The Bible Column - The Way of Eternal Life (Part 3)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” I John 5:13
“…how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” I Corinthians 15:3-4
This week I have added yet another scripture in the explanation of the Gospel story. In these verses we learn of the Lord Jesus Christ and His death and shed blood on the cross of Calvary. This payment was for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:2) However, only those who come to God through Christ receive that forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
The narrow way that leadeth unto life (Matthew 7:14) requires (1)”repentance toward God” (2) “faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”, and (3) “calling upon the name of the Lord” for salvation and forgiveness. Repentance is a change of the sinner’s mind about their sin, the holiness of God, and what the Bible says about the only remedy for sin. True repentance is “toward God” the Father. “Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” is our complete belief and reliance upon the fact that the Lord Jesus has already paid for all our sin. Nothing more could or should be done to complete our sin’s remedy. To “call upon the name of the Lord” communicates to the Lord through our own mouth the desire of our repentant and believing heart to be forgiven and saved. The assurance of salvation follows “that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”