Guilty! Absolutely!

So right you are! There is not a person alive who can say they have not broken any of the Ten Commandments. And if someone says they haven't, they're breaking the Ninth Commandment, "you shall not lie", as they speak.

Let's be real for a minute. How do you feel when you tell a lie or steal? You know it's wrong. God Himself said He would put His laws in the mind and write His laws within the hearts of all ... Jer 31:31-33. The Bible says we would not have known sin except by the law ... Rom 7:7. You know in your heart you're guilty.

The purpose of the law, or the 10 commandments, is to show you that in God's eyes, we all have sinned ... Rom 3:23. This puts all people on level ground and we all stand guilty before a holy and righteous God. And since we all have broken God's laws, we have a fine to pay on our day in court when we stand before God. Now the question is, how will you pay the fine? After all, you have actually angered God by your sin and His wrath is on you ... Psalm 90:11. Not a good place to be in is it?

Can you see your need for forgiveness? It's simple, we all have sinned against God, including you, and need forgiveness. When we sin, it is ultimately against a holy and righteous God that we sin. And since it is His laws we have broken, we have a fine to pay. Maybe you're thinking to yourself that God is good and will overlook your sins; however, would you consider a human judge "good" who overlooked someone who murdered your father, mother or friend, or a rapist, or crashed into your car from drunk driving. No, you would expect the person to be punished.

Fortunately, for all of us, God has provided a way for your fine to be paid, allowing you to stand righteous before Him just as if you had never sinned. The Bible says that God so loved the world (meaning you too) that He sent his only son, Jesus Christ, so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life ... John 3:16. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ... Rom 6:23.

Christ paid the ultimate fine, the death penalty, for your sins so that you could be declared innocent and have eternal life. Jesus took responsibility for everything wrong that you have ever done in your life! It's as simple as this.... we broke the Law, and Jesus paid our fine. Did He have to do this? Absolutely not! However, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" ... Rom 5:8. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me" ... John 14:6.

Since you know you're guily before God, hopefully you're asking yourself how you accept Christ's payment for your fine. If so, just tell God something such as this ...

Dear God, today I put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I ask for forgiveness of my sins. Please forgive me, and grant me your gift of everlasting life. Amen.

If you have decided to accept God's gift of eternal life and have just put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, God has forgiven you and you have passed from death to life. And if you're wondering "now what", it's simple ... okay, maybe not so simple, but very important ...

Read your Bible each day
Obey God's Word
Talk with Him each day
Develop a relationship with Him
Confess and ask for forgiveness of your sins
Above all trust Him, for God loves you like no one else and He will always be faithful

As you do this, you will see God work in your life, transforming you from the inside out, and you will begin to think and feel differently, and God will give you the strength to live in a way that is acceptable and pleasing to Him.

Now, let's say you decide to reject God's gift of forgiveness and you die in your sins, then what? Then there is no hope for you. The wrath of God abides on you and you will spend eternity in hell ... Psalm 90:11, Rev 14:10-11. Please take the time to read what the Bible says about Hell. If you want a sneak preview, check out our Geography class.