Picture the horror of being stranded in a vast ocean as hungry, deadly sharks close in on you. Then imagine how grateful and relieved you’d feel to be plucked to safety. The truth is, every person on the planet is lost in an ocean full of danger. We all urgently need rescue—not by boat or helicopter—but by our Father in heaven.

<p>Picture the horror of being stranded in a vast ocean as hungry, deadly sharks close in on you. Then imagine how grateful and relieved you’d feel to be plucked to safety. The truth is, every person on the planet is lost in an ocean full of danger. We all urgently need rescue—not by boat or helicopter—but by our Father in heaven.</p>

Amazing Facts

Amazing Facts Audio

Amazing Facts Bible Study Guides

01 Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?

02 Did God Create the Devil?

03 Saved From Certain Death

04 A Colossal City in Space

05 Keys to a Happy Marriage

06 Written in Stone

07 The Lost Day of History

08 Ultimate Deliverance

09 Purity and Power

10 Are the Dead Really Dead?

11 Is the Devil in Charge of Hell

12 1000 Years of Peace

13 God’s Free Health Plan

14 Is Obedience Legalism

15 Who is the Antichrist?

16 Angel Messages From Space

17 God Drew the Plans

18 Right on Time

19 The Final Judgment

20 The Mark of The Beast

22 The Other Woman

23 The Bride of Christ

24 Does God Inspire Astrologers and Psychics

25 In God We Trust

26 A Love that Transforms

27 No Turning Back


You're listening to Amazing Facts Bible Study Guide, Lesson number 3. Our topic, Rescue from Above. Picture the horror of being stranded in a vast ocean as hungry, deadly sharks close in on you. Then imagine how grateful and relieved you'd feel to be plucked to safety. The truth is, every person on the planet is lost in an ocean full of danger.

We all urgently need rescue. Not by boat or helicopter, but by our Father in Heaven. God loves you so much that He sent His Son to save you. You've probably heard this before. But are you sure you really understand what it's all about?

What does it really mean to you and can it truly change your life? Listen and find out. Let's get started with our first question. Well, I've sometimes wondered, how do we know that God really cares about us? That's a great question and something that many people ask.

Thankfully, God answers it directly in His Word. Let's see what the Bible says. Isaiah chapter 43 verse 4. Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you. Jeremiah 31, Verse 3, Yes, I have loved you with everlasting love.

Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you." 1 John 3, verse 16. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. Remember, these are only a few out of hundreds of verses confirming His love. God's never-ending love for you is far beyond human understanding. He would love you even if you were the only lost soul in the world.

And Jesus would have given his life for you even if there had been no other sinner to save. Never forget that you are precious in his sight. He loves you and he cares about you deeply. So then how does God show His love for us? Well, let's take a look at what Jesus said.

John chapter 3, verse 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. So because God loves you so deeply, He was willing to send His only Son to suffer and die rather than be separated from you for eternity. First John chapter 4 verses 9 and 10. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent his only begotten son into the world that we might live through Him.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. It might be difficult to grasp a love as deep as this, but God did it for you. But how could He love someone like me? Let's let the Bible answer that. Romans chapter 5 verse 8.

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Ephesians chapter 2 verses 4 and 5. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. He genuinely loves us, but certainly not because anyone deserves it. The Scriptures leave no doubt on that point.

Let's head over to the Book of Romans for more clarity on this. Romans chapter 3 verse 23. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans chapter 6 verse 23 the wages of sin is death it's a fact that not 1 person has ever earned anything except the wages of sin which is death but God's love is unconditional he loves those who have stolen those who have committed adultery, and even those who have murdered. He loves those who are selfish, those who are hypocritical, and those who are addicted.

No matter what you have done or what you were doing, He loves you and He wants to save you from sin and its deadly consequences. That's pretty amazing. But what did Jesus' death do for me personally? Excellent question! 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.

John 1.12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name. First of all, Christ died to satisfy the death penalty against you. He was born a man so he could suffer the kind of death all sinners really deserve. And now, today, He offers to give you the credit for what he did. His sinless life is credited to you so that you can be counted as righteous.

His death was accepted by God as full payment for all your past wrongs. And when you accept what he did as a gift, you are taken into God's own family as His beloved child. That sounds almost too good to be true. So how do I receive Jesus? I'm glad you asked.

The answer is simple. By admitting your need and believing in him. All you need to do is admit 3 things. Number 1, I am a sinner. Romans chapter 3 verse 23.

All have sinned. Number 2, I am doomed to die. Romans chapter 6 verse 23 The wages of sin is death. And number 3 I cannot save myself. John chapter 15 verse 5 Without me you can do nothing.

Then believe these 3 things. First, He died for me. Hebrews chapter 2, verse 9, that He, Jesus, might taste death for everyone. Second, He forgives me. What a wonderful promise we find in 1 John.

1 John 1, verse 9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And third, He saves me. Here's what Jesus said. John chapter 6 verse 47, He who believes in me has everlasting life.

That does sound simple, but what do I need to do to receive this gift of salvation? That's the beauty of this special gift. All you need to do is accept it. I'd like to share with you a couple of verses from the book of Romans. Romans chapter 3 verse 24.

Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Verse 28. A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. So as incredible as it seems, the only thing you can do is to accept salvation as a gift. Our works of obedience will not help us to be justified because we have already sinned and deserve death, But all who ask in faith for salvation will receive it.

The worst sinner is accepted just as completely as the 1 who sins the least. Your past does not count against you. Remember, God loves everyone alike, and forgiveness is simply for the asking. Ephesians 1.7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 2.8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves.

It is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast. Isn't that great news? Yes, it really is. But when I join His family, will Jesus make changes in my life? Absolutely!

And they are all changes for the better. Here's what the Bible says. Ezekiel 36.26 I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation old things have passed away behold all things have become new.

When you receive Christ into your heart, He begins the process of destroying your old sinful self and changing you into a new spiritual creation. Joyfully, you will begin to experience the beautiful freedom from guilt and condemnation, and the old life of sin becomes repulsive to you. You will see that 1 minute with God provides more happiness than a lifetime of being the devil's slave. But can you tell me, will this changed life really be happier than my old life? Let me answer that with these passages.

These are the words of Jesus. John chapter 15 verse 11. These things I have spoken to you, that your joy may be full. John, chapter 8, verse 36. Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

John, chapter 10, verse 10. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. Many feel that the Christian life will not be a happy 1 because of self-denial. The exact opposite is true. When you accept the love of Jesus, joy springs up from within you.

Even when hard times come, the Christian can enjoy God's powerful and comforting presence to help him or her overcome sin. For example, let's take a look at this verse in Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. God promises he will always be there for us.

Matthew chapter 28 verse 20. I am with you always even to the end of the age. Well I'm wondering will I be able to make myself do all the things a Christian should do? That's a fair question. Let's look at some Bible verses that I think will help answer that.

Galatians chapter 2 verse 20. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. Philippians 4. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This is the greatest miracle of the Christian life. What you do as a Christian is the spontaneous outflowing of Jesus' life within you. There is no forcing yourself to be good. Instead, obedience is the natural response of the genuine love of God in your life. Being born of God as a new creature, you want to obey Him because His life has become a part of your life.

Look at what the psalmist says. Psalm 40, verse 8. I delight to do your will, O my God, and your law is within my heart. To please someone you love isn't a burden, it's a delight. I can see how that's true.

So does this mean that even the 10 Commandments won't be hard to obey? Well let's see what Jesus has to say about that. John chapter 14, verse 15 and 21. If you love me, keep my commandments. He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me.

John chapter 15, verse 10. John chapter 15 verse 10. Remember that every 1 of God's commands is also a promise that He will empower us to do what He asks. Ponder these verses in the book of 1 John. 1 John 5, verse 3, For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.

1 John 2, verse 5, But whoever keeps his word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. 1st John chapter 3 verse 24, Now he who keeps his commandments abides in him and he in him. So the Bible ties obedience to a genuine love for God. Christians will not find it tiresome to keep the 10 Commandments. With all your sins covered by the blood of Jesus, your obedience is rooted in His victorious life within you.

Because you love Him so deeply for changing your life, you will actually go beyond the requirements of the 10 Commandments. Let's look at another verse. 1 John 3, verse 22. And whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." When your heart belongs to Jesus, obeying His commandments will come naturally. You will want to please Him, and you will regularly search the Bible to know His will, trying to find more ways of expressing your love to Him.

That makes sense. But how can I be certain that keeping the 10 commandments is not legalism? Well, let's go to the book of Revelation and look at a couple of verses Revelation chapter 14 verse 12 Here is the patience of the Saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Revelation chapter 12 verse 11 and they the Saints Overcame him Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Keep in mind that legalism is trying to earn salvation by good works instead of accepting it as a gift.

Saints in the Bible are identified as having 4 characteristics. 1. Keeping the commandments 2. Trusting the blood of the Lamb 3. Sharing their faith with others 4.

Choosing to die rather than to sin These are the true marks of a person who loves Christ and desires to follow Him. I think I understand, but how can I be sure that the faith and love in my relationship with Christ will continue to grow? Again, let's look to God's Word and consider a few passages. Colossians, chapter 2, verse 6. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.

1 Corinthians 15, verse 31, I die daily. Romans 6, verse 11, likewise you also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord These verses refer to our need to follow closely in the footsteps of our Savior and our need to die to sin every day. Here are some other important factors. Acts chapter 17 verse 11. They received the Word with all readiness and searched the Scriptures daily.

1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 17. Pray without ceasing. No personal relationship can prosper without communication. Prayer and Bible study are forms of communication with God and they are essential in keeping your relationship with Him growing. His Word is a love letter that you will desire to read daily to nourish your spiritual life.

Conversing with him in prayer will deepen your devotion and open your mind to a more intimate knowledge of who he is and what he seeks in your life. You will discover amazing details of His incredible provision for your happiness. But remember, as in other personal relationships, the loss of love can turn a paradise into slavery. When we cease to love Christ and His example, religion will exist only as a forced compliance to a set of restrictions. Well, is there some way I can let everyone know about my life-changing relationship with Jesus?

An excellent question. Let's look at some verses. Romans chapter 6 verses 4 and 6. Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, that the body of sin might be done away with. Acts chapter 2, verse 28.

Repent and let every 1 of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Galatians chapter 3 verse 27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Baptism symbolizes 3 significant components in the life of 1 who has accepted Christ. 1, death to sin.

2, birth to a new life in Christ. And 3, a spiritual marriage with Jesus for eternity. This spiritual union will grow stronger and sweeter with time, so long as we continue in love. To seal your spiritual marriage with Jesus for eternity, God has promised never to forsake you, to take care of you in sickness and in health, and to provide for every need that could possibly develop in your life. Just as you received Him by faith, keep on trusting Him for every future need and He will never let you down.

Would you like to accept Jesus into your life right now and begin experiencing a new life? Yes, I would. Amen. You'll never regret your decision. I'm sure that I won't, but Before we wrap up for today, I do have a few more questions I'm not quite clear on.

For example, how could 1 person's death pay the penalty for the sins of everyone? What if we are just too sinful for God to save us? Well, as we noticed earlier, Romans chapter 3 verse 23 tells us that all have sinned and we also observed that in Romans chapter 6 verse 23 it says that the wages of sin is death so something special is required for every person who's been born only 1 whose life is equal to or greater than all mankind could die for the sins of all mankind. This verse in Hebrews clarifies that. Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25.

Therefore, he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Because Jesus is the Creator and author of all life, the life he laid down was sufficient for the lives of all the people who would ever live. I see. But if I accept Christ and His forgiveness and then fall again, will He forgive me again? We can always trust God to forgive us again if we are truly sorry for our sin and confess it.

Here is his promise. 1 John 1 verse 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. How can I even approach God in my sinful condition? Wouldn't it be better to have a priest or a minister pray for me? Well, let's think about this.

Remember that Jesus and his human flesh faced temptation just as we do. Consider this verse. Hebrews 4, verse 15. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Although tempted, Christ was sinless.

2 Corinthians 5, verse 21 refers to Jesus as Him who knew no sin. And here is what Jesus told his disciples. John chapter 16 verse 33. I have overcome the world. Because he was tempted as we are and was victorious He can forgive us from our sins.

We don't need a human priest or minister to do that. Here's another Bible verse. First Timothy, chapter 2, verses 5 and 6. For there is 1 God and 1 Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all. Because of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and constant prayers for you, you can approach God.

And although we've already considered this verse, let's consider the first part again. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 16. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace. Not only can we come to God to ask for His forgiveness, but we can approach Him boldly. Well, I know salvation is a gift, but is there anything I can do to help God save me?

Nope. The Bible makes it plain that His plan is entirely a plan of grace. Romans 3.24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Galatians 2.16 We have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ. Titus chapter 3 verses 4 5 & 6.

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Savior. It's true that as God grants us grace through faith, He also gives us the desire and strength to obey Him. This results in loving obedience to His laws, so even this obedience results from God's free grace. Obedience, the service and allegiance of love, is the true test of discipleship and a natural fruit of faith in Jesus Christ. Well, I'm a little confused.

When God forgives my sin, am I still required to do some kind of penance? Nope. Jesus paid the full penalty for our transgressions. Romans 8, verse 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Those who accept this in faith owe no works of penance for cleansing, as Jesus has already cleansed us from sin. Revelation chapter 1, verses 5 and 6. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. In closing, Consider these beautiful promises relating to God's forgiveness.

Isaiah 43.25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." Psalm 86 5 For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you. Micah 7 18-19 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Well, It looks like we'll have to conclude our study for now. But let's dive into our next lesson soon. It's entitled, A Colossal City in Space. Hello friends, this is Doug Batchelor, President of Amazing Facts. I'd like to invite you to dig deeper into the Word of God by enrolling in our free Bible school today.

For more information, please visit us online at Bibleschool.AmazingFacts.org. Thank you friends and God bless. Scripture taken from the new King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, used by permission, all rights reserved.

Series

Amazing Facts Bible Study Guides

03 Saved From Certain Death

Description

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

01 Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?

28m

02 Did God Create the Devil?

28m

03 Saved From Certain Death

28m

04 A Colossal City in Space

28m

05 Keys to a Happy Marriage

28m

06 Written in Stone

28m

07 The Lost Day of History

28m

08 Ultimate Deliverance

28m

09 Purity and Power

28m

10 Are the Dead Really Dead?

28m

11 Is the Devil in Charge of Hell

28m

12 1000 Years of Peace

28m

13 God’s Free Health Plan

28m

14 Is Obedience Legalism

28m

15 Who is the Antichrist?

28m

16 Angel Messages From Space

28m

17 God Drew the Plans

28m

18 Right on Time

28m

19 The Final Judgment

28m

20 The Mark of The Beast

28m

22 The Other Woman

28m

23 The Bride of Christ

28m

24 Does God Inspire Astrologers and Psychics

28m

25 In God We Trust

28m

26 A Love that Transforms

28m

27 No Turning Back

28m

Sound Doctrine