Why do we need to be saved? Why do we need God? Is is because we need Him to make our lives more fulfilling, full of meaning or prosperity? Do we need Jesus Christ for life-enhancement?
What if I told you that God is holy, perfect, just, and good? What if I were to ask you if you were holy, perfect, just, and good? For real, what do folks say all the time? “Hey, I’m not perfect, but I’m a good guy/girl! I try my best, yunno, my heart is good.”
What if I told you that the heart of man is exceedingly wicked? Have you ever told a lie? A lie is a distortion of the truth, and anyone who tells one knows that it is. But they tell it anyway. Does that come from a good heart? You don’t lie because you are a liar, but lying makes you a liar. Yet, every human being has the tendency toward lying. Have you ever taken anything that does not belong to you, regardless of its value? That makes you a thief. Are thieves kind, considerate people? Is this question even necessary? Thieves are not only selfish but most often they are conniving. Have you ever even coveted, that is felt greed, for something that was not yours? Sure, this is not a blatant act, but it is an action of the heart. If you covet in your heart, your heart isn’t good. Have you ever lusted after someone else? That’s adultery in the heart, by God’s perfect standard. Have you ever even hated someone? This is not an act of a good heart; it is evil, so much so that compared to God’s perfection, it is murder in the mind.
Now, what if I told you that God requires truth in the inward parts? (Psalm 51:6) What if I told you there will come a day when the Lord will judge the world in righteousness? (Acts 17:31) What if I told you that all cowards, unbelievers, fornicators, murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire? (Revelation 21:8) By now, are you thinking what I’m thinking: “If that’s the case, I guess everybody would be bound for punishment.” Yes, if these things are so (and consider your chances), then we are all in serious trouble.
That is why we need Jesus Christ. Does this sound familiar? “For God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) “He died in our place to take away our sins.” (1 John 2:2) “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.” (Romans 4:24-25)
What must you do to receive Christ’s righteousness? “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” (Acts 3:19)
Dear friends, I say these things, very candidly, because your very life depends on it– not just your temporary life here on earth, the life that so often consumes all we are and do, but the life that you will live forever. I know that some of you don’t believe in an afterlife, but please, if nothing else, just consider the odds against you; you could die today, like 150,000 people do every day. And if there is a just God who requires righteousness of you, and you are found guilty by His perfect standard, it is very, very dark for you.
God loves you SOOOOO much, but in His justice He is very angry with you if you are still in your sins. He knows that your human nature is bent toward sin; that’s why He became a man to live through the same things you live through and then to be tortured beyond imaginable agony and die on a cross for you. It was not a mere man who died; it was indeed God incarnate, because only an infinite Being could be the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. And only the Creative power could have come back to life, conquering death.
It’s like this: you were driving down a Blind Child district in town, where the speed limit was 15 mph. Four radars and cameras clocked you at going 55 mph, even though there were several clear indications that the speed limit was 15. The law was ready to indict you, when someone you don’t even know came up and paid your fine in full. How should you respond to that gift? Well, you have two options: you could say, “No thanks, I’ll pay the fine myself,” or you could say, “Thank you so much!”
Jesus stepped in and paid your fine! You are free, and there is no more condemnation! IF… you receive the offer.
When you repent of your sins, that is to turn from them, and trust in Christ’s sacrifice for you, the Lord will not only forgive you, but He will change you when He fills you with the Holy Spirit. He will give you a new nature that desires to do as God pleases. Do you see now why you need the Savior? What in the world would make you turn down this offer?
I want you to consider for a moment why you need the Savior. I know, that’s about all I’ve said so far. But seriously, if you’ve ever considered coming to Christ to improve your life in any way, please think again. God is gracious, and He provides good things for His children, but that is not why you need to come to Christ. You need to come to Christ because you are a doer of wicked works, guilty before God, and you need to be forgiven and cleansed. If you would, please check out this video, that presents an allegory that helps to describe the situation at hand. It’s called “The Parachute.”
