How would you summarize Christianity?
The Bible begins
The Bible begins with 2 characters: God and man. In the beginning, God and man were together and enjoyed perfect and uninterrupted relationship and happiness.
MAN
GOD
The Great Dilemma
But then, man left God and distrusted God which created an inseparable rift and divorce between them.
MAN
GOD
God’s Solution
Romans 6:23 is a verse that summarizes how God is responding to that separation to reunite Himself with man.
For the wages of sin is death,! but the free gift of God is eternal life,! in Christ Jesus our Lord. ! Romans 6:23
MAN
GOD
Part 1: the Dilemma The first part of the verse communicates man’s present situation - the result of his distrust of God and sins for his life have earned him punishment or death. The phrases “wages,” “sin,” and “death” communicate the consequences of our sin by a just and fair God. No amount of good works can redeem our moral failures. Neither can God sweep these punishable offenses under the rug and still be good. But…
For the wages of sin is death,! but the free gift of God is eternal life,! in Christ Jesus our Lord. ! Romans 6:23
MAN
GOD
Wages Sin Death
But‌
Part 2: the Solution …the verse does not end there. The second part of the verse is marked by the words, “gift,” “God,” and “grace” to show God’s offer of forgiveness and freedom from our sin. His solution is to offer us a gift of life instead of punishment. This comes through Grace (giving us what we do not deserve). But how can God divinely pardon our sin and morale imperfection?
For the wages of sin is death,! but the free gift of God is eternal life,! in Christ Jesus our Lord. ! Romans 6:23
MAN
GOD
Wages
Gift
Sin
God
Death
But‌
Life
Part 3: the Cross Grace is never free and certainly not cheap. God accomplishes this divine pardon and reconciliation through the sacrifice of His Son for us. By punishing Jesus in our stead, God is able to punish the moral evils of the world and yet refrain from punishing us at the same time. Therefore, God can be both fully just and loving. At the cross, God justly punishes sin and offers grace simultaneously - in the death of Jesus.
For the wages of sin is death,! but the free gift of God is eternal life,! in Christ Jesus our Lord. ! Romans 6:23
MAN
GOD
Wages
Gift
Sin
God
Death
Life
But‌
Our Response But Jesus’ substitution does not happen automatically for everyone on the earth. His sacrifice absorbs the sin of those who trust him to do so. To believe in Jesus is one thing but to trust him is entirely another. To trust Him is to put your hope in Him as the only one who can forgive you of your sins and reconcile you back in relationship with God. He is our mediator which secures us back to God. To trust in Jesus is to depend upon Grace, whereas to trust in oneself is to justify oneself by their good works. The Bible says Good Works do not merit anyone salvation.
“For by grace you have been saved, through faith, this is not of yourself, but a gift of God, not as a result of works so that no one may boast.”! Romans 6:23
MAN
GOD
TRUST
G O O D! WORKS
GRACE
But…
3 Questions So, spiritually speaking, which cliff are you on? Where would like to be? If you are not with God what keeps you from trusting in Jesus? So, you have a decision to make. Indecision is still a decision. God offers you Jesus as your substitute. Will you trust Him? If not, will you get to know who he by reading a book of the bible about his life and death - the Gospel of John?
Questions! Which cliff are you on?! Which side would you like to be on?! What keeps from trusting in Jesus right now?
MAN
GOD
TRUST
Wages
Gift
Sin
God
Death
Life
But‌
When you become a Christian‌ When someone trusts in Jesus they are immediately brought back into relationship with God which is endless and inseparable. Their destiny changes instantly from death to life. All of God’s promises are now true for them. Their sin is forgiven and forgotten and they now join a family of other believers who share the same blessings and experience!
MAN
TRUST
GOD
Wages
Gift
Sin
God
Death
Life
But…