"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." [Romans 5:17]

Believers in Jesus Christ are the people accorded to reign in eternal life. By receiving the gift of righteousness, the abundant provision of God’s Grace is being bestowed. When we look around, there is so much of suffering; there is sickness and disease. Not only there is sickness in human but also in the creation. The creation is decaying and the death is reigning in the world because of the sin of one man. Apostle Paul said: because of one man's sin death is reigning, how much more those who receive abundant grace of God and the gift of righteousness reign in life of Jesus Christ. I am following Jesus Christ for last 26 years. 28 years before that, I did not know about Christ. Once I knew Jesus and started enjoying the Grace of God, I became transformed. It is not me who changed my life, but it is Jesus who changed my life.

I was doing my service in Soviet Russia. I was a consultant in Siberia for an American Company. My communist co-workers argued with me to prove that there is a God exists. Normally people show the mountains, flowers, waterfalls and other marvels of earth as proof for the existence of God. I told my communist friends that the transfiguration happened in my life are the solid proof that a living God exists.

The changes in my life did not happen because of me. I am weak and a sinner. It is God who transfigured my life. He is a living and loving God. According to scriptures we are the results and fruits of the transforming power of God. In the Book of Isaiah God told to Israel, 'You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory.' [Isaiah 49:3] Isaiah gave the prophecy about the New Testament believers also. "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified." [Isaiah 61:3] All those who believe in Jesus Christ are the Oak trees for God to display His splendor. Apostle St. Paul also witnesses this same truth. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." [Ephesians 2:10]

All the magnificence of this nature like flowers, waterfalls etc. which are upheld as proof of existence of God, were enchanting from the very first day they were created. But I was not beautiful inside. But God changed me and transformed me. So I know that God lives. Jesus is our righteousness. Apart from Jesus Christ, there is no righteousness. All human beings living in the flesh are short in front of God. Man can be righteous in the worldview. World may have different standards for goodness or righteousness. God have only one norm for goodness, as He is perfect we should be in perfection. In he heart of every man, there is intention of sin. St. James talks to us; For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one, he is guilty of all. [Jacob 2:10] Death entered to the world as an aftereffect of sin. 'Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.' [Romans 5:12]

Historically, death is a subject which man was always keen to learn. Especially in India, we see an old tradition in the pursuit of search of God. In India, most of the people believe in Gods and their existences. But they did not know clearly who this God is or where they exist. They do not keep a personal relationship with God. By their efforts, rites and actions they tried to please the unknown God and justify themselves. With their godliness they believed that they could find the truth.

Rishis of ancient India used to pray: O' God, Lead us from the unreal to truth; lead us from darkness to light; lead us from mortality to eternity. But what is truth? Where is light? What is immortality and eternity? Though it was known that there is death, but it was not sure what happens after death. It is not our goodness that enables us to find God. On the contrary, It is the knowledge of truth which leads us to godliness.

Jesus Christ is the eternal truth. As Jesus is sinless, the death does not have any authority upon Him. Death is separation. Physical death is separation of spirit from the body. During creation, God made man from the mud of earth, God breathed into his nostril and he became a living being. So the spirit in the body is life. When the spirit leaves the body, it becomes dead. That is physical death. Holy Scriptures warns us about a more serious death. That is the spiritual death. Spiritual death is the separation of human spirit from the Spirit of God. God, being perfect and righteous and man being unrighteous and susceptible to death, no man can become righteous of his own. This is a bad news. But there is Good News for those who believe in Lord Jesus Christ. Gospel becomes Good News when we perceive the terror of bad news. The basis of Good News is that God loves us. '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.' [St. John 3:16]

Jesus is the answer for the all ancient questions. He is the truth, light and eternity for which our forefathers were aspiring and praying for. Jesus Himself told that He is the way, truth and life. [St. John 14:6] He is the light of this world and those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness, they shall have the light of life. [St. John 8:12] Jesus Christ is the true God and eternal life. [St. John 5:20] Those who believe in Christ will never perish and they will have eternal life. [St. John 3:15] When the spirit of man leaves the body through the physical death, spirit goes with Christ as Christ lives in us. That is why St. Stephen prayed at the time of his death for Jesus to receive his spirit. When Jesus comes second time, our spirit will come with Him and join with body to form a new body which is similar to the body of Jesus. 'He shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.' [Philippians 3:21] What an amazing hope Christ had given to us?

The remedy for the death, which is the result of sin, can be only from heaven. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to this world to defeat the evil and the death. Everything about Jesus Christ is miraculous. Been born as the son of a virgin, His birth was a miracle. Been lived in this world in flesh as a full man with out sin, His life was a miracle. 'You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.' [1.John 3:5] As He sacrificed Himself on the Cross His blood is sufficient as ransom for the sin of the whole world. For six hours, He lied on the cross; He told everything is finished and gave up His Spirit to the hands of His father. Been a man, as He gave up His Spirit to God after the fulfillment of His mission in this world, His death was a miracle. His body was laid in a tomb, but he resurrected on the third day. Death could not capture Him, as it did not have any authority on Him. 'But God raised Him up again, having loosed the pains of death: because it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.' [Acts 2:24]

Jesus did not die for His sin. He died as a ransom for the sin of the entire mankind. The righteous gave His life for sake of unrighteous. The blood of Jesus cleanses our Spirit. 'For by one offering He has perfected for ever those who are sanctified.' [Hebrews 10:14]

These truths were unknown to me for several years. For the Glory of God I would desire to share with you, how God had revealed Himself to me and how I was transformed.

Personal Witness:
I grew up in the city of Madras. I was a Tamil Brahmin belonging to Iyer sub-caste. We were ardent worshipper of Shiva. From my childhood I believed in God and was very conscious about it. I used to pray to many gods and goddess. Subrammaniyam was our family deity. I depended and prayed more to our family deity.

Every night I used to pray for half an hour. I was leading a happy life. I had a lovely family. I had very good health. I was very good in my studies and extremely good in sports. I used to play Cricket for Tamil Nadu Sate Schools. I was a good athlete too. I was contented in life and I believed all these providences I received from God because of my faith in God. I went to study in an Engineering College and acquired Bachelor Degree in Engineering in the Electronics and Communication discipline. After my studies, I got a job in Siemens India Ltd. There were four Engineer friends worked with me. We were living together and working together and kept very cordial relation. One of those four was a Christian. After three years of our friendship, he told me that he want to talk something personal to me and he was trying for it for last few years. Very gently and politely he told me that Jesus loves you and He is the only way to God. Though I got offended by his words, I remained calm because of our strong friendship. I did not revolt with him. I determined in my mind that I will prove to him that all the Gods are alike and it is only the question of personal faith.

I decided to disprove him through the Bible words itself as I considered Scripture books of all religion are similar. I purchased a Bible for this purpose. I did not know where from I should start to read the Bible. The only information what I knew about Bible was that there are Old and New Testament in the Bible. However, my inner heart prayed to the gods whom I believed, to reveal me truth. I opened the Bible and started to read Chapter 1, Verse 1 of the Gospel according to St. John. The Initial Verses of the Gospel captured my mind. I started reading further Verses, word by word, very enthusiastically. It started giving answers to many questions which I was holding for many years.

Jesus was felt marvelous to me. I saw a compassionate, kind, fulfilling, humble, perfect God in Jesus. He started talking to my inner heart. I came to Verse 14:6, I read; "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." Reaching this word my mind was completely bound by Jesus. I accepted with great pleasure to know that these were the words spelt out from the own mouth of Jesus. By this time I totally forgot the purpose for which I started reading the Bible. Further I made the Bible my serious study subject. I studied it as if I was drinking a sweet drink. Within one year God gave me the answers to all my questions and I was totally convinced.

On twenty-fifth May, 1980 I believed in Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my personal Savior. I repented for my past sins and prayed Jesus to come to my heart. I dedicated me totally to Jesus. He had transformed my life. From that time till now I run as per the commands of Jesus Christ. He sent me to forty countries in the world and almost all states of India to carry His Word and to bear His witness. What ever I am now being is by Grace of Lord God, Grace, Grace, Only Grace. Amen.