Are You Searching for the Truth?
HOW CAN ONE BE ASSURED OF THE TRUTH?

Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John. 8:32). In fact, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John. 14:6). If one comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ he will know the truth. One can know He is truth because He will give him true freedom from the bondage of sin, guilt, and eternal judgment. All of the Bible is truth (John. 17:17). But what truth does the Bible give us concerning eternal life?

MAN IS SEPARATED FROM GOD as a result of the least sin. The Bible explains that “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you” (Isaiah 59:2). The Bible declares that without exception man is a sinner. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God is so holy no sin can enter His presence in heaven. Habakuk 1:13 in the Bible states about God, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.” We have come short of God’s holy standard (some have missed it more than others but we all have come short)

GOD IS JUST. All sin must be dealt with and cannot be overlooked. The Bible reveals that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Romans 1:18). It declares as well, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The penalty for sin is God’s wrath, death and separation from God (to be separated from God for all eternity in hell). Revelation 21:8 explains it like this, “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Sin is the great hindering factor that not only keeps one from eternal life but brings eternal judgment.

MAN CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF. Understanding that one has been alienated from God because of his sin may cause him to seek to make up for it. Though that may be a noble ambition one cannot make up for the least sin. Isaiah 64:6 uses this analogy, “All our righteousnesses (attempts to do right) are as filthy rags.” The Bible explicitly states, “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). By ones own effort he will never get rid of the sin that keeps him from eternal life. 

ETERNAL LIFE IS A GIFT PROVIDED BY GOD (Ephesians 2:8). God saw the sinfulness of man and yet made a way for sin to be forgiven. He could not merely overlook it and declare it forgiven. The penalty had to be met. He sent his son to this earth to take that penalty. Jesus literally “bare our sins in his own body on the tree” (I Peter 2:24). This way God could be “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). Jesus died for all of man’s sin then he rose from the dead just as it was prophesied that he would (I Corinthians 15:3,4).

TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE ONE MUST RECOGNIZE WHO JESUS IS AND RECEIVE HIM. Jesus is God, the creator, who became a man for the purpose of dying for man’s sin (John 1:1-3,14). It is essential to recognize his deity (He is God). He said it himself to some that opposed him, “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). He offers himself as a free gift to be received for absolute assurance of eternal life. John 1:12 states, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” If one repents (changes his mind) of his own way and will receive the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way, he can be assured of eternal life. In the words of Romans 10:9, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”