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For the last couple of weeks we have been looking at the most popular verse, probably in the world, that is found in John 3:16, but we have also been looking at the verses directly after it (verses 17 and 18).

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18

The reason Jesus came was to save people, to give them eternal life with him. This is necessary so that when one dies, they can be with the Lord in heaven. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance; He strongly encourages us to receive the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23b).

However, as I share the Gospel in Bermuda, although there are many that want to receive this free gift, there are also those that think that they are "too sinful" to accept it. Let me explain what I mean by that.

Each person tends to fall in either one of three categories when they hear the Gospel. Some believe and accept Jesus Christ as personal Saviour; some reject Jesus because they think that their good works are good enough to get them to heaven.

Too sinful

However, last week we addressed this issue, that even our best of works are life's filthy rags to God because His standard is so high and His holiness so great (Isaiah 64:6). I also find that the final category of people reject Jesus because they feel that they are too sinful for God to forgive them of their past and present sins. They look at their lifestyle today and remember the things they have done in the past, and say, 'No way, I could not come to God because Christian and my name should not go in the same sentence!'

Well I have striking news for you! There is nothing that you have done in the past that is so bad that Jesus cannot forgive. And we are going to look at a couple of parts in the Bible that confirms this definite truth!

I can certainly relate to this type of thinking because I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour at the age of 14. I was so excited about my relationship with the Lord that I remember telling my parents about their need to accepted Jesus Christ as well. As the years passed I had some good conversations with my father about accepting the Lord.

And no matter how hard I tried, he could not understand how Jesus could forgive him of his sins! I can remember as we were talking in his bedroom about it, he would say, "Gary, you mean to tell me that with all that I have done in the past that God would just forgive me if I come to him. I can't accept that! How can he forgive me of all that I have done?" I would share with him that it's true, it's really true.

Now, just a little background about my father, which I believe highlights the love of God. He was a smoker of cigarettes from the age of 13 and belonged to the White Hill Round Table. A very popular group of men in his time that truly enjoyed one another's company and also would not hesitate to enjoy their alcoholic beverages, some of them excessively, which included my father. He would go back and forth from drinking to not drinking at all for long periods of time.

With the backdrop of his past, he thought he was too bad to accept Jesus, as countless Bermudians, even now in their 50s and 60s think today. Even though he did many good works, in fact I can honestly say that my father has been the greatest example of what it means to be selfless and humble that I know today other than the Lord.

In fact, he is the reason that I was educated in Bible School at both World of Life and Philadelphia Biblical University.

Not only did he financially support me, but also he encouraged me to pursue my goals with unwavering support and communicated how proud he was of me every step of the way. However, even with that he knew that it was not good enough to qualify him for eternal life.

I can still remember the night that he accepted Jesus Christ and God opened his eyes for him to see that he could be saved. It was when the Gospel Singer, Calvin Hunt was in Bermuda. God saved Calvin from years of crack cocaine addiction. He was in the streets, sleeping in a doghouse, shooting up his paycheque to try and achieve that first high even though he had a wife and young children at home.

Hesistant

After hearing this testimony, the Gospel, and with Calvin giving an invitation for people to believe in Jesus, my father left the building! One reason may have been because my mother went forward to receive the Lord and he would always tell me "If your mother gets saved, I will be right behind her."

Would you know he got on his motorbike to leave, but the Lord told him go back! He then went back and the same person that walked my mother forward was coming for my father, but did not know he left the building. This lady went to the back of building to look for him (as he liked sitting at the back), and as she got to the back, he walked right in the door. She asked him, "Mr. Simons, would you like to receive Jesus Christ?" His response, "Yes, I will." And then he also got saved that night by admitting he had sinned, believing that Jesus Christ died and rose again for his sins, and confessed with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10:9-13).

That was one of the best highlights of my life because both of my parents accepted Jesus on the same night! People were celebrating and crying with joy in their hearts including myself.

Now this is the verse I would like to leave with all of those in Bermuda that think like my father thought. It is found in Romans 5:20b "But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,".

No matter how bad your past has been or your present condition, it is not beyond God's grace or love, to not only forgive you, but to change you. This is why Jesus was described as... "...a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."..." Jesus hung around the people that others would despise, because His love knows no limit. No excuse is good enough when place next to God's love? Why not believe today?

Pastor Gary C. Simons serves as the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, 82 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda[[In-content Ad]]

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