 
In God's Word, the Bible, sin is declared to be any violation, no matter how small, of
God's law. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the
law" (1 John 3:4). The Bible makes it clear that even sinful thoughts are a violation of
God's law. It is important to understand that God accepts no excuses for sin, any sin. Because every person has
"sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), every person stands condemned as a lawbreaker before God and will have to answer for his violations of
God's law on Judgment Day: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
How will you answer to God for your sins on that day of reckoning? Do not expect the perfect, holy Judge to allow you to walk away from justice because He will not do so.
"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it
good?" (Numbers 23:19).
God's Word tells us the sentence which will be handed down to unforgiven sinners on Judgment Day:
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire" (Revelation 20:15). Jesus asked one group of sinners, "How can ye escape the damnation of
hell?" (Matthew 23:33). Isn't it time you asked yourself that same question?
You cannot bribe God, the holy Judge. You cannot work your sins off.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should
boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Bible tells us, "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). Jesus Christ, God the Son, came to this earth and "was made in the likeness of
men" (Philippians 2:7) while remaining the Son of God. Jesus, "God . . . manifest in the
flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16), lived a perfect life on earth, obeying the law of God in every point, and then offered up His perfect life as an acceptable sin offering for sinners who would place their
faith in Him. "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of
God" (Hebrews 10:12). Because of His perfect righteousness, Christ Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of God as the
"firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29), those saved through faith in Him.
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55).
By God's gracious design, Jesus Christ offered His righteousness (His pure sinlessness and perfect obedience to the law) in place of our disobedience and His very lifeblood as
"a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). Those who would be saved from hell must trust completely in the redemption work of Christ.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). The Bible promises
"whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13) from hell and become a
"new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17), a heaven-bound child of God. That is the good news of the gospel.
Jesus commanded, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). True repentance is experiencing a
"godly sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10) for one's sin and turning to the Lord in order to plead for forgiveness. To be saved from eternal damnation, you must truly repent of your
sins and put your trust wholly in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Those who do so will be saved once and saved forever (Romans 6:23). On Judgment Day, they will stand before God as His beloved children, cleansed of sin by the blood of Jesus and free of the sentence of the law because
Christ's perfect righteousness has been accounted to them (2 Corinthians 5:21). To their everlasting joy, they will hear the Lord Jesus say to them,
"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world" (Matthew 25:34).
If you would be purged of your sin, be saved from hell, be reconciled to God, and experience the spiritual birth necessary to
"see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3), then confess your sin to the Lord along with your utter inability to save yourself. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and
"thou shalt be saved." Then read your Bible, spend time in prayer every day, and follow the Lord who saved you.
"For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
—By Pastor Ralph Ovadal |
