John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (1)
We are all born into brokenness. We all have chosen brokenness. If you disagree with these statements, then read no further. You are wasting your time. If you accept even a small bit of the truth in these statements, please read on.
Part I
Romans chapter 3, verse 23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This is not based on a relative standard, but an absolute one. There is an objective yardstick that measures our righteousness and we fall way short. We believe ourselves to be good by human standards, measuring ourselves against one another, but it is much bigger than this. Compared to the absolute righteous standard of God, everyone has fallen short. Because of that, there is an impassable chasm that stands in the way. Because of our sin, we are hopelessly and forever separated from God. Something must change because who we are (fallen), and the yardstick (perfection) remain as objective truths.
Part II
We cannot meet the standard on our own. John Ch. 8, vs. 34 says, “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.’” The comparison is to someone who is completely helpless and unable to free themselves. God is perfectly righteous (meets His own standard), and perfectly just (does not disregard the yardstick). His justice demands that he cannot be near injustice (humans) without a correction. He would need to be unjust to draw near to us, and God cannot change His perfect character. Therefore, His righteousness demands justice, and so, payment. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Because we are enslaved to sin, and cannot free ourselves from our own bondage, we must have someone else pay the debt that is owed. The “payment” that we try to make through our own good moral choices not only falls short, it does not even measure on the yardstick of true righteousness.
Part III
God is also perfect love. God shows us the love that we should show each other. The love that everyone talks about, but never accomplishes. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rarely will someone die for a loved one. How inconceivable is it that someone would die for one who hates them? God is love, (1 John 4:8b). It is not about who we are. It is not about what we have to offer. It is not about what we do, how we look, or how nice we are. We have nothing to offer in defense or to earn the love we seek.
Christ died for us because of who He is. The Creator of the universe gave up everything that was His and became flesh. 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Christ Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. Jesus was the only person who has ever lived that got what he didn’t deserve. He lived a perfect, sinless life, fulfilling everything demanded by God the Father, therefore satisfying the requirements of the perfect standard. He didn’t deserve death on a cross, or death at all. He didn’t deserve separation from God the Father…His Father. And yet, during the most agonizing time of His life Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34a). That is how much God loves us.
That is how much God loves you.
All you need do is accept the free gift of salvation. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31a)
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His uniquely born Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:18 – “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s uniquely born Son.”
Now What?
If you have accepted this free gift of salvation from God the Father through Christ Jesus, you may have some questions as to where to go from here. Please take time to listen to some of these lessons, and be sure to find a group of believers in your area, with whom to learn and grow.
Oh, and even if you haven’t yet accepted this gift, you made it this far, so you might as well hear a bit more.
Click here – Eternal Church – Colossians – and scroll down the page to the lesson.
(1) All translations from the NIV – The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®