True Christianity is unlike any other religion in the world. In every other religion one must pray, or fast, or do good works, or meditate, or pay to have some religious service performed, all in the hope of achieving some better hereafter. Many religions recognize the presence and significance of sin, and how it has separated us from God, but none of them seem very sure of what to do about sin, nor how to restore us to God with any assurance. In Bible-believing Christianity, sin started in the Garden of Eden with the decision of our first parents to disobey God’s commandment. (See Genesis Chapters 1 through 3) This commandment, by the way, like all of God’s commandments, was given to protect us. Sin entered the world and the authority over the world given to us under God was thus given to Satan. Because of this, wars, murder, incest, rip-offs, thefts, and all manner of evil were introduced into the world. But God, with His loving Father’s heart, could not leave us to our own fate. In order for us to be able to come out from under the condemnation we had brought upon ourselves, and yet still preserve his holy sense of justice, God provided a way for us to allow a substitute to pay for our sins. For as the Bible tells us “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23)

            Everyone is under this condemnation, for as the Apostle Paul wrote, “For there are none who are righteous, no not one” (Rom. 3:10) and “For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God”. (Rom. 3:23) In the Old Testament times, under the Levitical priesthood, animals were sacrificed to atone for the sins of man, the innocent animal paying the price for our evil. (See Hebrews 10:11, 12) But in the fullness of God’s timing, He sent His only Son Jesus. Jesus came to live a life without sin, show us where we went astray (with sin and religion), and to offer himself as a one-time offering for the sins of all mankind, past present and future. Being one with God, and therefore being totally void of sin, He could allow himself to be sacrificed for us; the innocent standing in to receive the punishment of the guilty. (See John 1:1-3 and John 3:16)Being in the form of a man, He could actually be killed and shed His blood for our sins, and three days later be resurrected to life again. (See Matthew 28: 5, 6) He thus paved the way for the eventual resurrection of His followers.

            It is no accident that Jesus was sacrificed on the cross during the celebration of Passover. Jesus became the Passover lamb. (See Exodus Chapter 12, Psalm 22, Isaiah 53) The blood of the lamb on the lintel and door posts allowed the judgment of the Angel of Death (sent to judge Egypt) to pass over the homes of the children of Israel and all those present in their homes. In the same exact way, when God sees that our sins have been washed away by the Blood of Jesus, His judgment will pass over us.

            It’s that simple. Only man and his sense of religion can make it all seem so complicated. You need only to admit to God that you are a sinner and need a savior, be willing to turn away from your sins (repent) (See Acts 3:19), acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for your sins (See Romans 5:8), believe that God raised Him again from the dead (See Romans 10:9), and follow Him as the Lord of your life (See John 1:12). When you do this God forgets all your sins (See Psalm 51:7). You get a clean slate, so to speak. But he also gives you His Holy Spirit to guide you and help you grow in Christ. (See John 15:26) It’s the best deal going! And it’s all free! (See Ephesians 2:8-9) No one in their right mind would turn down eternal life!

            Please contact me when you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. I want to celebrate with you! – James

Scripture References –

Genesis 1:26 - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 

Genesis 3:17 - And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life 

Genesis 3:17 – Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Hebrews 10:11, 12 - And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

John 1:1-3 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 3:16 - 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.

Matthew 28: 5, 6 - And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Acts 3:19 - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 

Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 

Psalm 51:7 - Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

John 15:26 - But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 

Ephesians 2:8-9 - 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.

John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

1^st Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;