"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23
"If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us." 1 John 1:10
"For the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23a
#1 We all are sinners and without hope on our own.
Sin in the world is what causes decay, disease, problems, strife, death -- we brought all this in through our sin. Yet,
God can change it all!
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23a,b
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
God had a plan all the way along! He has given us a way back to Him!
The Gift:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Our salvation is not based on us. All you have to do is accept the gift -- the gift of Jesus Christ.
"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
It is that simple!!
Jesus died and came back to life! We can accept his gift of life!
A Good and Just God.
God cannot break His rules; His law is how the universe runs. He can't change the rules for anyone.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
Here are two examples:
#1 The jailer in Acts: what must I do?
"The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household." Acts 16:29-34
#2 The thief on the cross:
"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[a]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43
There is no one beyond redemption.
The Righteousness of God --
"But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—" Romans 3:21-25
Application:
#1 If you love me:
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live." John 14:15-19
Don't let sin back into your life!
#2 If you accept Christ, your life will change.
"11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:11-14
If you accept Christ your life will change. Freedom through love and grace. Choose freedom, not sin.
"16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
You will stumble -- just approach with confidence for his mercy and grace and get up again. Don't waste condemning yourself. Get up and start again.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
God set you free so you will live free. Act like you're free. Revel in it. Live the life of freedom!