Road to salvation (#7)

Biblical truth: Everyone is guilty before God.

God hates sin and won’t allow it in heaven. Every person who has ever lived has a sin nature they inherited from Adam after his fall (sin) in the Garden of Eden. We’re all guilty before God because of that sin (disobeying God). Another spiritual truth is, “the wages (result) of sin is death,” both physical and spiritual death. What does that mean for us? It means a just God, who does not change, will not allow us into heaven because of our sin and is compelled to send us to hell for eternity because of our sin. As our transgressions (sins) continue to mount up against God the Lord is provoked to anger because of His abiding hatred of sin. The fierce and full wrath of a just God will fall on all sinners on the day of judgment and they will be sentenced to the lake of fire for eternity.

Romans 3:10 – There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 5:12 – Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Now that we fully understand our predicament, the bad news that all men past, present and future are sinners on the road to hell, we can appreciate the “good news” of Jesus Christ. While God’s justice will send all sinners to hell His love and mercy will save us through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. The result (wages) of our sin demanded a blood sacrifice (death) for atonement (forgiveness) of our sins. To be valid the sacrifice had to be a man without blemish (sin). Since no man could qualify as a suitable sacrifice there was only one way for the sins of man to be removed. Only God is without sin and only God could become a man. For this reason God came to earth in the incarnation of Jesus Christ for the express purpose of dying on the cross for our sins. Jesus experienced physical death in our place and he endured the fierce wrath of God so we wouldn’t have to. Our sin debt is paid in full. Through the spiritual law of imputation sin and death entered the world through one man (Adam) and through the sacrificial death of one man (Jesus Christ) those sins are forgiven resulting in eternal life for those who believe.

Romans 5:17 – For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

The point is this, if you were born of a woman you’re guilty of your sin before God whether or not you hear the gospel of Christ or not. There is no free pass for ignorance or a “get out of jail” free card for lack of knowledge. If you’re physically alive the wrath of God abides on you and you’ll pay the ultimate penalty of going to hell forever when you die. Your only hope for salvation is to offload your sin through the one way provide by God in His love and mercy and that is by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The only exceptions God makes is for children too young to understand the gospel and those without the mental capacity to understand the gospel. All others have no valid excuse before God.

Romans 1:18 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

Romans 2:5 – But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

John 3:36 – He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

Ephesians 5:6 – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.