The fact is that in order to be saved, one must realize and acknowledge the fact that he is lost. Man is separated from God because of sin and without hope outside the mercy of God. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

Romans 3:19 "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Isaiah 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

By nature, our inherent sinful life is passed on to the human family by our forefather Adam. His sin separates man from God. We don't have to do anything to become sinners. We are sinful by birth and by nature. The Psalmist David said of himself, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalms 51:5). He further states the condition of the human heart; "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies" (Psalms 58:3). A tiny baby, before it learns to walk or talk, learns to lie. The baby can be in bed and begin to cry as if it were dying, and at the moment someone picks it up, it becomes very calm. In a sense, the baby is lying. It wasn't sick or hurting but wants someone to take it up. Notice the awful state man is in before God;

As it is written, "There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes." Romans 3:10-18

Sin has left the human race ruined, broken and lost before a Holy God. The pronouncement of death is upon us, both physical and spiritual death.

The Faith

However, man does not have to live in this state here on earth and especially when he faces God in eternity. The scriptures teach us that there is a way out. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Psalms 19:l).We must admit that a power higher than ourselves has things under control. If man ever came from a monkey, why aren't monkeys being turned to men? You can't even get a blood transfusion from a monkey to man, so the theory of evolution is nonsense.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16-17). We have a certain amount of faith in our everyday lives. We have faith that we will make it to work: the car or bus will get us there safely and back, faith that children will make it to and from school, but faith in God is a different story. You may ask, how can I have faith in someone intangible? I cannot see God or feel God with my natural hands, yet we can see the handiwork of God all around us. We can feel God's presence when we are born again! He that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 1 l:6b).

The Feeling

We have spoken about the fact that man is lost and alienated from God, and in order to be saved and go to heaven, one must have faith in God. Contrary to man's religious philosophy today that there is no feeling to salvation, we set forth to use scriptures to prove there is a feeling to salvation. If you could receive salvation without feeling it, you could also lose it and never know it, if this kind of logic is true. We are talking about a Supernatural God doing a supernatural work in the heart of man.
First, God sends the message of the Gospel to man, "except you repent you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3b) This message pierces or pricks the heart of man. The Bible claims special power "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). This message of the Gospel sets up trouble in man's heart. We feel condemned and convicted by the message of truth.

The Psalmist explains it this way, "The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul" (Psalms 116:3). Various scriptures reflect upon the fact that the gospel pierces hearts and they call upon the Lord (the publican, Luke 18:9-14).

A man named Nicodemus in the Bible came to Jesus inquiring as to the way to heaven: "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee. Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?" (John 3:1-9) A Supernatural God does a supernatural in our lives. The Gospel of Jesus Christ works in the heart of an individual bringing about feelings in two ways.
The Gospel convicts the and brings pain. "The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon me of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul" (Psalms 116:3). It seems most unreal that a soul could be convicted so deeply that he could feel the pains of hell, be brought from this death to everlasting life, and say that there is no feeling to it.

In Christ's discourse with Nicodemus he used a carnal parable to bring about a spiritual lesson (truth). You must be born again. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:7b-8). It is a birth, nothing more and nothing less. Man must be begotten by the Word of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of God. Christ compared this birth with the wind. Can you explain the wind? We don't know from where it comes and where it goes. We don't know from where it comes, but some things we can identify.

"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, 'Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?' And they said, 'Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.' He saith unto them, 'But whom say ye that I am?' And Simon Peter answered and said, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered and said unto him. 'Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 16:13-17).

"He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him. to them gave he power to become the sons of God. even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:11-12)

Will you be saved and certain by repenting of your sins and trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior!

By: Bro. Eugene Brown Words of Hope Ministry

P.O. Box 78333 Nashville, Tennessee 37207

USA www.wordsofhope.org