Religion teaches that you have to do something to make up for the things you have done wrong. In other words, for each lie, you must say a certain number of prayers. For each look with lust, you must do so much penance. Or for each hateful though you must do so many good things. Religion teaches that there is some scale and that if you have done more good than bad that you will pass God's test. Or else, you must pay for your wrong doing for a time and then be free from it. Not so, with the one true God. God loves you so much that he gave his only Son. Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago. He lived the perfect life that you could never live. He was tempted in every way and can relate to you. However, he never once sinned. He was fully man, yet fully God. Because of this, he was the only acceptible sacrifice for the sin of the whole world.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would convict the world "concerning sin, because they do not believe in me" (John 16:9). Perhaps you are feeling that conviction right now. You see, the Ten Commandments, shows you your need for a Savior. God can forgive your sin. He wants to forgive your sin. But he can not forgive the sin of unbelief. Instead, "whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
We looked at Romans 3:23 previously and saw that "all have sinned" against God. That chapter of Romans goes on to say in verses 24-26 that all, "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." Propitiation is a word that we don't use much. Looking to the dictionary, the first definition does not help much saying "the act of propitiating". But, when we look at the second definition, we get a clearer picture, "something that propitiates; specifically: an atoning sacrifice."
Ah, "an atoning sacrifice". Again, we are still dealing with words which might not make sense. The dictionary defines atone as "to make amends or reparation, as for an offense or a crime, or for an offender (usually followed by for ): to atone for one's sins." So an atoning sacrifice is something giving up to pay for ones sins. Here is the problem, there is nothing that you can give up to pay for your sin! Romans 6:23 says that the "wages of sin is death". When you sin, you deserve death.
Consider this analogy. Let's say you broke the Law and were standing before the judge and owed a one million dollar fine. Assuming you don't have the one million dollars you would need to be locked away for a very long time. The ballif comes, cuffs your left hand, then your right. He is starting to lead you out of the courtroom. Suddenly, a man you do not even know enters the courtroom. He walks up to the judge and sets down a briefcase. Opening the briefcase, the judge finds one million dollars! The man says, "I'd like to pay this man's fine." The judge recognizes that the fine has been paid tells you that you are free to go.
How would you feel?
You would feel great! Thankful! You would probably do anything possible for this man!
God loves you so much that He had his only Son die in your place. Jesus' death is an "atoning sacrifice" for your sin. You sinned and deserved to die to pay for it. But, Jesus died in your place. Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Jesus took the puinishment that you deservfed for breaking God's Law. Before we look at what response God is looking for from you, let's see what happens if you die without Jesus.