Contents

Title Page

Saved From A Death Sentence

Title Page

Saved From A Death Sentence

Based On A True Story

North Christian Church

2360 Chestnut Street

North Dighton, MA  02764

www.nccdighton.org

www.christsavesministries.org

Saved From A Death Sentence

A guilty man was convicted of murder. Justice demanded that a price be paid for his error. A payment must be made, according to the courtroom Judge. It was the only just and righteous thing to do! Therefore, the man was sentenced to death.

After many days of waiting, the day of his scheduled execution arrived. The man is led out of his cell by the prison guards. He is walked down the long corridor of death with chains on his hands and feet.  His heart is pounding. His body is soaked with sweat. Tears start pouring from his eyes.  He knows he has just minutes to live!

He is almost at the end of the corridor. He can see the light in the execution room. He has heard the stories of horror and pain and death, and is terrified of what he is about to face.

As this guilty murderer approaches the entrance to the execution room, a man steps in front of him and the prison guards. This man looks very meek and caring, and with a peaceful look on his face, he hands the guards a letter from the courtroom Judge.

As the prison guards read it, they are shocked to discover that the Judge has given permission for this man to take the murderer’s place! This man is a FRIEND of the murderer and he loves him very much, even though his friend is guilty.

So great is his love for his friend that he has offered his own life before the courts to be sacrificed in place of his guilty friend, and the Judge has agreed to allow the substitution!

The murderer is suddenly released from his chains, and they are placed on the hands and feet of his innocent friend! The murderer is astonished. His jaw drops and he can’t even speak. He watches in disbelief of the great love of his friend as he is led to the execution room, and beaten and put to death.

What a friend. This was a true friend.

This story illustrates what God has done for us.  A true friend sticks by you no matter what, even when you're guilty. There is no greater proof of love and friendship.

Jesus said “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Do you know that YOU have a friend like this? Your True Friend has already died as a substitute for you.  The Heavenly Judge has allowed it.  He died for us all because, according to the Bible, we're all guilty of sin before our holy God. (Romans 3:3,10) We've all broken the 10 Commandments, for example, throughout our lifetimes.

The good news is that OUR DEBT HAS BEEN PAID! We have been saved from a death sentence! The Bible tells us we are all deserving of eternal death because we're all sinners, and sinners cannot please a perfect God.

But thanks to our Best Friend, the Lord, Jesus Christ, the eternal judgment for our sins has been removed. Our sins were poured out onto Him on the Cross. God Himself broke down the invisible dividing wall between man and God — the wall between a holy God and His rebellious creatures.

God wants us to repent of our sinfulness and turn to Christ as our Lord and Savior, in humility. Jesus said "Repent, and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15c)

No one is worthy except the perfect One, Jesus Christ, who stepped in the way of our execution. He was without sin, and therefore qualified to be the acceptable sacrifice. Our death sentence has been transferred to our True Friend, who was God in the flesh!  (John 1:1,14, 5:24)

God loved us so much that He did the unthinkable. He stepped out of heaven. He became that innocent man in the long dark corridor. He became poor so we could become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

He paid the price for us, so that we could be offered the free gift of eternal life THROUGH HIM. Our certificate of debt, which we owed God for our sins, was nailed to the Cross with Him. And by trusting in His Son, we are saved!!!

That's a True Friend. That's True Love. All of us have the Lord on our side, IF we choose to accept Him, IF we'll humble ourselves and admit our need for His mercy.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

The Gospel: Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, humbled Himself to die on our behalf. Thus He became the sinless sacrifice to pay the penalty of our guilt. He rose from the dead to declare with power that He is Lord over all, and He offers eternal life freely to sinners who will surrender to Him in humble, repentant faith.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“The wages of sin is eternal death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

The Word of God tells us whoever trusts in the Lord Jesus, from the heart, will be saved!

“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ” (Romans 10:9-10)

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31)

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for anyone who has turned to your Son in humility. We gladly welcome them as fellow children into Your Family, as heirs to eternal life!

We ask that You motivate them to read Your inspired Word, the Bible, starting in the gospel of John. And we ask that You help all believers find the Pastor-teacher you have currently assigned them to, so they can learn Your unique plan for their lives. (1 Peter 5:3, Acts 20:28)

Most of all, we thank You for Your indescribable gift, Your own Son, Jesus Christ. Now we know that You love us, because You did not withhold Your only Son from us. (1John 4:19)

We ask that You bless and protect everyone as they go forward in Your destiny for them. It’s in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we pray. Amen.

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WE ALL NEED TO BE SAVED FROM A DEATH SENTENCE.

The contents of this booklet are to make us aware of the hopeless situation we are in, and how we can be rescued from it.

If you're still alive, God has a plan and purpose for your life.

But it's up to you to seek Him and search for it.

You have free will, and He promises, if you ask Him for the TRUTH, He will reveal it to you!

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www.NCCdighton.org

www.ChristSavesMinistries.org