Man has a Problem
Have you ever noticed that the world is a mess? On a global scale there is international conflict, civil unrest, starvation and disease. However this turmoil is also evident on a micro scale as well. Strife between family and friends, theft, hatred, murder, deceit, gossip, slander and envy are just a few of people’s behavior that leads to interpersonal struggles and brokenness.
No one is exempt from these short-comings. Each one of us can think of an example in our own life where we were mean to another person, told a lie to cover our tracks, spoke ill of another behind their back or took something that didn’t belong to us. These actions which the Bible defines as sins have plagued mankind for all of our history. Education hasn’t made these character defects go away. Advancement in science and technology haven’t caused people to enter a state of moral and ethical utopia. Progress in health care has not led to a world where we all get along and unconditionally love one another. All of us have done things we ought not to have done and left undone things that we ought to have done. We may not be as bad as someone else but each one of us is flawed.
Bible verses teaching this truth:
Galatians 5:19-21
19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.
Romans 1:29-31
29They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless.
God is Perfect
Not only is man in some way corrupt in character by his word, thought and deed but the Bible also teaches that God is completely faultless. There is no failing in his being. He is without any moral blemish. Beyond this, scripture also affirms that God cannot abide sin. He does not tolerate it and cannot be in a relationship with any creature that is thinks and behaves in such a manner.
Bible verses teaching this truth:
Deuteronomy 32:3-4
3For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! 4 "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
Isaiah 59:1-2
1Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
The Result
Do you ever wonder why people die? By this we don’t mean the physical cause of death, but rather why the condition of death exists at all. Again, the Bible is clear that because our sin has separated us from God, who is the author of life, the result of that separation is death. However, what many people may not realize is that this death is both spiritual as well as physical. When you unplug a lamp from the source of its energy, it will not shine. When your car runs out of fuel, it will not run. When men and women are alienated from God because of our sinful condition and actions, we die. This is a permanent state that is true about every person who has, is or will walk around on this planet.
Bible verses teaching this truth:
Romans 5:12
12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Ephesians 2:1-3
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
James 1:14-15
14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
The Solution
The obvious question becomes; “Is there any hope for mankind to be saved from the death we receive for the sin we commit?” “Can we bridge the gap between us and God and make things right so that God will accept us?” The short answer is no. There is nothing you and I can do to make up for our offence against a holy God. Are we therefore doomed to physical death and an eternal spiritual existence of agony completely separated from God’s presence? The short and profound answer is absolutely not! Although we have offended God and deserve his ongoing condemnation, God, motivated for his love for us, has provided the means for us to be forgiven for our rebellion and receive new life!
Because God cannot allow our evil to go unpunished, he had to find a way to make the payment that his justice demanded so that he could then treat us with mercy. He did this by sending his perfect son Jesus Christ to earth to take our place. Jesus lived a blameless life in complete obedience to his Father. He then went to the cross and offered his perfect life as a sacrifice for sinful, dead people like you and me. He took our place and became our substitute. He traded his life and took our death thereby allowing us to enter into right standing before God. Now we can have life if we acknowledge our sin and put our trust in Jesus! If we do this God will forgive us, take away the stain of our offense and treat us graciously. Not only this but the Bible tells us that God goes so far as to adopt us into his family. Through Jesus we can become sons and daughters of God and live forever!
Bible verses teaching this truth:
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 2:4-5
4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved.
Galatians 4:4-5
4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
1 John 1:9
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What must I do?
The good news is that if we call on God, asking for forgiveness of sins and new life through his Son Jesus Christ, God will forgive us, and give us new life! You can take that first step of faith right now sitting at your computer reading this webpage! Talk to God in prayer, he will hear you!
Confess to God that you are guilty of sin. Acknowledge that you have not loved him or others as you should and deserve his condemnation.
Acknowledge that Jesus his Son is the Lord and Savior who died for your sins on the cross.
Ask that God would accept Jesus’ sacrifice in your place and forgive your sins through him.
Trust that God will forgive you and give you a new and eternal life through Jesus.
A prayer to this effect may go something like this:
Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sin. I am willing to turn from my sin and invite Jesus to come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior. Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer and put your faith in Jesus let me invite you to contact one of our pastors listed below and let them know of your decision. They will be more than happy to talk to you about this and also help you learn what it means to live in the new life that you have now received.
If you are not ready to make such a decision but have more questions, I would also invite you to contact one of our pastors. They would be thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with you further about God’s plan of salvation!
Dr. Tom Ricks,