The Good News
In the beginning, God created the earth and everything in it, including man. God gave man everything he needed, and the two were in perfect relationship with one another.
But, God also gave man the freedom of choice…to follow God and trust and obey Him completely, or to take matters into his own hands. Man thought he knew better, and he disobeyed God, eating the forbidden fruit…one choice that not only fractured the relationship between God and man, but one that also sent God’s perfect creation into a downward spiral. Sin had entered the world. The world and everything in it was now broken. This includes you and me.
The Bible tells us that ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is NO ONE righteous, not even one. God calls us to be holy because He is holy, but our lives and offerings are but dirty rags to a perfect and pure and holy God. We also learn in the Bible that the wages of sin is death. Sin must be punished…it is punishable by death.
BUT GOD!!!
God had a plan in mind from the very beginning to redeem His fallen world and broken people to Himself. He would send His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. He would be the Only One Who could live a perfect life, free from sin. The only one to be the perfect offering Who could fully take on the punishment that would pay for our sins once and for all.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son! Just as through one man all sin entered the world, through One Man, the penalty for all sin could be paid. Christ died for OUR sins - yours and mine!
As Jesus was hanging on the cross to die, His last words uttered were “It is finished.” Jesus’ work was complete. In Greek, the translation was tetelestai. This word was sometimes found on receipts, indicating a debt had been paid in full. Jesus paid it all…the penalty for our debt of sin.
The gift that Jesus gives us is eternal life with our Heavenly Father. This gift is free! There is nothing you can do to earn it. All you have to do is confess that you are a sinner and believe in your heart that Jesus is your Savior…that His good and perfect life sacrificed on the cross paid the debt of your sin.
But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. - John 1:12
