Bad News:  We sin because we are sinners. (Romans 5:12) Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4), rebellion or transgression of God’s will, either by omitting to do what God’s law requires or by doing what it forbids. Sin comes in many forms: in thought (1 John 3:15), word (Matthew 5:22), or deed (Romans 1:32).  No one is sinless, no one is perfect. Sin creates a great barrier between us and God.  Heaven is God’s place and He requires holiness. Because we all fall short of living perfect lives, we cannot enter God’s holy heaven.  The penalty of sin is eternal separation from God, eternal death–hell.  We cannot make ourselves better.  We cannot do anything in our own strength or efforts to bridge the gulf between God and us.

Good News:  Because God loves us so much, He sent His own Son, to pay the penalty of sin (John 3:16, Romans 5:8).  Jesus, being God, is sinless.  He lived as a man, yet perfect.  He took the sin of the world on himself.  In doing so, He alone was able to pay the debt of sin: death on the cross, separation from the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 9:28).  The best news is that Jesus did not stay in the grave!  He rose again on the third day, and so we have a living Saviour! (Matthew 5:26)  If we confess our sins, believing that Jesus paid our debt on the cross, He forgives us and gives us eternal life–a home in heaven. (1 John 1:9, John 5:24, Romans 10:9)

Jesus did it all!  All that’s left for us is to accept His wonderful gift! (Romans 6:23)