"I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. . . . I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." (Romans 7:15, 18b-19, ESV)

Does this describe your life? The good news is that there is a way out.

NONE OF US DESERVES GOD'S FAVOR
"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Romans 3:10-12, ESV)

BUT WE ALL ARE OFFERED HIS FREE GIFT
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, ESV)

HIS GIFT IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH HIS SON
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:16-18, ESV)

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY AROUND THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN
"For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:22b-26)

ONCE WE RECEIVE HIS GIFT, THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." (Romans 8:31, ESV)

The "way out" of sin is to accept God's free gift of salvation--to ask Jesus Christ to be our personal sin-bearer and Lord. Only through the sacrifice of the Son can we have an eternal relationship with God the Father.

If you would like to enter into that relationship, take a moment to pray something like this:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for loving me so much that you sacrificed your own Son, Jesus Christ, to bear the terrible consequence of my sin. I accept your free gift of forgiveness and eternal life through Him. Please guide my life from this day forward; may it be pleasing unto You. --Amen

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Questions? Concerns? Want to share what you have prayed today? Write a friend at christtheopendoor@pearsoncomputing.net