If you were watching a Monday night football game live on the television Monday night, would you know who is going to win? You might be pretty sure one way or the other, but until the game is over, you can’t be 100% sure. However, if you were busy on Monday night … had to miss the game … found out later who won … it was such a good game that you wanted to watch it Tuesday night…would you and could you know for sure, 100% for sure, who won the game Monday, while you were watching it on Tuesday? YES, because it already happened.
There are many times that I share the gospel with people who go to church somewhere and they say that they believe in Jesus. But, as the conversation goes on, they question whether or not they, or anybody for that matter, can be 100% sure that they can be saved and have eternal life in heaven with God forever. “It is just too hard to be certain,” some say. Others say, “it takes faith and ‘after all we can do.'” Still others say, “but I’ve done a lot of bad things.” In fact, most people say that they have faith in God, but when we we go on talking, their conversation turns more towards themselves and their works and away from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If you struggle with this, think of the gospel like you would that football game that you missed on Monday night. Both the game and the gospel happened in the past so we can be 100% sure who wins. When it comes to the gospel, who wins, Jesus (eternal life and heaven) or sin (eternal death and hell)? Let’s consider two important points about the gospel.
1. The gospel is the death of our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins. That happened in the past. Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins? Can you be 100% sure that He did? YES, because it already happened.
2. The gospel is the burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus rose Himself from the grave proves that He is God and has the power to save anyone who believes. Do you believe that Jesus was buried in a grave and rose again on the third day? Can you be 100% sure of His resurrection? YES, because it already happened.
The things we do on Tuesday do not change the fact that the winning team on Monday night has another tally mark in the win column of the record book. Likewise, the things that we do today, whether good or bad, do not change the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross and was buried and rose again. Jesus won! That will never be changed! Jesus’ record of destroying sin once and for all stands forever and ever. Believe in Him, not in yourself, and you will be 100% sure of your salvation, eternal life, and heaven with God forever.
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4