Faith is the greatest adventure.
Best Story Ever.
Everyone loves a good story.
Why do we intrinsically long for happy endings and the triumph of good over evil? Why do we love stories where a gallant rescuer saves those who can’t save themselves? Why is sacrifice the ultimate heroism? From Robin Hood to Captain America, why do we all love a hero?
Because we all need a rescuer.
Even in our messed-up world, we’re born knowing there’s more to the story than what we see around us. There has to be more. We were made for more.
So let’s go back to the beginning—chapter 1 of the story of humanity.
In the beginning . . .
God created you to share his life. To have a relationship with him, to glorify him, to find all your deepest fulfillment in him.
- In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. . . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:1, 27).
- God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth . . . giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth (Acts 17:24–26).
The world he created was a beautiful place of harmony and creativity and light and joy. The first man and woman were at peace with God, with each other, and with themselves.
If only it had stayed that way.
But the first man and woman wanted to be like God—to be their own gods—and they deliberately disobeyed the one command God had given them. This rebellion (sin) separated our first parents from their Creator. No more fellowship. No more peace with him or with each other. Ever since then, every person in the world has been born with the desire to do their own thing and disobey God.
- There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one (Romans 3:10–12).
God is perfect—perfect love, perfect justice, everything we’re not. His perfect love mourned at what happened to his creation when sin came on the scene. Death and destruction became part of our world. Work became a struggle, childbirth became painful, conflict entered relationships, and even the ground was cursed with thorns and weeds. These constant reminders show us that something is desperately wrong with our world and with us.
- . . . By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12).
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned every one to his own way.
—Isaiah 53:6
Because of sin, God gave us his law, his “rules for life,” to keep us from hurting ourselves and each other, to show us how serious sin really is, and to prove to us that even our best efforts still fall short of his perfection. He gave his commandments verbally and in writing to his chosen nation of Israel, but his laws are also written on the heart of each person, whether Jew (Israelite) or Gentile (non-Israelite). This is how we inherently know that murder is wrong or that it’s wrong to take what belongs to someone else.
- When the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which [show] the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another (Romans 2:14–15).
The problem is that because of our rebellious nature and the sin we inherited from our first parents, we are unable to keep God’s law perfectly. Not only that, we know there’s a God, we know what we’re doing is wrong, and we choose to go ahead and do it anyway.
- For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse . . . Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:18–20, 32)
Although God’s perfect love mourns for us, his perfect justice demands a penalty for our rebellion. Overlooking our sin is not an option. We all know the bad guys shouldn’t get away with it. Except in this story, we’re all the bad guys.
And we won’t get away with it.
You probably don’t have to think very long to come up with something you’ve done that you shouldn’t have. Maybe it doesn’t seem so bad compared to other people, but other people aren’t the measuring stick. God is.
- But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear (Isaiah 59:2).
Unless you are as perfect as he is, you are separated from him, cut off from his life. The penalty for sin is death. And that death includes eternal separation from God in unimaginable suffering after this life is over.
- Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (Ephesians 4:18).
- Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
- For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
—Romans 3:23
Enter the Rescuer.
So God promised a redeemer. A deliverer. A hero who would step into our world and save us from the awful effects of sin and the justice we deserve.
God himself became a man.
That man was Jesus Christ, the Son of God and fully both God and man. Two thousand years ago, Jesus entered our world and became a man just like us—but without sin.
- I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. (John 10:28–30)
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16–18)
- Forasmuch then as [we] are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Hebrews 2:14–15).
He willingly took the place of every human being who ever has or will be born and died an excruciating death by crucifixion to take the punishment you deserve. He was perfect, but he took on all your rebellion and sin and paid for it with his own blood.
- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:8–9)
- In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).
- Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation [empty lifestyle] received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:18–19).
He died in your place, satisfying his own justice. If you break a law and go to court, the judge cannot truly be just if he simply lets you go free. There must be some payment for what you have done. But if the judge himself pays your penalty, the law is satisfied and you can go free.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross,
by him to reconcile all things unto himself.
—Colossians 1:19–20
But the story doesn’t end there. Christ’s friends buried him in a borrowed tomb, but after three days and three nights, he came back to life by his own power and the power of God his Father. Over 500 witnesses saw him at one time, and he appeared to many others before ascending back to heaven.
- I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once (1 Corinthians 15:3–6).
- And we are witnesses of all things which [Christ] did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. (Acts 10:39–41).
But now is Christ risen from the dead . . .
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
—1 Corinthians 15:20–21
Christ’s resurrection ensured that you could share his life again and be restored to fellowship with him, with his perfect righteousness credited to your account and his Spirit living within you.
- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
- God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 John 5:11–12).
- Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. . . . Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:4, 8–11).
For I know that my redeemer liveth,and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth . . .—Job 19:25
Jesus Christ is alive in heaven today and will return someday to judge everyone, living and dead, who has broken God’s law.
- The Lord Jesus Christ . . . shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1).
- The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (2 Thessalonians 1:7–10).
- And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:27–28).
Good works won’t change your final score in that judgment—doing a good deed can’t change the fact that you’ve violated God’s commandments.
But he doesn’t want you to experience his condemnation, even though we all deserve it.
You have a choice.
- If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9).
- There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1–2)
You can’t do anything on your own to get this new life and salvation, any more than a dead man could make himself alive again. No amount of good you do could ever measure up to the perfect glory of God. There is only one way to access this renewed fellowship and perfect righteousness: faith.
- . . . Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1–2).
What is faith?
When you get in your car and assume it will get you to your destination, that’s faith. When you go to bed believing the sun will come up in the morning, that’s faith. When you sit in a chair and expect it to hold you up, that’s faith. Faith is simply relying on something or someone to do what it has either promised to do or always done in the past. Faith isn’t blind; it’s a response to evidence or a promise.
- But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (Romans 4:5).
- But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe (Galatians 3:22).
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . .—Acts 16:31
God has promised to forgive the sin of anyone who relies on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection to reconcile them to God. He has promised to put his own righteousness on anyone who trusts his promise. And he has done it for everyone who has ever accepted his promise by faith.
- But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested . . . even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe (Romans 3:21–22).
- And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life (1 John 2:25).
- For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Romans 10:4).
For the wages of sin is death;but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.—Romans 6:23
When you accept this by faith, God’s life becomes your life. His Spirit will live in you, leading you to become more like Jesus until someday, after you die or after he returns, you’ll live in his presence forever. Because your sin has been paid for, you are no longer under the condemnation of the law. Rules and good works aren’t what makes you acceptable to God; only the blood of Christ does that. God sees you as a new creation and wants you to live that out each and every day through the power he gives.
- If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:1–4).
- Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen (Jude 1:24–25).
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
—2 Corinthians 5:17
Not only does Christ’s resurrection ensure that you can have new life (both spiritual life with God now and eternal life with him in heaven), this also means that Jesus Christ is alive in heaven today and is interceding (petitioning on behalf of) everyone who trusts in him.
- But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:24–25).
- Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:34).
Because he became a man, he knows every temptation we face and can support us and help us in our struggles.
- For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
—Hebrews 4:16
Will you accept his rescue?
Will you believe Jesus died for your sins and was raised from the dead to make you right with God? Will you rely on his blood as the payment for everything you’ve ever done against him?
This means admitting that you can’t save yourself and trusting in his death and resurrection to save you. Simply believe this in your heart and tell him you believe.
- [God] looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light (Job 33:27–28).
- For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . . . For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:11, 13).
- As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
—John 14:6
God’s written instructions, the Bible, explain all of this and much more.
- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).
- These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name (John 20:31).
- Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him (Proverbs 30:5).
Reading the Bible, especially the books of John and Romans, will help you understand this “best story ever” in much greater detail.
The choice is yours.
He has made a way to be rescued from sin and death. Will you trust your rescuer?
- God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4–7)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.
—Ephesians 2:8–9