An Open Letter to My Family and Friends
By George J. Stroh
March 7, 2013
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
In August of 1975, the most significant and important event of my life happened. I heard and believed God’s gospel (or good news) concerning Jesus Christ. I believed that He died and rose again on my behalf and that by His grace, through my faith in this gospel; I received forgiveness of all my sins. When He died, I died and when He was resurrected, I was resurrected to new life; Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature.
Since that life changing time for me in 1975, I have had a burden for my family and friends. Please listen to what the Bible says about our sinful human condition, about the coming judgment of God, and the punishment that certainly awaits all lost sinners. Because the Bible says that the penalty for sin is death, not just physical death, but spiritual death, eternal separation from God in a literal hell. However, the marvelous life-giving gospel message of God is that you can have forgiveness of sins and be reconciled to God through faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. You can, because of Jesus Christ, be saved from God’s judgment and eternal punishment in hell and instead receive eternal life in a literal heaven; Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:20, 21)
I obviously can’t look into your heart and know for sure if you are or are not a “born again” believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Only God knows your heart. But I’m afraid that many of you have been lulled into a false sense of security, as I once was, believing that you are acceptable to God because you are a pretty good person, because you grew-up in a Christian family, because you were baptized, confirmed, or attend church. There are billions of seemingly good and even religious people who are self-deceived about their true relationship or lack of relationship with God; Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”
So, my beloved family and friends, as the Apostle Paul once wrote to the church at Corinth, Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! (2 Corinthians 13:5). Is Jesus Christ really your Lord and Savior? Are you really a Christian? Will you spend eternity in heaven or hell? I urge you to hear and believe this gospel message because I love you, but far more importantly, because God loves you; For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16). Maranatha!
