January 28, 2005
Newsletter Archives

Most people realize that sin is an offence against God. Accordingly they believe they must do something to remove the trespass to gain a right standing before God. But if we were to give some serious thought, we would realize that it is impossible.
Take the idea some hold that we have to attend church, for example. The question would arise, How often? That simply can’t be answered because the Bible doesn’t say. How about prayers then? Again we could ask how many or how long or how earnest? The fact is there is no way quantifying this. Therefore we would never be sure that we had prayed enough.
How about doing good to others? Great idea, but…how much good, how often, how many people, what kind of people? No-one knows. Consequently, if we want to have a right relationship with God, it has to be something measurable, something that has a defined standard.
The reality is: God has given us a standard. Romans 6:23 states, “….the wages of sin is death.” Capital punishment is God’s standard payment for sins. That, and that only, is what God demands. And herein lies the meaning of the death of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote: “…Christ died for our sins….”1 Corinthians 15:3.
It is so simple that people never seem to get it. God demanded death for sin, the Lord Jesus died on the cross for sin, and when I trust Him, I am immediately brought into a right relationship with God.
This is why the most well-known verse in the Bible is so well-known: it says that and no more. Here it is: “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) It couldn’t be plainer! Salvation is not by works. It has to be by grace….and it is.

Jim Beattie

Submitted by Russ Nesbit