I am pleased to know that many of my children's ancestors were Bible-believing Christians with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One day we will join together with past generations of those who have gone before and sing praises to the Lamb.
Unfortunately, there are also many others of my family lines who undoubtedly did not put their trust in the risen Messiah and with whom we will not enjoy a happy reunion in the "Sweet Bye and Bye."
For all of you who visit this site in search of information on our common ancestors, I would be remiss if I did not tell you the same Good News that I heard as a boy and have accepted into my heart and life.
We are all born with a genetic predisposition to sin! Our original forefather, Adam, disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, and his family line was cursed from then right up until today. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Rom. 5:12)
There is NO hope! We all have the sin of Father Adam and we all have sinned personally. The penalty for sin is DEATH. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) For the wages of sin is death, (Rom. 6.23a)
Wait! There is hope! Just when everything seemed hopeless, God Himself entered the picture to save us from the penalty of sin. He did this by sending His own Son, Jesus, to die on the cross of our sins. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish (die) but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
So, how do I use this 'Get Out of Jail Free' card, anyhow? That question was more or less asked by a jailer in the northern Greek town of Philippi: What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved. (Acts 16:30b-31) That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. (Rom. 10:9)
Don't I have to DO something? What could one do take away Adam's sin? What could atone for having disobeyed Almighty God? Can dirty hands wash away dirt? It would take a blamelessly righteous person, and we have all sinned. There is none righteous, no, not one. (Rom. 3:10) Even righteous deeds, when done by unrighteous people, will not atone for sin. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, (Titus 3:5)
God's Grace. It is not what you do that counts, it is whether you are willing to accept God's free gift of grace. For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephes. 2:8,9) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)
Still trying to "work" your way to Heaven, going to church, being kind, living a clean and perfect life? That won't do it. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
The only way. God has provided a way to be saved from the death sentence of sin through the provision of our Lord Jesus Christ. Believe on Him, accept His free offer of salvation, invite Him into your heart to live, make Him the Lord of your life. It is the only way to Heaven. It is the only way to peace and true contentment. And the alternative is gruesomely bleak. I hope you will join me in singing with all the angels throughout eternity. Write me if you would like more Bible verses, spiritual help, or just a friend to talk to.