Being created in God's image means that you are a rational being, capable of reasoning and making choices of your own free will.

However, even though you are made in God's image and are therefore a good person in that respect, you haven't always made the correct moral choices in life, right?

Therefore, even though you are a good person, you are not morally good based on God's standards.  Morally good would mean that you've never done anything wrong in the eyes of God.

So how do you measure up in God's eyes? Consider this - have you ever lied, stolen, or dishonored your parents?  If you're honest with yourself, you'll have to admit that you have done these things.  And according to the Bible, you are accountable for the sins you've committed; in fact you are accountable to God Himself. 

Now, you may have heard the statement, "God loves you," or, "Jesus loves you," and maybe you've thought, "Well, if God and Jesus love me so much, why will they hold me accountable, why will they judge me for my sins?"

Well, the fact that God loves you doesn't mean that it's okay for you to act in a way that is morally wrong.  In fact, one of the most loving things a person can do is to hold someone they love accountable for the choices they make - parents hold us accountable, teachers hold us accountable, coaches hold us accountable, true friends hold us accountable...and God does too.

The Bible makes it very clear that God will hold you accountable for your sins on the day you stand before Him.  However, God's incredible love for you was demonstrated 2,000 years ago when God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the penalty for your sins for you. 

God did that as a gift for you.

But remember, a gift doesn't become yours until you accept it.  You can either accept a gift or reject it, right? Well, the same applies here.

You can either accept God's gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, or you can reject it.  It's up to you.

What will you do?

If you would like to receive God's gift of forgiveness for all of your sins, what you must do is turn to Jesus Christ (repent) and place your faith and trust in Him (believe).

Keep in mind that there is a difference in believing THAT Jesus is the Son of God and believing IN Jesus as your savior.  Believing THAT Jesus is who He said He was is simply an intellectual agreement with the facts.  Believing IN Jesus as your savior is a very different thing.

Think of it this way - isn't there a difference between believing THAT a parachute is under your seat in an airplane and actually believing IN that parachute by putting it on to save you when you jump? 

In a similar way, believing THAT Jesus is God's Son is not what saves you, just like believing THAT the parachute is under your seat doesn't help you when you jump. Believing IN Jesus is what saves you, like believing IN the parachute by putting it on.

You must "put on" Jesus Christ by placing your faith and trust IN Jesus to save you, not just believe THAT He was who He said He was. 

That's what it means to be "saved" or "born again."  Place your faith and trust IN Jesus today, and He will save you in the "jump" to come on the day you die - that way, you can avoid hell and go to heaven.

Please click HERE to watch a video that talks about this more in depth. 

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