Bonus Romania Entry - The Message Given to the Church in Vinga

I decided to share this "bonus" post because I just feel like it is a message we all need to hear... some of us maybe are hearing it for the first time. For some, it is just a good reminder of the basis for our faith. Either way, I hope you see that it is not my word that I am sharing but God's.

The message to the Gypsy church in Vinga - as presented on July 15, 2012:

"I struggled with what to speak on today There are so many scriptures that are important and need to be heard. I had settled on a passage in Luke, but as I prayed this morning I felt God was calling me to speak on something else. Hopefully it is a message you've heard before. But even so, it is a message that we all should know by heart and be able to share with others. It is the message of salvation.

It begins in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." All have sinned. Not a single person in this room is innocent. We are all guilty. Scripture tells us that any sin, no matter how small, is what separates us from God. He is holy and by his very nature He cannot be in the presence of unholy, sinful beings. So even the little lies we tell, or the judgement we pass on others, or the coveting of our neighbor's stuff - all of this separates us from God.

Romans 6:23 says, "for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This is telling us that the price we must pay for our sin is death. Death is our punishment. But this verse also gives us hope. It says that, "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." But if we are deserving of death, how can we receive this gift?

Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrtates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." And then in Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."

God made a perfect world for us with colors, tastes, sounds and smells. He could have made us an empty world, one without joy. But because He loves us, he gave us a world that we could enjoy. Not only that, he gave us a world that was perfect, all the while knowing that we would mess it up by bringing sin into it. But he loved us enough to give it to us anyway.

Christ did not wait for us to stop sinning before he died. "While we were still sinners Christ died for us." He gave his life, he took our punishment upon himself, not because of anything we've done, but because he loves us. He did it becasue He loves you!

But like any gift, we can refuse it. He gives this gift to us freely, but it is up to us to accept it.

How do we accept this gift? The answer is in Romans 10:9-10, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you willl be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

You accept Jesus' gift by believeing in your heart that Jesus is the son of God, that he died to cover over your sins, and that God raised him from the dead. Then you are to confess that you are a sinner in need of Jesus as your savior. Confess that you want Jesus to come into your heart and be Lord your life. Ask him to come into your heart. This is how you are saved. You cannot buy the gift of salvation from God and you cannot earn it with good deeds. But we know from Romans 10:13 that, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." John 5:24 adds, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

How about you? Have you accepted Jesus as your savior? If so, your llife should be a reflection of him. If you have asked him to be Lord of your life, sin should no longer have a hold on you. Does that mean you'll become perfect? No, we are still human after all. But once you accept Christ, people should see a change in you. And when they ask you the reason, be prepared to share with them how Jesus has changed your life.

If you haven't accepted Christ, please consider what I have said. Study the Bible and seek the truth of God. He says that if we seek him with our whole heart we will find him.

Thank you for allowing me to speak to you today. May God bless you and keep you. May his face shine upon you all the days of your life. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Amen!"


***Though I had written this following part down, I did not read it aloud in church that day. However, I include it here for those that may be trusting in Christ for the first time.

"If you feel you are ready to accept Christ, I want to give you an opportunity now to pray to Him. You can pray this prayer or one of your own.

- "Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. I confess that nothing I do can save me, but that you, the Son of God can. I believe that you died for me and that you rose again. I believe that you are in Heaven right now looking down on me. I want you to come into my life and be my savior. Please change me into the person you want me to be. Amen!"

If you've just now prayed this prayer, please find someone that you can tell. Connect with other believers that can help you to understand the Bible and what it means for your life.

If you're not sure about this whole Jesus thing, but are interested in reading about him, I suggest starting by reading in the book of John which is found in the New Testament.  The first four books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) of the New Testament in the Bible all tell about Jesus ministry. Start your search for God there. Ane remember, if you seek him with your whole heart, you will find him.