who died paying for your sins so that you’d have the opportunity to be saved and spend all eternity in this wonderful place called Heaven. We already know what He’s going to say to all who’ve failed to accept His provision for them. Here’s are two places where they’re recorded—
Matthew 7:23
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [Emphasis added]
So, yes, there will be separation from Him forever. And here’s the rest of the story—
Revelation 20:15
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. [Emphasis added]
Therefore, the choice is now yours. What will it be? Until you accept Christ as your Savior you are bound for that Lake of Fire. But your destination can be changed immediately. Notice what our Lord told some people in the time of His earthly ministry.
John 3:18-21
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. [Emphasis added]
So, again, what is your decision? Will you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior or will you regret your rejection of Him forever? It is you who is the one who will decide where you’ll reside forever. I hope you’ll choose wisely. If you want more information, here are the links to some other articles you may want to read about all this.
Hell: How can a loving God send people there?
Hell: What does the apostle Paul teach about it?
Hell: Will the suffering last forever?
