The Mailbox Club Course 1 Lesson 1
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Dear Friend,
Have you ever wondered:
 | Where did I come from? |
| Why am I here? |
| Where am I going? |
These are very important questions and the Bible gives us the answers.
Where did we come from? We came from God. In the beginning God created man in His own image, but man rebelled against God.
Why are we here? We are here that we might discover the way back to God and choose to return to Him.
Where are we going? We are headed for eternity. Where we spend that eternity depends on the choice we make in this life.
Jesus told us that there two roads in life - a broad road and a narrow road. Jesus said that many people are on the broad road and few on the narrow road.
There are two roads in life -
a broad road and a narrow road.
Jesus told us where each of these roads leads. He said that the broad road leads to destruction (hell) and that the narrow road leads to Heaven. He urged us to choose the narrow road.
Heaven is more beautiful than anything we could ever imagine. It is a place of perfect happiness and joy. In Heaven there are no tears, no heartaches, no hunger, no sickness, no loneliness, no hatred, no sin, and no death. That's where I want to go, and I'm sure you want to go there too!
But there is something we must do if we want to go to Heaven. We must choose the narrow road by taking Jesus Christ as our Savior. Now let us look at some verses that will help us to understand why we need to do this. The first verses tell us something about ourselves. The Bible says,
"There is none righteous, no, not one."
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10, 23
What do these verses tell us? They tell us that we have all sinned. This means that we have all said and done wrong things. In His Word, God tells us what is right and what is wrong. But we have not kept God's commandments. We have been proud. We have been unthankful. We have been selfish. We have chosen our own way instead of choosing God's way. This is sin.
Sin is a terrible thing. It hurts us and it hurts others. But the worst thing about sin is this - it hurts God's heart. Do you know why sin hurts God's heart? Because He loves us so much.
Even though God loves us, He cannot overlook our sins or pretend that He does not now about them. He must punish sin. The Bible speaks of a definite punishment for sin -- "The wages of sin is death." This means separation from God, in hell, forever. How terrible! Yes, but this is true.
Stop and consider these important questions:
When your sins bother you, remember this -- God is speaking to you in love. He wants you to turn from your sins before it is too late. The Bible says, "God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." (Acts 17:30)
To repent means to "turn around." The reason we need to "turn around" is that we have been going the wrong way. We have not been going God's way. Instead, we have been going our own way. The Bible says,
"...we have turned every one to HIS OWN WAY.... " Isaiah 53:6
"...we have turned every one
to his own way.... "
Because we have been going our own way, we must "turn around" if we want to be saved. Jesus said,
"Except ye repent (turn around), ye shall...perish." Luke 13:5
Repentance is not just shedding many tears over your sins. Many people weep and cry out to God and yet do not repent. Repentance is not just being sorry for your sins. A man in prison may be sorry that he is having to suffer for his wrong-doing. Yet, if he were released he would go back to his old ways. He has not repented.
Repentance is not fear. Sometimes, in a time of great danger, men who usually curse a lot may become quiet and even cry out to God for mercy. But, when the danger is passed, they go back to their sins. They have not repented.
What then is repentance? Repentance is a "turn-around." When you say, "I see that I have been going the wrong way, and with God's help, I will turn to God and turn from my sins, "-- that is repentance. This can take place in a moment's time, and it brings joy to God's heart.
Perhaps, right now, God is speaking to your heart. If you see that you are on the wrong road, turn around! Say to the Lord, "Lord, I do not want to go the way of sin and rebellion any longer."
Repentance and faith go together. We must repent of our sins and we must put our faith in the Lord Jesus. We must believe on Him and receive Him as our Savior. He is the One who saves us.
It means that God forgives you of all your sins and makes you His child. You are saved from God's punishment.
Yes, they can. Jesus said, "...him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out. "This means that anyone who comes to Jesus and trusts Him as their Savior will be saved.
No, we cannot. The Bible says that no one will ever be saved by his own good works. We all say and do wrong things. We have all sinned.
Since we cannot save ourselves, we need a Savior. And God has given us a Savior. He gave the Lord Jesus Christ to us to be our Savior. The Bible says,
"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."
John 3:16
Whom does God mean when He says "the world"? He means all of the people in the world. That includes you and me!
Whom does God mean when He says "whosoever"? He means anyone. You can put your name in this verse. Why not do so right now?
Now read it again with your name in the blank places. God loves us, and He has given us a wonderful gift.
God's gift to us is His Son! God gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to us to be our Savior. This means that He gave the Lord Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. The Bible says,
"...God commendeth (He showed) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. " Romans 5:8
The Lord Jesus died for sinners. He died for you and He died for me. Each one of us can say, "Christ died for me. He shed His precious blood for my sins."
Christ died for our sins.
When we take the Lord Jesus as our Savior, God can righteously forgive us because Christ died for our sins. God does not overlook our sins or pretend that He does not know about them, but He forgives them because He sees the blood of His Son which was shed for them.
Not only did Christ die for our sins, but He also rose again from the dead. He is a living Savior! He has all power in Heaven and in earth. He can forgive your sins and make you a child of God.
Our next verse tells us how to be- come a child of God. The Bible says,
"...As many as received Him (the Lord Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God.... " John 1:12
To become a child of God, you must come as a sinner to the Lord Jesus and receive (take) Him as your Savior. This means that you truly believe that He is the Son of God and that He died for your sins.
When you take the Lord Jesus as your Savior, God forgives you of all your sins. You become a child of God. Christ comes to live in you. You have everlasting life.
This does not mean that you suddenly become perfect. You will still have problems, but when Christ lives in you, He helps you to overcome your problems.
We have seen from God's Word that we are sinners, that God loves us, that Christ died for our sins, and that we can be saved by taking Him as our Savior. Now you must make your choice.
You must choose whether you will receive Christ as your Savior and turn from your sins or whether you will continue on the broad road that leads to destruction.
What is your choice? You won't refuse God's love, will you? You can take Christ as your Savior right now.
Since this is just between you and the Lord, it will be best if you can find a quiet place where you can be alone for a few minutes. So, right now, before you read the next part, find a quiet place where you can be alone with the Lord Jesus.
Now you are ready to talk to the Lord Jesus. In your own words, tell Him that you know that you have been going the wrong way. Tell Him that you are truly sorry for your sins. Thank Him for loving you so much and for dying on the cross for your sins. Ask Him to come into your heart to be your Savior.
When you believe that Jesus died for your sins and you take Him as your Savior, you have everlasting life. The Bible says,
"He that hath the Son has life (everlasting life).... " I John 5:12
Being a child of God is the most wonderful thing in all the world, but it will not always be easy while we are here on the earth. The Lord Jesus has told us in His Word that we will surely have many trials and troubles in this world. But we do not have to be afraid if Christ is living in our heart. He has said, 'I will NEVER LEAVE YOU.... " Hebrews 13:5
If you have taken the Lord Jesus as Your Savior and this lesson has helped you to do so, we would like to know about it. At the bottom of the answer sheet, you will find a place where you can tell us of your decision.
If you are not sure that you are saved, read this lesson over and over until you are sure. Ask the Lord to make it clear to you.
The title of the next lesson is: "What is God Like?" As soon as you email your answer sheet back, you can begin the next exciting lesson.
"And He (Jesus) said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to
his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto
them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took
his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And
when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in
want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into
his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the
swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many
hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I
will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy
hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off,
his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And
the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no
more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the
best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring
hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was
dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."
Luke 15:11-24
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