The promise
of the gospel is that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
(Rom. 10:13). But before
you call on that name there are a number of things you ought to know.
1) Those will call upon the Name of the Lord Must Recognize the Seriousness of their Sins
The enormity
and immensity of sin can best be understood from the point of view of the offended,
not the offender. Sin is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4) and this means
that only God―who is the lawgiver―understands the gravity of sin. You may belittle
the sin you have committed―say, insulting your neighbor or lying―but it is not so with God. His standard
of righteousness is beyond ours and He will by no means lower it. He doesn’t think
the way we do; neither are His ways ours. According to the righteous standard
of the thrice holy God, when you say to your neighbor “you fool,” you are not
just sinning against him but against God Himself who gave the law proscribing such
things. Therefore, hell of fire is the place God made for both the one who
calls his neighbor “you fool” as well as him who commits murder or lies alike (Matt. 5:22; Rev. 21:8). This means
that every sin committed is serious in the eyes of God; whether in thought,
speech or deeds. Human beings cannot fully grasp the extent and seriousness of
sin before the eyes of a holy God. It is no wonder David asks this sobering
question, “Who can understand his errors?” (Psa. 19:12). By committing
sin, you are trampling on God’s commandment which is holy, just, and good (Rom. 7:12). Think of
a woman who has been laboring all morning to mop her white-tiled floor only for
you to walk in with muddy shoes. How do you think she would react? By doing so,
you are despising her all-morning effort and trashing it. You also imply by
your action that you spurn her white-tiled floor that cost her money to put up.
So, it is with us when we transgress God’s commandments. By despising God’s
holy law, you become His enemy. You prove that you are a rebel like the first
human race, Adam and Eve, who wanted to be like God (Gen. 3:5). They showed
that they didn’t want God’s leadership and authority. Therefore, because the
human race has sinned, all are under God’s holy wrath; condemned for eternal
punishment (Rom. 3:23; Eph2:3). This wrath
eternally remains on those who have not believed in Christ Jesus, who is the
only hope for salvation (John 3:36).
