In the quiet moments of reflection, amidst the chaos of our lives, we often find ourselves pondering the mysteries of our faith. This week, as I delved into the profound question of why God sent His Son, my heart was drawn to the timeless words of John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
As I sat with these words, letting them wash over me, verse 17 echoed in my mind: "God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him." It seemed like a simple equation—believe in Jesus, and we are saved from eternal death, gifted with eternal life. A no-brainer, right?
But then, like a curious child, I began to ask deeper questions. Why were we destined for death in the first place? The answer led me back to the garden, to Adam and Eve's disobedience, and the knowledge that sin brought forth death. It wasn't just their story; it became our story. Romans 3:23 echoed in my mind, reminding me that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.
This is where the revelation truly began to unfold. It wasn't just about the sins we commit; it was about our very nature. Sin had woven itself into the fabric of our being, passed down through generations like an unshakable inheritance. We were born with a propensity to rebel against God, to choose our own desires over His will.
For so long, I believed that Jesus died for the sins I committed, and with each misstep, I felt the weight of placing Him back on the cross. But the truth goes deeper. Jesus came not just to forgive our sins but to rescue us from our sinful nature. He came to transform us into new creations, free from the shackles of our inherent disobedience.
As the realization washed over me, I understood that it wasn't just about the outward actions—it was about the heart, the very core of who I am. The Tarence that harbors unforgiveness, the Tarence that finds pleasure in what I know is wrong—this was the sinful nature that Jesus came to save.
My dear friend Dr. Rupert Bushner, Jr.'s words rang in my ears: "Your sins won't send you to hell; they reveal that you're on your way." It wasn't about tallying up individual sins but recognizing the deep-seated need for a Savior.
Believing that Jesus is the Son of God is the first step, but truly understanding our desperate need for Him transforms our perspective on salvation. It's a shift from focusing solely on our actions to allowing God to transform our very nature through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Let us embrace this profound truth. Let us surrender our pride, our sinful nature and allow God's grace to work within us. We are not bound by who we once were; we are being transformed into the sons and daughters God created us to be.
May we live each day in the light of this truth, allowing God's love to mold us, shape us, and renew us from the inside out. This is the depth of salvation—a journey from sin to grace, from brokenness to wholeness, all made possible through the sacrificial love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.