1. God: Who He Is
"The God who made the world and all things in it...He is Lord of heaven and earth...He Himself gives life and breath and all things, and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth...that they should seek God" (Acts 17:24-27).
2. Man: His Problem
"The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God" (Psalm 14:2). "There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:11, 23). "The wages of sin is death"
(Romans 6:23).
Instead of seeking God, man rebels against God's authority and chooses to live his own way. The Bible says that failure to recognize God's authority is a sin. The penalty for our sin is death - not just physical death, for all men die - but eternal separation from God in hell. Man rightly deserves this judgment for failing to honor his Creator.
3. Jesus: God's Solution
“For while we were still helpless…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him” (Romans 5:6, 8:9).
But God’s great love and mercy can extend a pardon to us. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. In His death, Jesus endured the punishment that we deserve and therefore satisfied the wrath of God, making it possible for us to be made right with Him and receive eternal life. (John 3:16)
4. Our Response
“Seek the Lord while He may be found…Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him” (Isaiah 55:6-7). “He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
God commands us to turn from our rebellion and to trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation. We must be willing to admit we are sinners, believe that we are forgiven only through Jesus’ death on the cross, and commit our entire lives to obey the risen Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
(Compiled by Rick Holland)