What the Bible says about our problem and The Answer:

All Scripture quotes are taken from either the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) or the World English Bible (WEB), both of which are within the public domain.   To learn more about the WEB translation, visit their website at www.ebible.org .

Our Problem is called “Sin.”

Who has sinned?

“For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

“All we like sheep have gone astray; everyone has turned to his own way…. (Isaiah 53:6)

But I’m a good person!  What sins have I committed?

          “To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.”  (James 4:17)

          “Whatever is not of faith is sin.”  (Romans 14:23b)

          “For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”  (James 2:10)

Why is sin a problem?

          “For the wages of sin is death….”  (Romans 6:23a)

          “…don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God?”  (1 Corinthians 6:9a)

          “But your iniquities (sins) have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”  (Isaiah 59:2)

          “(God’s) eyes are too pure to look on evil; (he) cannot tolerate wrong. (Habakkuk 1:13)

Can I take care of my sin problem myself?

          “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me.’”  (John 14:6)

          “Not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us….”  (Titus 3:5)

          “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Why is Jesus The Answer?

He is God in the flesh

          “I and the Father are one.”  (John 10:30)

          “He who has seen me (Jesus) has seen the Father.”  (John 14:9)

          “For in him (Jesus) all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily.  (Colossians 2:9)

He died and rose from the dead on our behalf

          “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.”  (Isaiah 53:5)

          “and the Lord has laid on him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all  (Isaiah 53:6b)

          “even as the Son of Man (Jesus) came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (Matthew 20:28)

          “But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

          “Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God…”  (1 Peter 3:18a)

He can forgive sin

          “Jesus, seeing their faith, said… ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you!”  (Mark 2:5)

          “…The Son of Man (Jesus) has authority on earth to forgive sins…” (Matthew 9:6)

          “…God also in Christ forgave you.”  (Ephesians 4:32b)

          “In (Jesus) we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins”  (Colossians 1:14)

He offers us a new life, a new heart

          “You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins”  (Ephesians 2:1)

          “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old things have passed away.  Behold, all things have become new.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

          “A new heart also will I give you….” (Ezekiel 36:26a)

He offers us the Holy Spirit

          “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”  (Luke 11:13)

          “…a new spirit will I put within you…”  (Ezekiel 36:26b)

          “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things…” (John 14:26)

He can give eternal life

          “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16)

          “One who believes in the Son has eternal life”  (John 3:36a)

          “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”  (John 5:24)

          “…Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved….”  (Acts 16:31)

If you truly would like to accept God's offer of eternal life, just tell Him so.  There are no special words that you have to say, because it's what's in your heart that matters.  But sometimes it helps to have a sample to follow.  If you like, you can pray something like this:

"Dear Lord, I know I'm a sinner.  I know that I can't save myself.  I believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, and that He died and rose again in order to give His eternal life to me.  Please come into my life, forgive my sins, and become the master of my life.  Please send Your Spirit to live within me, and put a new heart within me.  Thank You that you have promised to do all of this for me because I believe.  In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Today, if you have decided to put your faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness, and for a fresh start with a new heart, please write and let me know.  I would be delighted to hear from you.

Betsy Markman

DyingforAnswers@johnmarkman.org