“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

We were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with him. It was Jesus himself who created everything (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16). He also owns and rules everything (Ps 103:19). He has authority over our lives and we owe him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship. He is perfectly holy (Isa 6:3).

Everyone is guilty of sin: "There is no man who does not sin" (1Ki 8:46). We're utterly incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own (Ro 3:10-12). God's holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Eze 18:4). Simply changing our patterns of behavior can't eliminate its consequences.

Even though God's justice demands death for sin, his love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (1Pe 3:18). Christ's death satisfied the demands of God's justice, and his perfect life satisfied the demands of God's holiness (2Co 5:21), enabling him to forgive and save those who have faith in him (Ro 3:26).