Read the October 2026 issue of THE HUB from One Hope Outreach here.
Dear friends and partners,
Thank you so very much for your gifts and prayer to help in the “Great Commission” of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your prayers and gifts enable One Hope Outreach ministry to bless many people around the world with the message of hope and Life.
Eternal destination:
Do you know where you will spend eternity? Every person on planet earth will someday die and spend eternity somewhere. When your day comes to depart this life on earth, do you know for sure what your destination will be?
According to the Bible, death fixes eternal destinies and there are two possible choices of eternal existence; Heaven or Hell. Heaven is described as paradise, a destiny and dwelling place with God for those that are born again. There, all tears are wiped from the eyes and every sorrow and pain is removed; for the former things have passed away (Rev. 21:1-4), and the redeemed enjoy the peaceful presence of God forever. Hell, on the other hand is described as separation from the presence of God, a place of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matt.8:12). A place of pain and anguish, where the soul of man never dies and will languish there in misery for all eternity (Luke 16:19-26--Mark 9:44-48).
The Bible says, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). All of mankind is born with the moral disease called sin. The inbred sin nature of man keeps him separated from a relationship with a Holy God. Man, within himself is without remedy for the sin problem. For the rescue of man from the sin dilemma, God provided His own solution. He sent His son Jesus Christ as a redeemer to purchase man unto Himself.
Sin is the reason Jesus came. He was crucified, buried and raised from the dead to effect reconciliation between sinful man and a Holy God. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus paid the ransom for man to be released from the penalty of sin and the dominion of sins. Once that price was paid, the sin problem was taken care of.
Even though God sent Jesus to pay for the sin of man and even though He holds nothing against mankind; any person can still go to Hell. Every man is born a free moral agent and holds the right to choose his own destiny. That is a free choice of every individual. The Bible says that no man can see nor enter the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again (John 3:3-8).
Jesus’ first message in the gospel of Matthew, was “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17).
Repentance is a decision that results in a change of mind (a renunciation of and reversal from sin) and a submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
There is no birth into the kingdom of God without hearing the call to salvation ( this article that you are reading is that call) renouncing of one’s sin and turning from sin to Christ the Savior (Acts 3:19).
Salvation, receiving eternal life, or being born again (all synonymous terms), does not come by doing good deeds, living a good moral life or even becoming a member of a church. The Bible says there is only one way to be saved and that is to be born again.
Jesus’ message of repentance and a call to salvation poses an inescapable decision to every person. Will you repent and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord? Settle that single most important question of your life. Pray the following prayer, sincerely, from your heart and receive Jesus as your Savior:
God, I come to you in Jesus’ name. You said in the Bible, “If I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with the heart that you raised Him from the dead, I will be saved,” For it is believing in my heart that I am made right with God, and it is by confessing with my mouth that I am saved. I believe in my heart that Jesus died for my sins and was raised from the dead. I confess out loud and publicly that Jesus is my Lord. I repent of my sin and will live for Him forever, amen!
-Marvin Smith
[Editor’s note: This article first appeared on One Hope Outreach ministry web page under “prayer request” “Receiving salvation” (by Marvin Smith) and also adapted for January edition of “The Hub” newsletter]