Jesus died for you that you might have eternal life (John 1:12). God created man perfect, in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27; 2:7; 15-17). But God required one thing, perfect obedience. Sadly, humans disobeyed God and received the wages of sin, which is death (Romans 6:23). And you and I inherited this dying condition (Genesis 3:17-19; 5:3).
But the Lord in His infinite mercy prepared a way of salvation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The supreme expression of divine love is the Father’s gift of His own Son, through whom it becomes possible for all to be “called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). The apostle John declared, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us” (1 John 3:1).
Love is true only when it is in action. God’s love for sinners led Him to give all that He had for their salvation (Romans 5:8). It is the core of love to sacrifice self for others; selfishness is the opposite of love. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
There are none to whom God refuses the benefits of saving grace. However, there is one condition—faith in, and cooperation with Jesus. It is God’s goodness that leads men to repentance (Romans 2:4). It is the light of His love that convicts sinful hearts, brings back the lost, and changes sinners into saints.
Through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, the bondage of sin was broken. Jesus opened the prison doors of death and set free all the captives who long for freedom (Romans 8:19). The whole human race can be released from the death penalty by the obedience of the one perfect man, Jesus Christ. At the Cross, God’s justice and mercy were fully fulfilled and satisfied (Romans 5:14-19; 1 Timothy 2:3-6).
The Only thing that man can do is to accept God’s gift of redemption by faith and become part of the family of God by the new birth experience. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
I encourage you to read the Bible study titled: Life Only in Christ.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
