The Bible tells us that when the first man Adam, disobeyed his Creator God, sin entered the world and this condition was passed to all humankind to come. The consequence of sin is separation from God in this life and for all eternity. Here are some verses which confirm these facts:

Isaiah 59:2 “Your sin has separated you from your God.”

Romans 5:12 tells us, “Just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all have sinned.”

Sin required atonement-a blood atonement, as revealed in Leviticus 17:11 where God says, “The life of a creature is in the blood and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” Under God’s law at this time, the death of an animal (of which the blood was proof) fulfilled the penalty of death, and God was able to grant forgiveness to the sinner. This process had to be repeated over and over again. However, all through the Old Testament (particularly by the prophets) God’s grand Plan of Salvation through the shedding of His Son’s blood, once and for all, was being proclaimed.

And so, in God’s good time He sent His Son Jesus into the world to live, teach and then to die for the present and future sins of humanity and to rise from the dead to prove to people that they can attain to eternal life. The sacrifice of the sinless Jesus and the shedding of His pure blood on the Cross, provided the way for sinful people to be reconciled with a Holy God, as revealed in 1 Peter 1:18-20,“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver and gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times.”

But to have our sins forgiven and the assurance of a home in Heaven, there is one vital step we must take to avail ourselves of God’s marvellous Plan of Salvation. We must speak to Almighty God in similar words as contained in the following prayer:

“Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I thank you that your Son Jesus Christ died for my sins by the shedding of His blood on the Cross and I invite Him into my life as my personal Saviour and Lord. I thank you that the Holy Spirit has now taken up residence in my body to empower me to live for Jesus and to help me grow more like Him.And I pray this in the powerful and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.”

After we make this decision to wholly follow the Lord Jesus, we enter a spiritual battlefield. 1 Peter 5:8 declares, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Although Jesus has defeated the power of the devil (Satan) through His death and resurrection, God has allowed Satan to function until Jesus comes again when Satan will be banished forever. Christians are therefore still subject to the deceitful attacks of Satanand may succumb to sin that grieves the Holy Spirit. A Christian should quickly confess any known sin to God, thanking Him for the coveringof the sin by the blood of Jesus and asking Him for a refilling of the Holy Spirit. This action is important to ensure that there is no impediment to God’s power in the life of a Christian.

The following verses confirm that The One Guaranteed Investment that we can make in this life, is with the Jesus Christ ‘Bank of Faith’ …

John 3:16 “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.”

John14:6,Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”

Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates His love for us, in this. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 15:26, Jesus said, “When the Counsellor comes, whom I send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He (the Holy Spirit)will testify about me.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you werebought at aprice. Therefore honour God with your body.”

John10:10, Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it to the full.”

The Cross of Christ bridged the gap between sinful people and a Holy God