In the beginning was The Word… (John 1:1)
When a Holy God desired relationships with fallible humans, capable of choice, he knew we would need to be rescued from some of the choices we make. While he doesn’t rescue us from the earthly consequences of our choices, he has made a way for us to be restored to relationship with him through his Son, Jesus the Christ.
Jesus was born without sin and lived a perfect life on earth, never violating his perfect relationship with God the Father. In other words, he was without sin. After living a sinless life, he was willing to die a sinner’s death. Now, God is able to take the infinite riches of mercy and grace that resulted from this act and offer us forgiveness, pardon, and restoration, in Jesus’ name.
Jesus died a death of torture and public humiliation on a cross. After being beaten, he hung by his arms in the desert heat until his lungs filled with fluid and he died of exhaustion, blood loss, asphyxiation and shock.
Oh, by the way, on the third day he rose from the dead.
Scholars and theologians have debated the fine details about how all this works, but the bottom line is this. God wants us. He wants to be restored to relationship with us. He wants us to be in right relationship with him. That means he will be the infinite, Holy, loving, reigning, providing God in our lives.
And we will be his people.
When we are willing to step into that right relationship with the Sovereign Holy God, Jesus is the doorway. He paid the price to purchase and redeem us.
A work of art is worth what a sane, solvent art collector is willing to pay. Did you ever realize you were worth so much?