Jesus Changes Everything

“He saved us because of his mercy, not because of righteous things we had done. He did it through the washing of new birth and the renewing by the Holy Spirit, which God poured out upon us generously through Christ Jesus our savior.” Titus 3:5-6 (CEB)

As I was listening to Christian music radio recently, I heard a song which said, “Heaven changes everything*.” This is a true statement, however; without first knowing Jesus as your savior, you will not experience life in heaven. What a bold remark some may think, but according to my Bible there is only one way to heaven. We can read this truth in John 14:6, “Jesus answered, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (CEB)

How does Jesus change everything for you, for any of us? First and foremost, He willingly gave up His life upon the cross. He died for me and for you! Before He breathed His last breath hanging, suspended on that cross, He was beaten, spat on and the crowds yelled at Him in mockery. Let’s think about prior to that moment in time – Jesus loved the unlovable, He dined with the scourge of the city, He did not judge or condemn. He healed, He fed and He justified. He showed them the Father.

There are three (3) parts; gifts, if you will, to our salvation. They are:

Justification, sanctification, and glorification.

Justification is the gift, by which our sins are forgiven,

Sanctification is the gift by which we grow in the likeness of Christ, and

Glorification is the gift by which we enter into the everlasting joy of heaven.

Our entrance into heaven is by way of glorification. Only by forgiveness of sin and the righteousness Jesus provides do we gain admittance to heaven. Living the Christian life in and of itself will not do it.

Heaven does change everything… through Jesus.

*Big Daddy Weave