WANTED
Dead or Alive

Colin Melbourne

© 04-08 Born-Again-Christian.info

Sinner! You stand guilty before God, there's a price on your head, and you are condemned to perish in Hell for your sins. But as you read this powerful message of redemption and salvation, you will make a wonderful discovery.

Secret Sins

It could've been Shanghai, Pretoria, or St. Louis, desperate people are the same the world over; they panic, do stupid things, and carry the scars forever. A Thai railway worker discovers an abandoned holdall at the end of the station platform. His stomach convulsed when he unzipped it, and found a newborn babe inside: with its throat cut.

Refuse collectors pulled a wailing baby from a rubbish skip in Kuala Lumpur. So common have atrocities like this become, that many countries have made 'Baby Banks'; incubators where unwanted neonates can be dropped off, with 'no questions asked'.

Mostly they are used by teenage girls trying to escape the shame of sin, by parents too poor to fill another hungry belly, or junkies with addled brains. Please don't condemn them; it could be you, or me. It's happened since The Fall. As the martyr, John Bradford said, on seeing a condemned man walk to the gallows, 'There, but for the grace of God, go I'.

Perhaps you've led a blessed life, and the depth of evil within your own unregenerate heart was shielded from your knowledge. As you came to Christ, He gently made you aware that you were lost, a sinner, who needed redemption, but you'd not hit rock bottom. There was no blood on your hands; you didn't loathe yourself, you weren't controlled by demons. But as the end of all things draws near, and wickedness increases, so it will be as in the days of Noah, and every inclination of men's hearts will be only evil. That's certainly what I see as a missionary in Asia, but the people where you live are just as depraved aren't they?

Even the respectable ones would kill, to save their reputations, their lives, and money. Often they hide behind a façade, which masks a life-controlling problem or compulsion. Is that you? Are you committing adultery, stealing at work, gambling, battling drugs, alcoholism, bound by perversions and sexual sins, consumed by greed, hatred, or filled with thoughts of suicide? Is there blood on your hands?

You haven't told a soul, it's your secret, but you know the line has been crossed; you are bound by sin, out of control, and sliding into despair.

If so this message is for you. I don't know what your problem is, but God does. I don't need to know, because I have the answer. I have a message from God that will fix the whole thing, if you will only heed and respond. He's drawn you to read this to get your attention.

'Not me missionary! I'm following Christ.'

Good, but hear nonetheless Christian. You're safe on The Rock, but look around, and tell this to those drowning in sin.

From Murderer to Missionary

There was a man in a purple rage storming along a street, on his way to kill someone who'd wronged him. In his pocket was a loaded gun, in his heart, a seething volcanic temper. He walked past a crowd listening to a street-preacher. God fixed him to the spot, rooted him to stand and listen, convicted him, saved him, and quickly made him into a Spirit-filled evangelist, who today has a soul-winning ministry stretching from Cuba to China. The street-preacher had this message, and it is for you today.

You are WANTED: Dead or Alive!

Every tree, every cloud, every star, has upon it a warrant for your arrest, posted by Almighty God. It bears your picture, a bounty for your head, and a list of your crimes. You're wanted dead or alive by Almighty God. Look Sinner, and you'll see.

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Holy Bible, Ro. 1:20

Listen Sinner! God is Holy: you are not. God is righteous: you are not. God is gracious: you are utterly selfish. He has allowed you to wallow in sin, even thrive, when He could have taken your breath away in an instant. He's given you time to repent and turn to Him for mercy, because today is the day of salvation.

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. Ro. 2:5

You are just like all the rest, completely corrupt,

All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no-one who does good, not even one. Ro. 3:12

Hear this Sinner: You are Wanted Dead or Alive

'But what have I done? I've never killed anybody.'

Liar! There's blood on your hands.

'Blood? I've never killed anyone. I'm not guilty.'

Liar! All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Ro. 3:23a

'Oh sure, I've sinned, I've lied once or twice, but I'm not a murderer.'

Liar! The Son of God was crucified for the remission of your sins. It was your sin that cost God His life. He took your place in judgment to spare you, but you refuse to repent. You're guilty before God and wanted dead or alive.

'What are you talking about? I never asked Jesus to die for me.'

Of course you never asked Him, it was His idea, not yours. God wanted you: you didn't want Him. He wants you dead or alive.

'I didn't nail Him to the cross.'

Your sin did.

'Well, I suppose you could say I deserve to be crucified if God says so.'

He does: The soul who sins is the one who will die, and... the wages of sin is death. Eze. 18:4b, Ro. 6:23a

'But why pick on me; there are worse sinners?'

All, like sheep, have gone astray, each has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.... He commands all people everywhere to repent. Is. 53:6, Ac.17:30b

He Took Your Place

'The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all? Does that mean when the Bible says; He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases. It's literally true?' Mtt. 8:17b

Of course, just as was prophesied through Isaiah centuries beforehand, Christ bore all your sins, and all your diseases so you can be forgiven and healed:

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Is. 53:4-5

'This is amazing. How can I be sure it is true?'

God foretold it, and God does not lie. The LORD Jesus Christ is Almighty God in the Flesh. He came, fulfilled the prophecies, paid your complete debt once and for all, took all your guilt and punishment, and died a sinner's death in your place.

'And on the third day He arose from the dead to prove He told the truth, that He is God, and all my sin has been judged. So why am I still held guilty, and wanted dead or alive?'

Because you are still in your sins, you have not been born again. Remember Christ taught,

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again. Jn. 3:6-7

Then He declared the heart of the New Covenant,

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. Jn. 3:14-18

Turn or Burn, Sinner!

Until you repent and believe in Christ, you will remain condemned, under wrath, a child of the devil, and Hell-bound. What will you do?

That is why you think and react like your father Satan. You inherited his wicked nature from your ancestors, just like we all do. He seduced the first couple, Adam and Eve, to doubt and then to disobey God's Word, so sin and death came to the human race. Sinning comes naturally to mankind because we have been separated from God's Presence. We know the good we ought to do, but cannot do it because of our inner corruption. That is why you must be born again. You are utterly helpless, and condemned before Heaven. But here's the Good News.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Ro. 5:8

He wanted you that much, and He still does.

Your Only Hope

'Now I understand, I'm wanted: dead or alive.

How can I be born again? What do I have to do?'

Two things: Repent and believe in the LORD Jesus Christ.

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved... everyone who believes in him, receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Ac. 16:31, 10:43b

Repent from unbelief: Change your mind; stop thinking like you do about many things, but most of all, about Christ. Realise who He is, Almighty God in the Flesh. Accept that Gospel fact wholeheartedly.

Believe: stop trusting in yourself, philosophy and religion, and trust with all your heart in the LORD Jesus Christ. Believe that He paid your sin debt once and for all, and rose from the dead. Be willing to follow Him and obey His teaching.

When you are willing to do those two things, and you receive Him into your heart as Lord and Saviour you will be instantly born again. God's Spirit will come into your heart, and give you eternal life, and make you His child.

To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God... born of God. Jn. 1: 12

Accepted in the Beloved

'Is that all I have to do to be saved?'

That is the message of Christ, the Good News. There's nothing you can do to save yourself, except repent and trust in Christ. He paid all that needs to be paid so you can be forgiven, at peace, and have God's eternal life.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Co. 5:21,17

When you truly repent and believe in Him, you will have two things: eternal life, and power over sin. You will love Him, and follow Him, because you choose to obey Him. You will become a new creature in Christ, the old sinner will be gone, and you will be the righteousness of God, in Christ. Born again! Accepted in the Beloved.