“He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds.” Isaiah 53:5 (GW)
Have you ever wondered what the most fundamental truth of the Bible is? Here it is:
“He was wounded for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds. We have all strayed like sheep. Each one of us has turned to go his own way, and the Lord has laid all our sins on him” (Isaiah 53:5-6 GW).
That’s the most basic truth of the whole Bible. Everything you’ve ever done wrong—and everything you ever will do wrong—has already been paid for. All you have to do is accept God’s grace and goodness.
One day a man came up to me frantically after a church service and said, "I need to know—what do I need to do to get to heaven?"
I said, "Well, you're too late."
And he said, "What do you mean? There's got to be something I can do."
I said, "There's nothing. It's already been done by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago."
This is what makes Christianity different from every other religion. Every other religion has a list of things to do to get to heaven. Other religions can be summed up in the word “do.” Christianity is summed up in the word “done.”
When Jesus was on the cross, he cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30 GW). That means you don’t need to add anything to what Jesus has done for you. You simply need to have the humility to admit, “I’m a sinner, and I need a Savior.”
Are you ready to admit that today? If you’ve never invited Jesus into your heart, I want you to have that opportunity now. Tell God you trust his promise of salvation through Jesus by praying this prayer:
Dear Father, you have promised that if I trust in Jesus, I will be saved—not by my works, but by your grace alone. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I confess my sins and ask that you forgive me. And I surrender my life to you. Guide me, lead me, and help me to follow Jesus in faith and obedience. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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