Pilate asked Jesus of Nazareth this question, just before condemning him to the cross. (John 18:38) Mankind has been asking the same question ever since, but seldom looks in the right place to find the answer.
The only real source of truth is in the Bible, God’s word. “Sanctify them through Thy TRUTH, Thy Word is TRUTH.” (John 17:17) “And ye shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
Our political freedom is precious, but there is a much more valuable freedom. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:2)
This freedom comes by trusting God’s word. “Because they received not the love of the TRUTH, that they might be saved… That they all might be damned who believed not the TRUTH.” (2 Thes. 2:10,12) This scripture sets forth two destinies for everyone, depending upon their own acceptance or rejection of God’s TRUTH.
Jesus said, “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…” (John 10:9)
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven… Being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (Rom. 1:18; 5:9)
This means that we are saved from God’s wrath and to eternal life.
The other destiny is unthinkably terrible. Jesus Christ condemned the religious hypocrites of his time, “How can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matt. 23:33) He describes hell in Mark 9:43,44; “to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Luke 16:19-31 relates the experience of one man who went there, “And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments… for I am tormented in this flame.” (verses 23,24)
At the final judgment, the Bible tells us about all of the damned, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever… And the dead were judged out of those things written in the books… and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:10-15)
To be “damned” means an eternity of fiery torment with the devil and the ungodly of all ages.
No one is exempt from facing the judgment of God. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God… every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom. 14:11,12)
How can I be saved? That’s what the Philippian jailer asked the Apostle Paul in Acts 16:30,31. His answer is good for you also, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Repentance is a part of this as well, Jesus preached, “…repent and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) Paul described his ministry in Acts 20:21, “testifying both to the Jews and to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Repentance is a true change of attitude about our sins. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of… “ (2 Cor. 7:10)
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
“The Lord is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our Savior, Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the TRUTH.” (1 Tim. 2:4,5)
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
WILL YOU ACCEPT THE TRUTH?
TODAY? NOW?