The word "June" shown with each letter representing a different biblical word, along with graphics of the bible, the cross, and a dove, with a background image of fire coming down on the earth and the words  "bytesofsalvation.com, June 2026”

As we head into the summer months, I am thankful to God that summer brings more direct and consistent heat. With the summer comes more beautiful sunny weather, longer days, and warmer evenings. As I enjoy the summer heat, my mind shifts to heat as a reference for God's Judgement.

In the Bible, intense heat or fire often symbolizes divine judgement. The Bible talks about God being a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29) who will one day pour divine judgement and wrath upon the earth, sin itself, and unbelieving, wicked mankind (Romans 2:5, Colossians 3:5-6). God's great day of judgment (Acts 17:31, 2 Peter 3:10–13), which the bible also refers to as the "Day of the Lord"(Joel 2:31 , Zephaniah 1:14–15), and the Great White Throne Judgement (Revelation 20:11–12), is His ultimate, universal reckoning when He will judge the wicked world in absolute righteousness.

The Bible also mentions a different judgement specifically for believers, referred to as the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). The judgment seat of Christ does not determine our salvation as that is determined by placing our faith and trust in Christ (John 3:16) and His sacrificial death on our behalf which paid the penalty of our sins (1 John 2:2). At the Judgement Seat of Christ, believers will give an account of our works as Christians (Matthew 12:36, Romans 14:12), where our works will be tested by the fire and given eternal reward or suffer loss based on the quality of the work (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

Although God has decreed a day of final judgement that will destroy the world of sin, He has promised there will be a new heaven and a new earth, where there will be no sin nor it's consequences, but where only righteousness dwells. God, in his sovereignty and provision, has also already provided a way in which we can be included in His new upcoming creation and spared from His wrath to come. Those who believe the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ are promised that we will be part of this renewal/recreation and we can live joyfully look forward to the completion of God's redemption (Luke 21:28, Romans 8:22-23, Ephesians 1:13-14).

So, what is the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ?

Three of my favorite bible verses that I think clearly demonstrate the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ are John 3:16, Acts 16:31, and Romans 10:9. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life! Acts 16:31 states, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. Romans 10:9 tell us, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved"!

In order to receive the salvation and eternal life that Jesus offers, we must recognize that we are all sinners in need of his salvation (Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:23) and turn from our unbelief to believe in Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15)! We live in unbelief when we place our faith and trust in human works or worldly systems and religions to save us. The bible says that we must repent or turn away from our unbelief to believe in what God's Holy Word says about who Jesus is, and what Jesus has done on the cross for the salvation of all humanity (Mark 16:16, John 8:24, Romans 4:24).

Jesus paid the “wage of sin” on behalf of all of humanity, so we could be reconciled to God through his death on the cross. Through this reconciliation in Christ, we receive eternal life (Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Only those who have received salvation in Jesus Christ will escape the condemnation that is coming to all the earth because of sin (Romans 8:1)! It is God’s Holy Spirit that convicts the world of sin and unbelief (John 16:8-11) and testifies to us of the truth of God in Christ Jesus (1 John 5:6-8)! Jesus alone is the only one who can save because He is God in the flesh and only His shed blood has the power to wash us clean of sin (Hebrews 9:22)! There is salvation in no other name under heaven than Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12)!

Those who continue in their unbelief, rejecting the free gift of the salvation in Jesus Christ, remain under God’s wrath (Isaiah 59:2, John 3:36, Revelation 21:8). Tomorrow is not promised to anyone (James 4:14) and death comes to all (Hebrews 9:27)! Those who die outside of the salvation of Christ will die under God's condemnation, and spend eternity suffering in a place called hell, a place of torment and total separation from the grace of God. (Matthew 25:30,41,46; Revelation 20:15).

Personal Plea to the reader:

If you are a believer in Christ, let us continue to pray for the salvation of those who do not believe and pray that God would ignite or renew our evangelistic efforts for 2026! Let us also hold fast to Christ in all things (John 8:31, Philippians 2:15,Hebrews 10:23) and be assured of the inheritance of eternal life promised to all who have faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:11, 1 Peter 1:4-5, Hebrews 9:15)!

If you do not believe in Jesus as the only Lord and Savior, my prayer for you is that God would newly convict you of your unbelief, and in that conviction, you would change your mind (e.g. repent) of going your own way and turn to Christ today! I recommend that even if you don't want to believe in him, just pick up a bible, open to 1st John (The first letter of John) and just give it a quick read. Go to a quiet corner, open Gods word, and just say out loud "Lord if you are real, please show me the truth about what your word says about Jesus Christ and salvation. Something in me fights against wanting to turn from trusting in my own path, but if this hell is real, I don't want to spend eternity in that place so please save me Lord and show me the truth! It may take you 20 minutes, and if the Lord softens your heart to receive this truth during this time, then that would have been the most life-changing 20 minutes you'll ever have!

Unbeliever, Right now is the time for your salvation! Now is the best time to begin a new faith/new trust in the forgiveness and redemption that is found only in the shed blood of Christ our Savior! Turn to Christ while you still have time because you literally have your eternal soul to lose and eternal life in Christ to gain! Let 2026 be your year of salvation, by grace, through faith, in Christ Jesus the LORD! AMEN!

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