The Bible says that no one is perfect. We all have sinned and fallen short of God’s requirements. At one time or another, we have all deliberately chosen to disobey God.

Romans 3:10

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one”

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Sin is a violation of God’s law. This means that there must be a payment or a penalty for sin. Although God is a God of love, He is also a perfectly just God. Because He is perfectly just, He cannot just let our sin go unpunished. Our sin must be paid for. The payment for our sin is eternal death in hell. 

Romans 6:23a

“For the wages of sin is death…”

Revelation 20:14-15

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Although He is perfectly just, God is still a God of love and does not want anyone to die and go to Hell. 

II Peter 3:9

“The Lord is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Because of this, He devised a plan to both satisfy his perfect justice and provide a path for us to Heaven. He knew that we could never have the perfect record required to make it to Heaven and he didn’t want us to pay the price for sin (death in hell). So instead He sent His Son down from Heaven to die in our stead and be the payment for our sin. His son, Jesus, was born on earth, lived a perfect, sinless life for about 33 years, and was crucified and died on the cross, not for any wrong He had done, but to become the payment for our sin. The story does not end here, however. Three days later, Christ defeated death by rising again because He is God. 

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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.

I Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

As we have seen, Christ paid the price for our sin. So does that mean that everyone will go to Heaven? The Bible says that God has given man a free will. Because of this, God will not force anyone to accept this payment for sin. Instead, He offers it as a free gift to anyone that is willing to accept it.  This means that you don’t have to work for it or live a good life to keep it. Once you accept this free gift, it is yours. Just like a gift at Christmas, all you have to do to receive this gift is accept it. 

Romans 10:9-11; 13

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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If you have never accepted God’s free gift of salvation, don’t wait until its to late. You can do it today. All you have to do is to call out to the LORD and ask Him to come into your heart and save you today! You can pray a prayer like this.

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that you died on the cross and paid the penalty for my sin. I believe that you rose from the dead three days later. I am placing my faith in you alone to forgive my sin and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal life, in Jesus’ name, AMEN.”