1. The Truth about God: The first truth every person must know is about God. The Bible teaches that God exists, and there is only one God and no other (Romans 1:19-20; Isaiah 46:9). God is King, and He created and owns everything and everyone (Psalm 47:2, 7-8; Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1-2); therefore, all persons are dependent on and accountable to God (Isaiah 42:5; Acts 14:16-17; 17:28). God is infinitely holy, meaning He is set apart and distinct from all of His creation. He is majestic, He is perfect and righteous (Mark 10:18), and He is morally pure and set apart from all evil and corruption (Exodus 15:11; 1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 6:3; 1 John 1:5). God desires and deserves to be worshipped, honored, and obeyed by all everyone (Psalm 117:1; John 4:23-24).

 

2. The Truth about Men and Women: The second truth every person must know is about men and women. The Bible teaches that, unlike God, all persons are born and conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5). “Sin” is disobedience to God’s law in attitude, affections, and actions. All persons are sinners by nature and by choice (Ephesians 2:1-3). Those who are not in Christ are enemies of God (Romans 5:10). No one can earn God’s favor or His forgiveness, and no person can enter into heaven by being “good enough” or by doing good deeds (Ephesians 2:8-9; Isaiah 64:6; Titus 3:5). All unsaved persons stand guilty before God (Romans 3:9-18, 23), and apart from salvation in Jesus Christ, all persons will pay the eternal penalty for sin in the lake of fire (Acts 4:12; Revelation 20:14-15).

 

3. The Truth about Jesus Christ: The third truth every person must know concerns Jesus Christ and what He did for sinners. The Bible teaches that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save sinners from perishing (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus Christ is Lord, and He is God in the flesh (John 1:14; 20:28; 1 John 5:20). He lived a sinless life (1 Peter 2:2; 1 John 3:5), He died for sinners (in order to pay the wages of sin), He was buried, and He was raised from the dead and lives today (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This is called the “good news” or the “gospel.” At the cross, Jesus Christ bore the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28); then, God raised Him back to life for their justification (i.e., for believers to be credited with the righteous of Christ) (Romans 4:25). Jesus Christ is the only Savior and the only way to God (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). One day, Jesus Christ will return to establish His kingdom on earth (Revelation 20:4, 6) and to judge both the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1).

 

4. The Truth about Men and Women’s Desperate Need: The fourth truth every person must know concerns men and women’s desperate need. The Bible teaches that our desperate need is to be forgiven of our sins and to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). But to be reconciled to God and forgiven of one's sins, men and women must repent of their sins as God and Jesus Christ command (Acts 17:30; cf. Mark 1:15). Repentance involves making “a sincere commitment to forsake [sin] and walk in obedience to Christ.”[1] Having repented, you believe (or trust) in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord—including the fact that He died for your sins, rose from the dead, and lives today (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). Having trusted in Jesus Christ, you follow Him daily in loving, lifelong obedience (Luke 9:23). Those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ will be saved from God’s wrath (Romans 5:9), forgiven of their sins, reconciled to God, and receive eternal life; however, if we disobey Christ’s command to repent of our sins and believe in Him, then we will perish in the eternal lake of fire (Luke 13:3, 5).  

 

If you’re not a Christian, I pray that having read this, you will repent of your sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and continually follow Him in lifelong obedience. God bless you.

 

He who believes in the Son has eternal life;

but he who does not obey the Son will not see life,

but the wrath of God abides on him.

John 3:36

 

 

[1] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI, 1994), 713.