I grew up in the church, was baptized at the age of 9. I knew of Messiah Yahoshua (at that time I called him Jesus Christ), but never really knew him and the only reason I was baptized was because the pastor was talking about a place called “Hell” that was hotter than Arizona, and I knew I didn’t want to go there!
When I went to college, I was pre-med, in the Honor’s College, and aced most of my classes. I especially learned a lot of different philosophies and thought I was too smart for Yah. I started calling myself an atheist, but I was really an agnostic – I didn’t think anybody really knew for sure whether or not Yah existed. Also, I thought I was a pretty good person. I felt that if anyone could end up in Heaven, if it existed, I probably would. Then came the shock of a lifetime! Let me explain by asking you a couple of questions… Have you ever lied (even once--fibs, white lies, etc.)? Ever stolen (anything--the value is irrelevant)? Yahoshua said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you ever looked with lust? If you have said "Yes" to these three questions, by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart; and we’ve only looked at three of the Ten Commandments.
What a shock! Yah didn’t see me as the “nice person” I imagined myself to be… and he doesn’t see you that way either. Nothing you’ve ever done is hid from His holy eyes. Will you be innocent or guilty on the Day of Judgment? Listen to your conscience. You know that you will be guilty, and therefore end up in Hell. That’s not Yah's will. He provided a way for you and I to be forgiven.
He sent His Son to take our punishment: "Yah commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us." He was bruised for our iniquities. Yahoshua then rose from the dead and defeated death.
Your own so-called “goodness” can’t buy you salvation any more than mine could. Yahoshua is the only way to Yahweh. He is the "Door," the only "mediator." There is salvation in no other name, so pray something like this: "Dear Yah, I repent of all of my sins (confess them). This day I put my trust in Yahoshua, my brother and Messiah, as my Savior. Please forgive me and grant me your gift of everlasting life. In Messiah Yahoshua's name I pray. Amen." Lastly, you must be a doer of the word. Yahoshua said that not everyone who says to him "Master, Master," shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of the Father who is in Heaven.
-- Elizabeth James, F.A.I.T.H. Ministries, Inc.
