Introduction — The Greatest Need of Every Human Being
Every person has needs. We need food, water, shelter, relationships, purpose, and hope. But according to the Bible, beneath all these needs is a far greater spiritual need.
We need to be reconciled to God.
Something has separated mankind from our holy Creator: sin.
The greatest problem facing humanity is not merely poverty, sickness, war, crime, loneliness, or even physical death. These are terrible realities, but behind the brokenness of this world stands a deeper problem.
Sin entered the world, and death came through sin.
Romans 5:12 — “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—”
The Gospel begins by showing us our true condition before God. But it does not end there.
The wonderful message of the Gospel is that God Himself provided the answer to our sin through His Son, Jesus Christ.
PART I — OUR PROBLEM: SIN
1. What Is Sin?
Sin is not merely making an occasional mistake.
Scripture describes sin as lawlessness, unrighteousness, unbelief, disobedience, and rebellion against God.
1 John 3:4 — “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
1 John 5:17 — “All unrighteousness is sin…”
James 4:17 — “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
Jesus went even deeper. He showed that our problem is not merely what we do outwardly.
The problem reaches into the human heart.
Mark 7:20–23 — “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Our greatest problem therefore is not simply our environment.
The problem is within us.
PART II — THE PROBLEM AFFECTS EVERYONE
2. We Have All Sinned
It is easy to compare ourselves with other people and think:
“I am not as bad as that person.”
But other people are not the standard.
God is the standard.
And before His perfect righteousness, every one of us falls short.
Romans 3:23 — “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Scripture places all humanity under sin.
Romans 3:9 — “…both Jews and Greeks… are all under sin.”
1 John 1:8 — “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
There are no exceptions.
Rich or poor.
Educated or uneducated.
Religious or nonreligious.
Young or old.
We all need Jesus because we have all sinned.
PART III — SIN IS MORE SERIOUS THAN WE REALIZE
3. Sin Deceives and Enslaves
Sin may promise pleasure, freedom, satisfaction, or independence, but Scripture reveals its true nature.
Sin deceives.
Hebrews 3:13 — “…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Sin ensnares.
Hebrews 12:1 — “…the sin which so easily ensnares us…”
Sin enslaves.
John 8:34 — “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”
Sin may offer temporary pleasure:
Hebrews 11:25 speaks of “the passing pleasures of sin.”
But those pleasures do not last.
Sin eventually produces something terrible.
Death.
PART IV — THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH
4. Sin Has a Penalty
Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death…”
A wage is something that is earned.
According to Scripture, sin earns death.
James 1:15 — “…sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
This explains why death entered the human experience.
Romans 5:12 — “…sin entered the world, and death through sin…”
Jesus gave an especially serious warning:
John 8:24 — “…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Our problem, therefore, is not merely that we will someday die physically.
The terrible danger is to die in our sins, separated from God.
That is why we desperately need a Savior.
PART V — THE LAW CANNOT SAVE US
5. Good Works Cannot Remove Our Sin
Many people recognize something is wrong and attempt to make themselves acceptable to God.
They try religion.
They try morality.
They try keeping commandments.
They try doing more good than bad.
But God’s Law was never given as a ladder by which sinful people could climb into heaven.
The Law reveals our condition.
Romans 3:20 — “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Paul explained:
Romans 7:7 — “…I would not have known sin except through the law.”
The Law is like a mirror.
A mirror can show dirt on your face, but the mirror cannot wash your face.
Likewise, God’s Law reveals sin, but it cannot cleanse us from sin.
Galatians 3:24 — “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
The Law points us to our need for Jesus Christ.
PART VI — GOD DID FOR US WHAT WE COULD NEVER DO
6. Jesus Christ Is God’s Answer to Our Sin
This is where the Gospel becomes glorious.
God did not look at sinful humanity and abandon us.
God loved us.
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
Jesus came for a specific purpose.
Matthew 1:21 — “…you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
John the Baptist saw Jesus and declared:
John 1:29 — “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus did not come merely to teach us how to become better people.
He came to save sinners.
PART VII — JESUS WAS WITHOUT SIN
7. The Sinless One Took the Place of Sinners
Jesus could save us because He did not share our guilt.
Hebrews 4:15 — He “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
1 John 3:5 — “…in Him there is no sin.”
Jesus Christ was perfectly righteous.
Yet something extraordinary happened at the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21 — “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
The innocent One took the place of the guilty.
The righteous One suffered for the unrighteous.
1 Peter 3:18 — “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…”
This is the heart of the cross.
Jesus took our place.
PART VIII — WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO SHED HIS BLOOD?
8. Without the Shedding of Blood There Is No Remission
The cross was not an accident.
The blood of Jesus was not incidental to salvation.
Scripture says:
Hebrews 9:22 — “…without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
Jesus Himself explained the meaning of His death:
Matthew 26:28 — “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
The Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward to something greater.
Animal blood could never provide the final and eternal solution for human sin.
Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice.
1 Peter 1:18–19 — We were redeemed not with corruptible things such as silver or gold, “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
His blood is precious because the One who shed it was the spotless Son of God.
PART IX — WHAT THE BLOOD OF JESUS ACCOMPLISHED
9. His Blood Cleanses Us from Sin
1 John 1:7 — “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Not some sin.
All sin.
God does not merely overlook our sin.
Through Christ, He cleanses us.
10. His Blood Gives Us Forgiveness
Ephesians 1:7 — “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
Our forgiveness is not purchased by our works.
It was purchased through His blood.
11. His Blood Redeems Us
Redemption carries the idea of being purchased and set free.
Hebrews 9:12 — “…with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
Acts 20:28 speaks of the church of God “which He purchased with His own blood.”
Jesus paid the price.
12. His Blood Justifies Us Before God
Romans 5:9 — “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
To be justified means that God declares the believer righteous before Him.
Our standing with God is not based upon our record.
It is based upon Christ and what He accomplished for us.
13. His Blood Reconciles Us to God
Sin separated us from God.
Christ brings us back.
Colossians 1:20 — “…having made peace through the blood of His cross.”
Ephesians 2:13 — “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
The sinner who was far from God can now be brought near.
14. His Blood Cleanses Our Conscience
Hebrews 9:14 — “…the blood of Christ… cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Jesus does more than deal with our outward record.
His sacrifice reaches the conscience.
15. His Blood Gives Us Access to God
Hebrews 10:19 — “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…”
We do not approach God because we have made ourselves worthy.
We come because Jesus opened the way.
16. His Blood Establishes the New Covenant
Jesus said:
Luke 22:20 — “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
The New Covenant rests upon what Christ accomplished, not upon our ability to perfectly keep God’s Law.
Hebrews 8:12 — “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
This is grace.
PART X — JESUS’ SACRIFICE WAS ONCE FOR ALL
17. Nothing Can Be Added to the Finished Sacrifice of Christ
Jesus does not need to be sacrificed repeatedly.
Hebrews 9:28 — “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”
Hebrews 10:12 — “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”
His sacrifice is sufficient.
His blood is sufficient.
His grace is sufficient.
The work of redemption has been accomplished.
PART XI — JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN
18. The Gospel Includes the Resurrection
The Gospel does not end at the cross.
1 Corinthians 15:3 — “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…”
But Christ also rose from the dead.
Paul makes the importance of the resurrection unmistakable:
1 Corinthians 15:17 — “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”
Jesus Christ died.
Jesus Christ was buried.
Jesus Christ rose again.
Our Savior is alive.
PART XII — SALVATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
19. We Cannot Justify Ourselves
Romans 3:28 — “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
Galatians 2:16 — “…a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ…”
Salvation is not:
Jesus + our good works.
Jesus + keeping the Law.
Jesus + religious ceremonies.
Jesus + making ourselves worthy.
Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.
Romans 3:24 — “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
PART XIII — FAITH IN HIS BLOOD
20. Christ’s Finished Work Must Be Received by Faith
Romans 3:25 — God set Christ forth “as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…”
Jesus paid the price.
Salvation is offered by grace.
We receive God’s gift through faith.
Romans 5:1 — “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Faith is not merely knowing facts about Jesus.
It is placing our confidence and trust in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for us through His death and resurrection.
PART XIV — REPENT AND BELIEVE
21. God’s Call Is to Come to Christ
The Gospel calls people to repentance and faith.
Repentance is a change of mind and heart in which we turn from trusting ourselves, our religion, our righteousness, or anything else and put our trust in Jesus Christ alone.
Acts 10:43 — “…whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
Acts 13:38–39 — “…through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified…”
Jesus said:
John 6:37 — “…the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
You do not have to make yourself worthy before coming to Jesus.
Come to Him as you are and trust Him to save you.
PART XV — RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST
22. God’s Gift Must Be Received
John 1:12 — “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
The question is not merely:
“Do you believe Jesus existed?”
The question is:
Have you personally placed your faith in Him?
Have you stopped trusting your own righteousness?
Have you received Jesus Christ as your Savior?
Are you trusting His shed blood as the payment for your sins?
PART XVI — THE GREAT EXCHANGE
23. Christ Took Our Sin and Gives Us His Righteousness
This is one of the most beautiful truths of the Gospel:
2 Corinthians 5:21 — “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Think about the exchange.
Our sin — placed upon Christ.
His righteousness — given to us.
Our guilt — He bore it.
Our judgment — He suffered it.
Our debt — He paid it.
His life — He gives it.
His righteousness — becomes our standing before God.
That is grace.
PART XVII — FROM DEATH TO LIFE
24. Eternal Life Is God’s Gift
Romans 6:23 begins with terrible news:
“For the wages of sin is death…”
But the verse does not stop there.
“…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Death is the wage.
Life is the gift.
Sin earns death.
Eternal life cannot be earned.
It must be received.
And that life is found:
“in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
PART XVIII — THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST
For the person who has trusted Christ, everything has changed.
We have been forgiven.
We have been redeemed.
We have been justified.
We have been reconciled.
We have been brought near.
We have eternal life.
We belong to Jesus Christ.
The blood that was shed at Calvary is sufficient.
The sacrifice has been made.
The price has been paid.
Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.
PART XIX — WHY EVERYONE NEEDS JESUS
So why do we all need Jesus Christ and His shed blood?
Because:
We have all sinned.
Sin separates us from God.
The wages of sin is death.
The Law cannot justify us.
Good works cannot remove our guilt.
Religion cannot wash away our sin.
We cannot save ourselves.
But:
Jesus came to save sinners.
Jesus lived without sin.
Jesus took our place.
Jesus bore our sins.
Jesus shed His precious blood.
His blood provides forgiveness.
His blood cleanses from all sin.
His blood redeems us.
His blood justifies us.
His blood reconciles us to God.
Jesus died once for our sins.
Jesus rose again from the dead.
And eternal life is offered freely through Him.
PART XX — THE INVITATION
The Gospel is not merely information to understand.
It demands a response.
Jesus said:
John 8:24 — “…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
But He also gave this wonderful promise:
John 6:37 — “…the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
God is calling you to come to Jesus Christ.
Not tomorrow.
Not when you become a better person.
Not after you clean up your life.
Come to Christ.
Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Believe that He died for your sins.
Believe that He shed His blood for you.
Believe that He was buried.
Believe that He rose again.
Stop trusting in yourself and place your trust in Jesus Christ alone.
Romans 10:9 — “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:13 — “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
SALVATION PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned and I cannot save myself. I repent and put my trust only in You. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and shed Your precious blood for me. I believe You were buried and rose again from the dead.
Lord Jesus, forgive me. Cleanse me from all my sin by Your precious blood. I receive You as my Savior. I receive Your gift of eternal life. I put my faith in You and Your finished work alone. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
THE MESSAGE IN ONE SENTENCE
We all need Jesus Christ because we have all sinned and cannot save ourselves, but God loved us and sent His sinless Son to die in our place, shed His precious blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and rise again so that everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ alone receives forgiveness, righteousness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life.