For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18 NIV
God Himself took on flesh and entered humanity to save the world. Could He have come to condemn us? Of course! No one lives up to the standard God desires, all of us sin, and since the Bible is clear that the penalty of sin is death, all of us deserve to die. But God made provision for sin to be forgiven through the shedding of blood. Before Jesus came, sin was atoned for by shedding the blood of an animal, usually a lamb or a goat, but those sacrifices did little to change the heart of man, and needed to be made again and again. The blood of an animal couldn’t really repair the relationship between God and man. That system was only in place to help us understand the impact of our sin and separation from God, and to pave the way for our understanding that we needed a better sacrifice.
Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. Hebrews 9:13-15 NLT
So what does that mean to you and I? It means that you can have a right relationship with your Creator without any of the wrong things you’ve done standing in the way! Jesus became the mediator of your relationship with God when He died on the cross. All your mistakes and short comings will be overlooked once you choose to believe that Jesus shed His blood for your sins and you embrace the opportunity He gives you to have a personal relationship with God.
He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins–and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 1 John 2:2 NIV
Jesus paid the penalty for all of our sins when He died on the cross, but at a very high cost to Him personally! I’m so grateful for His willingness to suffer on my behalf! Isaiah gives us a glimpse of what Jesus endured for us.
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12-14 NIV
If you have a desire to be forgiven of your sins and to begin a relationship with God, but still have questions, I’d be happy to share with you the Biblical answers. Just shoot me an email gripthesword@gmail.com. Don’t wait another day! I can promise you it’s the most important and best decision you will ever make!