Christianity is not about doing good and avoiding evil; nor is it about trying to get to heaven. If these things define us, then we should drop “Christ” out of the name of our faith, for these having nothing to do with Christ and His finished work. Every religion in the world tries to do good and avoid evil, and all of them are working and hoping for a higher home when they die. Is this what we want to be?

We have relationship, not religion, and we are sons, not slaves (Galatians 4:7). The reason that Christianity is special is that when you accept Christ, your life does not become a daily challenge to live up to rules and regulations but it becomes one where Christ lives His life through you. The cross and the resurrection provided two very important things for all of us:

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10).

Christ’s death on the cross reconciled the world back to God. There is no more separation between God and man. Not even sin can separate man from God, for Jesus bore all sins in His body on the tree. This message of reconciliation is made up of the fact that God does not impute transgressions to man; and this is the sole message of the church (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Christ’s resurrection, which of course could not have taken place without the cross, provides us with life. It is not the life of Jesus prior to the cross that gives us life, for that would have nullified the need for His sacrificial death. Jesus’ life is a pristine example of how to live, but it provides us with no strength to copy the same. We need His death for our sins and His resurrection for our life if we hope to walk as He walked.

These two important things are not the only things however, for Paul now says, “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:11). The word ‘atonement’ is the Greek word ‘katalaga’ meaning, “exchange or reconciliation”. We have joy because of the finished work of Jesus, who has exchanged His life for ours. He took our sin; we take His righteousness. He took our curse; we take His blessing.

Peter called this joy “unspeakable” (1 Peter 1:8). It is unspeakable because mere human words can never describe the miracle that takes place at the great exchange. When we are saved, we give up who we were to receive who He is. He is perfect in every way, and as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). He literally exchanged places with us at Calvary, taking into Himself what should have been ours; giving us what was rightfully His.

Because of the great exchange, every promise of God in Christ is yours. If Jesus was beloved, so are you. If Jesus was full of health and wholeness, so are you. If Jesus was the righteousness of God, so are you. Get the picture? Thank God for the great exchange and just enjoy being who He has become in you.

Did God give mankind manifold options to have their sins forgiven?

The birth of the church of Christ was on the Day of Pentecost. What occurred on that day?

1.The apostle Peter preached Jesus, His death, His burial, and His resurrection. (Acts 2:22-35)
2. Peter stated God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ and that they were responsible for Jesus being crucified.(Acts 2:36)
3. The crowd asked Peter and the rest of the apostles what they should do. (Acts 2:37)

What was Peter's answer? Keep in mind these men had already believed that Jesus was Savior, Lord, and the Christ.

Did Peter give them this list of choices?

1. Did Peter say, "Repent and say the sinners prayer and you will have your sins forgiven and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?"
2. Did Peter say, "You do not have to do anything thing to be saved, you were saved the very moment you believed, your sins are forgiven?"
3. Did Peter say, "Repent and be baptized because your sins have been forgiven?"
4. Did Peter say, "You were added to the body of Christ the minute you believed, however, in order to join the local church you must be baptized in water?"
5. Did Peter say, "Repent and be baptized as an example to the community?"
6. Did Peter say,"It is written that men are saved by faith only, water baptism is a good work?"
7. Did Peter say, "Water baptism is just an act of obedience, and it has nothing to do with forgiveness of your sins?"
8. Did Peter say, "The thief on cross was not baptized and he was saved; therefore you can have your sins forgiven without being baptized?"
9. Did Peter say, "You have to be baptized in order join a denominational church, however, you can get into heaven by faith only?"
10. WHAT DID PETER SAY? Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(NASB)

The apostle Peter was not offering multiple ways to have sins forgiven.

Faith: John 3:16
Repentance: Acts 2:38
Confession: Romans 10:9-10
Water Baptism: Acts 2:38
ALL ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION!

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