When We Realize We Need the Savior

Most Americans have heard of Jesus Christ. Most know that He died on a cross. But sadly many don't truly understand why. This is tragic in a world who is in need of a Savior.

We have to understand that no one desires a cure until they know their disease. Until people understand that they have sinned against God, broken His commandments, fallen short of His standard, and that there's absolutely nothing they can do to earn salvation for themselves, they will have no desire for Christ's gift of eternal life.

This is what the law is for. The Bible tells us that the law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24) and that by the law is the knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20). Paul said that he didn't know he was a sinner before the law (Rom. 7:7). It is perfect, converting the soul (Ps. 19:7). This is one reason we simply should not remove it from our way of witnessing.

Today's popular methods of evangelism are shallow and unconvincing. "Jesus loves you," "God has a wonderful plan for your life" or "come discover the joy and peace that Jesus has given me!" are very true and great statements, but when bringing someone to Christ, they only invite confusion. Why do so many turn away from the faith when hard times come? Why do so many cling to God's love but believe Christ accepts their sin too? If you give the wrong reason to accept Christ, that person will have the wrong motive for coming and therefore the wrong expectations.

Yes, Jesus is loving and forgiving and this cannot be acknowledge enough, but this must not be separated from His righteousness and holiness. God hates sin and it will not go unpunished. Too many have the idea that since God is forgiving that he will pardon their sinful lifestyle once they stand before Him on judgment day. Let me refute this with a modern day example: If a thief or murderer asked a judge to forgive him, that judge would be an unjust one if he let him off the hook. Justice simply cannot be overlooked, and God doesn't overlook it either.

But put yourself in the courtroom example and imagine that someone walked in and said they would pay your fine because they loved you. This is exactly what Christ did.

When you go through the Ten Commandments and realize that you have lied, stolen, taken God's name in vain...That you've fallen so short of God's high standards that if you've lusted, you've committed adultery in heart (Mat. 5:28), and if you have hated you've murdered in heart (Matt.5:21-22)....you cannot stop the guilt. You and I have broken every commandment...and I only mentioned half of them. We have fallen so short that God says that if you have broken one of them, you are guilty of breaking all (Jam. 2:10), just like a chain is broken if one link is missing.

But when you come to that point of acknowledging how much you've actually sinned against God and broken His holy standards, this is when Christ's sacrifice finally comes to life. It's always my favorite part in witnessing to finally ask, "____, do you know what Christ did for you?" I usually receive a light-bulb moment look that replies "Christ died for me; for my sins." Many know this fact, but after going through the law it finally makes sense why. Christ died to make a way to heaven for me because I'm destined for hell and there's nothing I can do on my own to change that.

The Good News is simply not good news until you know why you need it. And until people realize they need a Savior because they are totally helpless sinners, they will not desire the cure that Jesus so lovingly offers them. We must, we must, be sharing the gospel according to the Scriptures by convicting from the law.

While some in foreign lands have never heard of Christ, those that have heard here in America need to know the truth just as desperately. We have a mission, we know the cure, what will you do about it?