Greetings,

As we enter into this new year, let us acknowledge that God's mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)! He shows us mercy everyday that He sustains our very lives (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3) and does not give us what our sinfulness justly deserves (Psalm 103:10, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:3)!

Isaiah 55:10-11 tells us "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven... so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire...".

I love this verse because is a direct promise from God that His Word is powerful, purposeful, and effective, accomplishing all that He says it will. As I contemplate this, my mind leads me to ponder the question, "But what is God's purpose and desire for us?

According to God's Word, our purpose is "to act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8) and that "we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10)".

God also clearly lays out His desire for mankind in 1 Timothy 2:3-4 where His Word says "3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The "truth" this verse discusses is that we come to believe the truth of the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ and be saved!

So, what is the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ?

Three of my favorite bible verses that I think clearly demonstrate the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ are John 3:16, Acts 16:31, and Romans 10:9. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life! Acts 16:31 states, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. Romans 10:9 tell us, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved"!

In order to receive the salvation and eternal life that Jesus offers, we must recognize that we are all sinners in need of his salvation (Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:23) and turn from our unbelief to believe in Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15)! We live in unbelief when we place our faith and trust in human works or worldly systems and religions to save us. The bible says that we must repent or turn away from our unbelief to believe in what God's Holy Word says about who Jesus is, and what Jesus has done on the cross for the salvation of all humanity (Mark 16:16, John 8:24, Romans 4:24).

Jesus paid the “wage of sin” on behalf of all of humanity, so we could be reconciled to God through his death. Through this reconciliation in Christ, we receive eternal life (Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Only those who have received salvation in Jesus Christ will escape the condemnation that is coming to all the earth because of sin (Romans 8:1)! It is God’s Holy Spirit that convicts the world of sin and unbelief (John 16:8-11) and testifies to us of the truth of God in Christ Jesus (1 John 5:6-8)! Jesus alone is the only one who can save because He is God in the flesh and only His shed blood has the power to wash us clean of sin (Hebrews 9:22)! There is salvation in no other name under heaven than Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12)!

Those who continue in their unbelief, rejecting the free gift of the salvation in Jesus Christ, remain under God’s wrath (Isaiah 59:2, John 3:36, Revelation 21:8). Tomorrow is not promised to anyone (James 4:14) and death comes to all (Hebrews 9:27)! Those who die outside of the salvation of Christ will die under God's condemnation, and spend eternity suffering in a place called hell, a place of torment and total separation from the grace of God. (Matthew 25:30,41,46; Revelation 20:15).

Personal Plea to the reader:

If you are a believer in Christ, let us continue to pray for the salvation of those who do not believe and pray that God would ignite or renew our evangelistic efforts for 2026! Let us also hold fast to Christ in all things (John 8:31, Philippians 2:15,Hebrews 10:23) and be assured of the inheritance of eternal life promised to all who have faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:11, 1 Peter 1:4-5, Hebrews 9:15)!

If you do not believe in Jesus as the only Lord and Savior, my prayer for you is that God would newly convict you of your unbelief, and in that conviction, you would change your mind (e.g. repent) of going your own way and turn to Christ today! Right now is the time for your salvation! Now is the best time to begin a new faith/new trust in the forgiveness and redemption that is found only in the shed blood of Christ our Savior!

Unbelievers, turn to Christ while you still have time because you literally have your eternal soul to lose and eternal life in Christ to gain! Let 2026 be your year of salvation, by grace, through faith, in Christ Jesus the LORD! AMEN!

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