“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
Now you might be wondering what this passage has to do with refusing to take the vaccine, but I would reply it depends on which virus we are talking about. While the news today is all about Covid 19 and the new vaccines which are being rushed out, the world seems to be ignoring what I and others would consider a very important statistic. You see, the mortality rate of Covid, depending on which statistics you wish to employ, are by all accounts much lower than we were led to expect. Yet the entire world is focused on the new vaccines and how quickly we can all be vaccinated. The simple truth is that while the world is focused on a virus which is only around 1% fatal, they are ignoring a virus that God tells us is 100% fatal, and that is sin.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 NKJV
I received many questions this past week concerning the decision to accept or refuse the vaccine and its implications for the body of Christ. As you might expect, many are very hesitant to being vaccinated and have serious questions concerning not only its efficacy, but if it is really necessary to receive it in the first place, especially if one has already been exposed and has developed antibodies. While the answers to those questions need to be determined on an individual basis, my thoughts are that this is a perfect time for the body of Christ to address the need to be vaccinated in order to escape eternity in hell by sharing the gospel of Christ.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:16 NKJV
Sadly, the vast majority of churches today teach what I have termed the “gospel of the moment”. That is, they teach whatever they feel the congregation wants to hear in order to fill the seats with happy, contented people. Even in this time of social distancing, and churches being told they cannot meet, the message seems to be more about how to cope and how quickly we can return to normal rather than sharing the gospel. Sadly, it is not as if God did not warn us in advance that this would happen. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul warned of this problem in advance and explained that people would turn away from the truth of the Gospel and instead embrace the lies of the evil one.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV
In all of his letters, Paul makes it plain that the truth of which he is speaking is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for gospel is “euaggelion”, which translates as; “gospel, the glad tidings of salvation through Christ”. The truth is, there is only one way for mankind to be saved from eternity in Hell and that is by accepting the vaccine of salvation offered by His sacrifice on the cross for our sin. On the day of Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit had come upon the disciples, Peter makes it very clear when talking to the High Priest and his advisors that there is only one true gospel and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NKJV
The power of the gospel of Christ was so powerful that even these who had crucified Him were forced to admit that something they could not explain had indeed occurred. I find it curious that there is so much talk about the need to be able to identify those who have been vaccinated for Covid 19 when the Word makes it clear that those who receive the vaccine of the blood of Jesus Christ are easily recognized.
“But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.” Acts 4:15-16 NKJV
When Paul and Silas were put into prison in Philippi, a miracle occurred when God produced an earthquake which caused the doors to open and their chains to fall off. When the jailer was about to kill himself, he was stopped by Paul and responded by asking this question;
“And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:30-31 NKJV
Notice that Paul’s answer to him was the gospel of Jesus Christ, and not some of what you might hear in many churches today which teach a different “gospel”. There is only one vaccine which is 100% effective against the wages of sin, and it is the blood of Jesus Christ. Yet in the world today the vast majority refuse to receive the vaccine which would guarantee spending eternity in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When Jesus was explaining the gospel to Nicodemus He said this;
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 NKJV
Jesus went on to tell him that to be born again is to be born of the Spirit, which is what happens when we choose to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is the truth of the Gospel of Christ? That God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die on a cross for our sins. What is required of us is to simply admit we are sinners, and believe that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin when He died on the cross. This is what it means to be born again, and it is a gift given to us free of charge, the only requirement being we must receive and accept it.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
If you are reading this today and have never made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, I encourage you to do it right now. Simply ask God to forgive you of your sin, and believe that His Son Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sin, and you will be “born again” and “have everlasting life” just as Jesus said. If you have never made the decision to accept that free gift I encourage you to do so. Simply ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him. You can do that by praying a prayer just like this one;
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."
This is the vaccine which saves mankind and is 100% effective. Have you received it?
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