Step 8: The Decision Point

The logic has brought us to the foot of the cross. Now we must make a choice.

The Legal Constraint

We established that the Substitute paid the Infinite Debt. This raises a necessary question:
If the debt is paid for the world, why isn't the whole world automatically saved?

The Law of the Pardon:
A Pardon is a unique legal document. It has been issued by the Governor (God) and paid for by the Substitute (Jesus), but it is legally void until it is accepted by the criminal.

If you write a check to pay off a friend's mortgage, the debt is theoretically covered. But if your friend refuses to endorse the check, the bank will still foreclose on his house.

The Tale of Two Trees

1. The Tree of Knowledge (The Entrance)▼

In the beginning, Man stood in perfection. There was only ONE EXIT from the Garden: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Adam chose that exit. He wanted independence. He wanted to be as God.

The Result: We have been digesting that fruit for all of human history. We see it in our addictions, our cancers, our wars, and our graveyards. We have fully digested that "Knowledge," and it has produced exactly what God said it would: Death.

2. The Tree of Calvary (The Exit)▼

Now we stand in The Inverse Eden—a world of death and evil. Just as there was only one exit out of Paradise, logic dictates there is only ONE EXIT back in.

The Tree of Calvary: The tree upon which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was hung.

The Logic: The First Tree (Knowledge) was the door to Death. The Second Tree (The Cross) is the door to Life.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
(Deuteronomy 30:19)

The Historical Prototype

God acted this choice out in real time. When Jesus Christ was crucified, he hung between two criminals.

Important: These two men represent ALL OF HUMANITY. They were both guilty. They were both naked and bankrupt before God. Neither had anything to offer the Savior.

Select a response to see the outcome:

The Rejection

One man looked at the Savior and mocked him. He used his dying breath to demand more proof.

"If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." (Luke 23:39)

He died in rebellion, holding onto his own guilt. He represents the tragic choice of all those who reject the only Exit from death.

The Endorsement

The other man realized he was guilty. He had no hope in himself, he had nothing to offer God, he simply looked to the Savior.

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)

Jesus accepted the transfer immediately:

“To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

The Invitation

It is not a mountain to climb. It is a single internal pivot—Repentance (Metanoia: A change of mind). You give up being your own savior, and you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior.

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31)

The Promise

God has made the invitation as wide as the human race. Scroll through the evidence of His invitation:

Isaiah 1:18"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Isaiah 45:22"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."

Isaiah 55:1"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

Joel 2:32"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered."

Matthew 11:28"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Luke 19:10"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

John 3:16"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."

John 3:36"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

John 4:14"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

John 5:24"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

John 6:35"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

John 6:37"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

John 6:40"And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 6:47"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

John 7:37"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."

John 11:25-26"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

Acts 2:21"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Acts 10:43"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

Romans 10:9"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Romans 10:11"For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

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

1 Timothy 1:15"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

2 Peter 3:9"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

1 John 5:11"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."

Revelation 3:20"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

Revelation 22:17"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

The Logic is Done.

The Invitation is Open.
The Water is Free.
He is not far from any one of us.

Come and drink.

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD I NEED MORE EVIDENCE I REJECT THE PARDON ← BACK TO START