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Vital
Issues: What Does God Want? By: Joe Dennison
Every religion in the world, from Spiritism to Islam,
from Hinduism to Catholicism, shares one common
principle: We must do something to win God’s approval.
At the core of every religion is the motto, "Do
something to please God." Just what God requires
from us, however, depends on whom we ask. Everything
from pagan rituals to life-long penance to simply
"doing the best you can" is proposed as a way
to please God.
In spite of this confusion, the Bible consistently
and clearly teaches what God is seeking from us. It is
not a life of good works or self-denial. It is not
church membership or baptism. It is faith. God wants us
to believe Him.
God has always desired faith. "Without faith it
is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). From
Genesis to Revelation, from Noah and Abraham to Peter
and Paul, the great men and women of the Bible have had
this in common: They believed and relied on the promises
of God! God does not want blind, irrational faith but
informed, intelligent faith in Himself and in His Word.
Many of us claim to be Christians, but do we really
believe God? When we examine the Bible we find that God
says things we may not want to accept. However, the
Bible is not a smorgasbord from which we can pick and
choose only the truths we like. Either we believe God or
we don’t!
The Bible paints a very unflattering picture of us.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God" (Romans 3:23). "There is none righteous,
not even one" (Romans 3:10). We would prefer to
think of ourselves as basically good people who have
made a few mistakes along the way. But according to God,
we are such complete sinners that even our best deeds
are tainted by our sinful nature. Do you believe God?
In our society, belief in judgment for sin or in a
literal Hell isn’t fashionable. However, the Bible
clearly states that "it is appointed unto man once
to die and after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
Jesus frequently spoke about a real place of torment
called Hell, a place for everyone whose sins have not
been forgiven. Eternal punishment for sin is a reality!
The list of good deeds which people are counting on
to save them from God’s wrath is endless: penance,
confession, baptism, rituals, good works, sincerity,
etc. But God is looking for faith, not works. "For
by grace are ye saved through faith…not of works, lest
any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8).
God understands our predicament. He knows we are
sinners who can never live up to His requirements. He
knows we cannot undo past wrongs or pay for past sins.
But God loved us and sent His son, Jesus Christ, into
the world to die for our sins. "For God so loved
the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal
life" (John 3:16).
Do you believe God? God has given you the option to
choose. Whether you believe God or not will determine
your eternal destiny. We often blame our sin on our
circumstances, our upbringing, or our society. However,
there is one sin that we can never attribute to other
factors. It is the sin of not believing God! The Bible
says that "anyone who does not believe God has made
Him out to be a liar" (1 John 5:10).
We challenge you to take God at His word and receive
eternal life today!
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