Failte - Welcome

Welcome, you’ve probably come here because someone handed you a lateral thinking puzzle with this address on it, or a website has directed you here, or perhaps because of an article in the Letterkenny Post.

More importantly you’re here because your curiosity was provoked and you want to find out more. These next few sentences are among some of the most important you will read, not because I have written them, but because they are about you, and about where you will spend eternity.

What is a Christian?

A Christian is someone who has been given a fresh start in life by God. They have turned from following their own ways, and have started following Jesus. They are relying on Jesus death on the cross to make them right before God, because they have realised that they can't do anything themselves to please a perfect God. Because of Jesus' death they are forgiven for all the wrong they have done.

Why do you need to become one?

From the minute we're born to the moment we die we break God's rules. When we die we have to stand before God and give account of ourselves, and our defiant ignoring of him and breaking his rules.

God requires sinless perfection. We can't meet that standard. If he didn't require such sinless perfection, Heaven would be a right old mess - full of mixed up messed sinners. So none are allowed into God's presence.

The flip side of the coin is that he will punish forever those who have broken his commands. If you don't think you've broken his laws - please look here.

Some people think that spending forever outside of God's presence sounds alright. They think that they will be amongst friends and family and that will be good enough. Sadly, friendship and fun and laughter are all kind gifts given by God. In Hell there will be no friends, no laughter. All pleasures will be gone. They exist only in God's presence.

With eternity ahead of you, this life is the only chance we have to fix our destiny. Now is the only chance you have to seek forgiveness, and to seek to be made right with God. It's not rocket science - just fairly straightforward.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23

What hope do we have then?

God himself provides the solution. He knows that we can't help ourselves. We're so infected by sin that everything we do is stained by its dirty fingerprints. His plan of salvation is two-fold:

God sent his son to live the life we couldn't live - a perfect life.
And God sent his son to take the punishment that rightfully belonged to us.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:23

How do you become a Christian?

Because Jesus has done it all, there is nothing left for us to do. This is the great flaw of every single religion in the world - they teach that the way to be right with God is through our own efforts. That simply can't be, for perfection is what God requires. One sin is enough to ruin our record before God, and no amount of good deeds, which are the basic requirement anyway can make up for that.

What is the answer? Here is where Christianity is unique. It is the only religion in the world that says you don't have to do anything - it's all been done. Jesus has done everything that is needed for us to be right with God. He did what we couldn't do - lived a perfect life, and he faced what we deserve - the wrath of God.

If he has done it all what do we need to do? Repent - that's a biblical word that means turn from doing what you want, and start doing what he wants. It includes seeking forgiveness from God for all the wrong you have done. The second thing you need to do is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Believing doesn't just mean believing the facts, but it means trusting him to pay the price on the cross for your sins.

"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." - Titus 3:5

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." - Acts 16:30,31

"Repent and believe the good news!" - Mark 1:15

Is Jesus the only way?

Quite simply 'yes'. That's not an arrogant thing to say - He said it. And since he came and gave his life so that people could get to Heaven, and since he governs who gets into Heaven, and since Heaven is his home, I think he has the authority to say what the way to Heaven is. In fact to suggest that there is another way to get to Heaven that doesn't involve the death of God the Son, is a slap in the face to an infinitely wise God.

Jesus himself said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

He also said, "whoever comes to me I will never drive away." (John 6:37)

Does this mean I need to be 'Born again'?

This phrase 'born again' usually gets the hackles up in some people. I can't for the life of me see why. People ask me, "Are you one of those born again ones?", and the very tone betrays what they think.

Well the simple answer to both questions is "Yes".

It isn't me who chose the phrase, or who insists on the fact, it is none other than Jesus. Listen to these verses:

Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." - John 3:3
"You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'" - John 3:7

The reason Jesus uses this phrase is because it is so telling. We need a fresh start. We can't do it ourselves - what child causes themselves to be born?! It is humbling to realise that we cannot save ourselves, and we need God to do everything. Another reason he uses this phrase is that it conveys just how fouled up we are - we need a completely fresh start in life. Nothing we have done up to this point counts, except as a debt.

This new birth is just a biblical way of describing the whole process spoken of in "How do I become a Christian?"

So, yes, you do need to be 'born again'.

Resources

Here's something you might want to listen to: The Uniqueness of Christianity

Here's a website that has the stories of many Irish people who have found peace and forgiveness through trusting in Jesus.

Here's a link to another helpful website

If you would like to ask a question please feel free to use the comment system provided and I'll get back to you.

How Good are you?

Almost everyone thinks they are a good person. But the question that we should be asking is, "Am I good enough to go to Heaven?" How would you know? The way to find out is to ask yourself if you have obeyed the Ten Commandments (found in Exodus 20). Give it a go - circle honestly whether you reckon you are guilty or innocent.

1) You shall have no other God before Me
Have you always put God first in your life? Jesus said to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength-- so much, that your love for your parents, brothers and sisters, friends, and even your own life is like hatred compared to your love and devotion for God. Have you ever failed to put Him first in your life?

GUILTY INNOCENT


2) You shall not make for yourself any idol
Who is God to you? Is he only a god of love and mercy who would never judge anyone and never cast anyone into Hell? If that's your god, then you're right. Your god couldn't cast anyone into Hell because he doesn't exist. He's a figment of your imagination. You've created a god in your own mind that you're more comfortable with. You may call it your "personal belief," but God calls it idolatry. It's the oldest sin in the Book, and the Bible warns that idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

GUILTY INNOCENT


3) You shall not take Gods name in vain
Have you ever used God's name as a curse word? If you have, you've taken the holy name of God-- who gave you your life, your family, and everything precious to you-- and used it as a filthy, four-letter word. Hitler's name wasn't even despised enough to be used as a curse word! If you have used God's holy name in that manner, you are a blasphemer and the Bible says "God will not hold him guiltless who takes the name of the Lord in vain."

GUILTY INNOCENT


4) Remember to keep Sunday Holy
God commands that we set aside one day in seven. Have you ever been guilty of breaking this Commandment?

GUILTY INNOCENT


5) Honour your parents
Have you always honoured your parents in a way that's pleasing in the sight of God? Have you ever shouted at your parents? Disobeyed your parents? Said things behind their back etc? Ask Him to remind you of the sins of your youth. You may have forgotten them, but God hasn't.

GUILTY INNOCENT


6) Do not murder
Jesus warned, "Whoever is angry with his brother without cause, is in danger of judgment," (Matthew 5:22) and the Bible says, "He who hates his brother is a murderer," (1 John 3:15). God sees hatred in the heart to be as wicked as murder. We can violate His Law by attitude and intent.

GUILTY INNOCENT


7) Do not commit adultery
Jesus warned," You have heard...'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Have you ever looked at another person with lust? The Bible says that adulterers and fornicators (those who have had sex before marriage) will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

GUILTY INNOCENT


8) Do not steal
Have you ever stolen anything (even if it was something small)? The value of the thing stolen doesn't matter; petty theft is still theft. Have you ever taken anything that belonged to someone else (from the office, school, parents, etc.)? If you have, that makes you a thief.

GUILTY INNOCENT


9) Do not lie
Have you ever told a lie? Then you are a liar. How many murders do you have to commit to be a murderer? Just one. If you have told even one lie, that makes you a liar. The Bible warns that all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8). You may not think deceitfulness is a serious sin, but God does.

GUILTY INNOCENT


10) Do not covet
This means we should never desire anything that belongs to another person. Not their house, nor their car, nor their money, nor their wife, nor their lifestyle, nor anything that belongs to our neighbor.

GUILTY INNOCENT


Well how did you do? There can't be anyone who hasn't circled a lot of guilties. Even for those who have circled only a few, God says, "Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." (James 2:10)

Here's something to think about - If you know that you're guilty, how do you intend to explain yourself to the Lord Jesus on the Day of Judgment?

Maybe you're hoping that because God is good then somehow he'll let you off, perhaps because of the other good things you have done. In that case you need to realise that it is precisely because he is good that he cannot let the guilty go free. Guilty means guilty.

How will you answer?

God tells us in his word that there is hope - "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" - Romans 8:1