“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Jesus Christ died for sinners in that he took their sins upon him and paid for them by suffering God’s wrath and dying on a cross by bloodshed. He was the sacrificial lamb offered to God for the sins of the world, (“the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”).  His perfect life lived fulfilling the law by perfect obedience and his substitutionary and sacrificial death were authenticated by his resurrection from the dead.

Jesus fully satisfied God’s demand for perfect obedience, for a holy life, one with no sin. He took the punishment for sin by giving his own sinless life to suffer and die under the penalty of sin and for sin. His resurrection defeated our common enemy death, and his life is now our life, we can live forever because he lives.

Because of what Christ has already accomplished  God can declare a wicked sinner “just” and not violate his justice, his holiness, or compromise his hatred of sin. Those who trust Christ and what he has done on their behalf have eternal life and forgiveness of sins, now, and a promised future with Christ after their days on earth are done.

This is the very good news!

Doing right, being right, acting right saying the right things, belonging to the right church, being born in the right family, having the right heritage and a million other things cannot do for you what Christ alone can do. Church attendance, holy communion, baptism, confirmation, confession, and every other ritual are meaningless unless in back of them and supporting them is a personal trust in Jesus Christ and his work for sinners like us.

Have you, or will you, turn from your own way to living Christ’s way? Are you depending on Jesus and him alone to forgive you and give you eternal life? If so you should tell a friend who is a Christian, or a minister, the local pastor, or chaplain that you want to follow Christ. You should be baptized at once by immersion reenacting  Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and by doing so you will be saying to a watching world “I am dying to myself and my ways and I am going to live for Christ in the new life he has given me”. You should join yourself with a group of people who love Jesus and want to do his will and who can help you grow in grace and in knowing Jesus even more.

If you do not trust Christ you are rejecting him and the sentence is death.

“the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23)

You have before you a life or death choice. You can accept the gift of eternal life or reap the wages of sin and die, it is your choice. I hope you have or will choose life.

for Jesus,

Royce