If you are reading this article, it is likely that you have been told that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. You might have asked yourself why your sins make salvation necessary? Can’t God simply overlook your sins?
What Is the Problem of Sin?
This question demands that we take a look at the basic message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, God created humanity in His own image and likeness, which includes Adam and Eve having been perfect and sinless, knowing no stain of rebellion or error. He created humanity to have a loving relationship with us (Genesis 1:26-27).
God placed Adam and Eve in a paradise we know as the Garden of Eden. He gave them one simple commandment, which was that they could eat from any tree in the garden, but not from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
That tree, God explained, would mean their deaths (Genesis 2:15-17). A very crafty spirit being known as “the serpent” came into the garden and targeted Eve (Genesis 3:1). Now, this being is not a literal snake, but in the Hebrew is known as “nachash,” which indicates a being that deceives.
It is connected to the same Hebrew word that refers to divination, a practice forbidden by God. Dr. Michael Heiser, a respected biblical scholar, suggests that the word should rather be translated differently. He writes: “Eve was not talking to a snake. She was speaking to a bright, shining upright being who was serpentine in appearance, and who was trying to bewitch her (Eve) with lies.”
This spirit being deceived Eve, telling her that God’s warning was not correct. God simply wanted to keep them from being as gods themselves. So, Eve, deceived by the trickster, disobeyed God’s command and partook of the fruit of the tree. She then went to her husband and convinced him to do the exact same thing.
Whereas Eve was deceived, Adam was not. Adam made a conscious decision, with full consent of his will, to rebel against God’s command and join his wife in partaking in the fruit of the tree (Genesis 3:1-7). God was understandably upset by their rebellion, and he cursed the serpent (Genesis 3:14-15).
Sadly, this also meant that humanity was no longer in a state of perfection, as they were when created. They had defiled and corrupted themselves. God is holy (Revelation 4:8; Leviticus 19:2; Psalm 99:9). The Hebrew word we translate as holy is more accurately translated as “set-apart.”
That is, someone sacred. In the case of humanity, Adam and Eve were created to be set-apart beings, serving as the perfect image of God in the material world. Since God is holy, He cannot have a loving relationship with those who are not set apart, or sinful (Isaiah 59:2).
In our sinful state, we remain separated from God entirely. There is no “bridge” whereby we can please Him, love Him, or go to be with Him when we leave this world. In fact, when we die, we will go to a place of suffering due to our sins (Matthew 25:41; Matthew 8:12).
Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, and life for them and us, their descendants, has been very difficult indeed, being so distant from our Creator. There is no way back without outside intervention.
How Salvation Is the Only Solution
Yet, God still loves you. In fact, he loves you so much that He has provided you a way back to Himself, despite the fact that you are a sinner (Romans 5:8). God understood that no mere human could intercede for us in so dire a state.
The one to save us would have to be both human and divine since He would have to live a sinless life to reverse Adam’s rebellion, as well as take upon Himself the guilt of every man, woman, and child’s sins throughout all of human history, past, present, and future (1 John 3:5).
We are talking about such a great number of sins that the punishment would be infinite. Thus, the one to rescue us from our sins must be infinite Himself. This is why He sent His only begotten Son into the world to teach us, guide us and ultimately atone for your and my sins (John 3:16; Isaiah 53:6; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 7:25; 2 Corinthians 5:12-21; 1 John 3:5).
Knowing that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves — no prayer, no charity, no personal sacrifice — He provided a way for us to be saved.
All we need to do is accept the offer of salvation through sincere repentance and doing our utmost to live according to the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9; Acts 3:19). There is literally no other way to be saved (Acts 4:12). The Church Fathers, writing on this topic said:
“A man cannot otherwise enter into the kingdom of God then by the name of His beloved Son” (Hermas).
“But there is no other way than this: to become acquainted with this Christ, to be washed in the fountain spoken of by Isaiah for the remission of sins, and for the rest, to live a sinless life” (Justin Martyr).
“No man can know God without both the goodwill of the Father and the agency of the Son.” (Irenaeus).
“No hope of gaining immortality is given to man, unless He will believe on Him and will take up that cross that is to be carried and endured” (Lactantius).
What Does This Mean?
It is a fact of Scripture, understood by the church throughout its history, that our sins are so great, so infinite, that they require a divine Savior. The Lord, in His love and mercy, has graciously provided one for us, and we would do well to seek His will and serve Him faithfully.
Sources
Heiser, Michael, The Nachash and His Seed: Some Explanatory Notes on Why the ‘Serpent’ in Genesis 3 Wasn’t a Serpent,” UW-Madison, Dept. Hebrew and Semitic Studies, February 2007
For further reading:
What Does it Mean ‘The Wages of Sin Is Death’?
What Does it Mean That the ‘Gift of God Is Eternal Life’?
How Does God’s Mercy and Justice Work Together in Salvation?
If We Confess Our Sins, Will We Be Forgiven from All Unrighteousness?
How and to Whom Did Jesus Pay Our Ransom?
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Alex Woods
J. Davila-Ashcraft is an Anglican priest, Theologian, and Apologist, and holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies and Theology from God’s Bible College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a recognized authority on the topic of exorcism, and in that capacity has contributed to and/or appeared on programming for The National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, and CNN. He is the host of Expedition Truth, a one-hour apologetics radio talk show.
