According to the Scriptures, all people have veered wildly off God’s path. God’s word says it very plainly, “We all went astray like sheep, we have all turned to our own way.” We.have.all.turned.to.our.own.way. We live according to our own desires and turn away from God because of an innate desire to sin (break God’s law). In fact, we cannot live for God because we are separated from Him and only deserve His punishment. Because humans continue to sin and offend God, no amount of good works, kindness, or acts of charity can undo the effects of sin and the inevitable punishment of sinners (and we are all sinners). But there is hope!

God, knowing that a fallen and separated people could never work their way back into a right relationship with Him did something amazing. He sent Jesus Christ to earth to live a perfect life, thus fulfilling God’s law. Jesus also came to be punished on behalf of those persons who would turn away from their sins (repentance) and turn to Him, depositing their faith and trust in Him. He did this by dying on the cross and satisfying God’s wrath. He was then buried in a tomb. We can know that God accepted Jesus’ work and sacrifice on the cross because after three days Jesus was raised from the dead and now lives at the right hand of the Father. In essence, He came to rescue a people who were hopelessly lost. If you will repent of your sins and trust in Jesus, you too can be forgiven of your sins and be reconciled to God and enjoy life with Him forever.