Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:26Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 1:14; 3:16For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21Matthew 4; Luke 4

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17…knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. Romans 5:12-15

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one. John 10:28-30In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. Romans 6:3-10

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 10:19-26

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:13-17

The bad news is you can't get to God or to Heaven on your own. Scripture teaches that all of us are sinners (Romans 3:23), and even one sin separates us from a holy God. The Bible tells us that a death penalty must be paid for sin (Romans 6:23).Many people have a misconception about reaching Heaven. They believe if you're basically good, you go to Heaven, and if you're bad, you go to hell—measuring themselves against other people.

But that's not what Scripture teaches.Someone who's 7 feet tall may be a giant compared to someone who's 4 feet tall. But compared to Mount Everest, both are short. From God's perspective, we all fall short. Our standard isn't other people—it's God. And He is perfect. None of us comes close to reaching Heaven on our own (Romans 3:10).That's the reality we face, but thankfully, that's not the end of the story...

Here's the good news—the Gospel! ("Gospel)" literally means "good news!")

The Gospel tells us God loves us so much He made a way for us to be with Him in Heaven even though we've sinned.God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ, came to earth, and lived a sinless life. He died on the cross, paying the death penalty that a holy God requires of sin (Romans 5:8). Then He conquered death, rising again, so that through Him—and through Him alone—we can get to God and Heaven.We can't earn and don't deserve Heaven. But Jesus purchased a place there for you, which He offers as a free gift. A gift isn't yours until you receive it personally. You must trust Jesus to do what you cannot—pay for your sin so that, in God's eyes, you are as sinless as Jesus Himself. Now that's finding hope!

Unfortunately, the good news won't transform your life until you receive it personally (Romans 10:9-10). Here's how. Pray (talk to God) and tell Him:"I agree with You, God, that I am a sinner. I'll never be good enough to save myself. I admit it. I am getting out of the Savior business."I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay my death penalty for sin. I believe that He arose victorious over death to give me eternal life in Heaven. I accept it. Receive it. I trust in Him, rely on Him, depend on Him, put my faith in Him, and rest in Him as my personal Savior."I commit my life to Jesus. I make Him my master, my Lord. I put Him in the driver's seat of my life. I put my sin behind me. I recognize that because I'm trusting Him for eternal life, I can surely trust Him with my life while here on Earth. I know He wants what's best for me. Thank you for saving me."

Now it's time to share this hope with someone else—what Jesus has done for you. Start with a friend or family member. Then come join us at Idlewild, where faith and family meet. Read God's Word each day; starting with the book of John. Also, pray to God daily. These steps will help you grow closer to God and experience the joy found in Christ!By the way... If you just trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior for the first time, that's worth celebrating—and we want to hear about it! Please contact us and let us know. We would like to send you some more information about your next steps in finding family at Idlewild—we've saved a place for you! 

Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Learn more about why baptism is important—and how we baptize at Idlewild.