Romans
5:12 (NIV) says
“Therefore,
just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin,
and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
WHY ARE WE GUILTY?
Many
people wonder how we can be declared guilty for something Adam did
thousands of years ago? (This is often called “Original
Sin”.)
They feel it isn’t fair for God to judge us because of Adam’s
sin.
We
were all born into Adam’s physical family – the family line that
leads to certain death. All of us have reaped the results of Adam’s
sin. We have inherited his guilt, a sinful nature (the tendency to
sin), and God’s punishment.
As
human beings, we tend to classify sin into different categories –
minor and major. Many feel that if they haven’t committed any
major sins, they should be all right with God.
THERE IS NO SIN IN HEAVEN!
But
God lives in Heaven, a place where there is no sin – minor or
major. To God, a small lie makes us just as guilty as if we had
murdered many people. And, he cannot accept us into Heaven if we
have sinned at any level – period.
Because
we are sinners, we are doomed to death in Hell. It isn’t fairness
we need – it’s mercy.
Romans
5:17-19 (NIV) says “For
if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one
man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision
of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the
one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted
in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in
justification and life for all people. For just as through the
disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also
through the obedience of the one man the many will be made
righteous.”
Romans
5:21 (NIV) says “just
as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through
righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
JESUS TOOK OUR PUNISHMENT ON HIMSELF.
Jesus
loved us so much that He voluntarily took our punishment on Himself.
He was scourged almost beyond recognition, shed most of His blood,
was crucified and died a horrible death on the cross so that our sins
could be forgiven. He paid the ultimate price to save us!
Jesus
freely chose to take our punishment. The Father chose to send Jesus
to the cross. They conspired to save all who would believe and to
show by Jesus’ terrible wounds both the seriousness of our sin and
the depth of His love.
But,
hallelujah, on the third day, He rose from the dead and ascended back
into Heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father and
serves as our personal advocate.
WE CAN TRADE OUR JUDGMENT
FOR HIS FORGIVENESS!
Because
of what Jesus did for us, we can trade judgment for forgiveness.
Jesus offers us the opportunity to be born again into His spiritual
family – the family line that begins with forgiveness and leads to
eternal life.
If
we do nothing, we have death through Adam, but if we come to God by
faith, we have life through Jesus Christ.
All
we have to do is accept Jesus as our Savior and make Him Lord of our
life. This is “God’s
Free Gift Of Salvation”.
If
we make this choice, we can reign over sin’s power, over death’s
threats, and over Satan’s attacks. Eternal life will be ours now
and forever!
THERE MAY NOT BE A TOMORROW FOR US.
We
are not promised a tomorrow, so we encourage you not to
procrastinate! Accept God’s Free Gift Of Salvation and choose life
over death. The choice is yours. Do it now.
End
Of Post