Articles
We Need Jesus
The greatest tragedy known to man was not the dropping of an atomic bomb, or any of the natural catastrophes that have destroyed homes and taken lives. The greatest tragedy that man has ever experienced was the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. When man chose to heed the voice of Satan, he violated the will of God. Consequently, God drove man out of the Garden in order to separate him from the tree of life. This meant man would die physically. More than this, when man chose to disobey God, his relationship with God was severed by sin (Isa. 59:1-2). Sin creates the most serious and tragic predicament for man in this life.
The need to escape sin is clear. Man’s greatest desire should be to enter into a right relationship with God. However, man cannot save himself – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12) or “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23). If we are going to be saved from sin, we must come to God for help, for God alone has provided the remedy.
The wonderful story of redemption in Christ from sin was prepared in the mind of God before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3-6; 9-11). Man’s savior would be the “only begotten son of God” who would give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. This declares the depth of the love of God for man. Think of it: even though man had violated the will of God, God loved His creation enough to provide His own Son as the ransom for our sins. This redemption story is the most beautiful love story ever written.
We need Jesus because He is the only hope man has. All men have sinned (Rom. 3:23), thus all men need a savior. Jesus is God’s only Savior (Acts 14:12). Jesus shed His blood for many “for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28) and Paul confirms this truth in Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” The shed blood of Jesus is our only escape from the tragedy of sin.
God does not rejoice at the prospect of anyone perishing (2 Peter 3:9). What man lost by sin he can regain in the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus. In this way, God becomes the justifier of mankind through the provision of Christ. God’s purpose in the gift of His Son was the redemption of man. The hope of heaven depends upon our reaction to God’s sending His Son to die in our stead. We can obey and be saved, or we can disobey and be lost. God will not save those who refuse to do His will (Matt. 7:21-23). We need Jesus because He is the ultimate expression of the grace of God.
