all plagued by sin

Shortly after creation, people rebelled against God and sinned, and it still happens today.  If you think about it, nobody wants to be a dead-beat dad, a cheating wife, a failure, or an overall loser in life.  Philosophy, psychology, science, economic solutions, politics, and all of humanity’s wisdom cannot get rid of the sin problem.  It is inherent in our nature,and it shows itself when we step outside of God’s guidance and direction.  We will only find heartache, pain,  shame, and punishment when we live a self-centered life against God.  This problem of sin is common to all people, from the worst criminal offenders to the most caring and kind individuals.  Sin has immediate negative consequences between ourselves and other people, but it also permanently alters our relationship with God.

sin separates from God

God is a holy and righteous God, and the rebellion of people created a separation between God and the people He made.  There is nothing that we can do in our own power to overcome this separation.  Because God is just and fair, He must punish our sin. The punishment for our sin is a spiritual death.  Because of our own sin, we have separated ourselves from God.  Some think that doing good or following some “religion” will be enough for God to forget about our sin.  Religion is man’s attempt to reach God on man’s terms.  Good works are good, but when they are done to make yourself look good, they are disgusting in God’s sight.  Religion and good works do nothing for the sin problem.

Here’s a simple illustration that shows the predicament sin has caused and that is common to all people, all over the world:

On our own, we have no hope of escaping the slavery and consequences of sin.  God, however, had a plan from the beginning, in which He brings us forgiveness.  This plan was for His Son to bear our sin and do for us what we could never do for ourselves.

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