The Spring season may be my favorite time of year because there is much visible refreshing and renewal all around us in nature. The plants and flowers which had died in the wintertime begin to bloom again in the Spring. One of my favorite sayings/idioms that represent the Spring season is the saying "April Showers Bring May Flowers". I look forward to the annual blooming of flowers and vegetation that comes in the late Spring, and their vibrant colors that liven up all landscapes in which they exist.

The bible mentions many plants and flowers that hold symbolic significance. Perhaps the most of these plants/flowers is the Hyssop plant (pictured above) In the Bible, hyssop is a fragrant, shrub-like plant used primarily for ceremonial purification and cleansing rituals (Leviticus 14, Numbers 19), and as a "paintbrush" for applying blood in the Old Testament. It signifies spiritual cleansing, repentance, and deliverance, most notably in the Passover (Exodus 12:22) and at Christ’s crucifixion (John 19:29 ). King David, repenting of his sins, says, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7).

Using the previous scriptural examples provided, we can see that the hyssop plant in the Bible can also represent the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ by symbolizing cleansing from sin and the application of Christ’s sacrificial blood, connecting Old Testament purification rituals directly to the crucifixion of Christ in the New Testament. The use and application of this plant seems to point to the Gospel of Christ as the ultimate Passover Lamb whose shed blood and death cleanses humanity of it's sins.

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!

Recent Personal Faith Posts

Signature Recipes

Subscribe

Subscribe to RSS Feeds