Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 5/16/2011

Question
Ok so I have been a christian since I was about 6 or 7 and over the last couPle of years I've noticed my attitude towards my parents and peers and teachers have gotten way out of hand.  I still remember the time I said screw Christ.  I regret ever sayin that.  About 2 weeks ago, I got in an argument with my family because I wanted to do a project my way but they said it was wrong.  I blew up and I hit my sister and almost put my mom in the hospital be quad I pushed my sister into her and she fell on her kidney and she has had arthritits err since she was a kid.  Well my mom wanted to know what was wrong and I told her to f off.  I told that god/Jesus was a piece of shit.  I told her that I was a follower of Satan because I always felt anger and I always wanted revenge on everybody.  I told god/Jesus to f off and get the he'll out of my life.  I regret err saying that but I have said that almost 10 times know.  I almost became a Devil Worshiper and I don't know what to do to get my life back with god.  Do you think I will ever make it to heaven if I make things right and ask for forgivness.

P.S. I almost joined a gang that disses god and all he has done for people but not them.  What do I do? IM TIRED OF LIVINGTHIS LIFE PLEASE PLEASE PLEAE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer
Hi Jordan,

Thank you for this great question.  You are on the right track... you realize the path your on leads to distruction and you need to get off.  I am going to give you 5 simple truths that will enable you to know for sure you are on your way to heaven, and liberated from this anger that seems to control you.  You see, it is possible to know FOR SURE you have eternal life.

1 John 5:13 (AV)
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1.  The first thing you must know is that everyone is a sinner.  I think that you have this one already, you have already acknowleged that you have made some terrible decisions.

Romans 3:10 (AV)
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:23 (AV)
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

2.  The next thing that you must understand is that the price for that sin is death.  We are guilty and deserve both physical death (our body dies) and spiritual death (Soul goes to the Lake of FIre)

Romans 6:23 (AV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Revelation 21:8 (AV)
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

3.  The next thing you must understand is that you cannot pay the price for sin by trying to be better, or by good works.

James 2:10–11 (AV)
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.


Galatians 2:21 (AV)
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (AV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.


4.  Since you cannot do anything that will merit salvation... Jesus  lived a perfect life and died in your place so you can have perfect forgiveness and so that He can take your sin and give you His righteousness is its place.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (AV)
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.


Romans 5:8 (AV)
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.


John 3:16 (AV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

5.  Jesus died for the whole world, but the whole world will not be going to heaven.  The question God is asking you is, what are you going to do about it.  If you are willing to transfer your trust from hoping you are good enough to get to heaven and on to what Jesus did on the cross alone, you can have eternal life.  You will know that all your blasphemy is forgiven and instead of those ugly things, God will see the righteousness of Jesus when He looks at you.  All you need to do is ask.

Romans 10:13 (AV)
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


You can pray a prayer like this.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, I know that I deserve to go to hell.  I know that You died in my place. So I ask You to save me from my sin and take me to Heaven when I die.  Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.

Once you do that from the heart, the Holy SPirit will live inside you and give you the power to choose to serve God rather than serving your anger.

I hope that this helps you.  I am very sorry for my late response.

In Christ
Pastor Don