We deserve to pay for our own sin. The problem is, the payment is death. So that we would not have to die separated from God, out of his love for us, Jesus Christ died in our place. On the cross, Jesus took all of our sin on himself and completely, fully paid for it. "For Christ also died for sins...the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God."4 "...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."5 Because of Jesus' death on the cross, our sin doesn't have to separate us from God any longer.
"For God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in
him will not perish but have eternal
life."6
Jesus not only died for our sin, he rose from the
dead.7 When he did, he proved beyond
doubt that he can rightfully promise eternal life--that he
is the Son of God and the only means by which we can know
God. That is why Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and
the life; no one can come to the Father except through
me."8
Instead of trying harder to reach God, he tells us how we
can begin a relationship with him right now. Jesus says,
"Come to me." "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and
drink. Whoevever believes in me... out of his heart will
flow rivers of living water."9 It was Jesus' love for us that
caused him to endure the cross. And he now invites us to
come to him, that we might begin a personal relationship
with God.