Rich Erickson's Christianity Page

Introduction	Sin Enters the World	The Law	Sin
	The Good News	Salvation	Christian Links

I am not a theologian, but I will attempt to explain this the best I can. Please, also bear in mind that I am not perfect, only Jesus was perfect. All the rest of us, and I do mean ALL THE REST OF US, are not perfect. Any of you who think that you are sinless, or those of you who think that you are so sinful that God cannot accept you, please, read the scripture below. Realize that neither is the case, and that God will accept you right now, just as you are.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Adam was without sin until he ate of the tree of "knowledge of good and evil." God created Adam with three parts, a body, a mind, and a spirit. When Adam ate of the tree, he died spiritually, not physically. Since that day in the garden all men (and women) are born spiritually dead. Essentially, since then we are born incomplete with only a body and a mind. It is only when we accept salvation that the Lord sends his the Holy Sprit to restore us to our originally created state, until then we are incomplete human beings.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The Laws of God are intended to bring us to the realization that we cannot live up to God's standard. That is, we cannot make it on our own for we all fall short in the light of God's absolute holiness.

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The Apostle Paul wrote all of the scriptures from Romans. Many have considered Paul to be one of the greatest Christians that ever lived. Read what he writes about himself in Roman 7:15 - 7:19 above. Paul had a firm grasp on the fact of just how short he fell of God's standard. Just as Paul fell short of God's standard, so do you and me.

For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The good news is that God gave us a gift. God's gift is the gospel, which says that Jesus Christ accepted the punishment for our sins. God is absolutely holy, and his holiness requires that sin be punished. However, rather than punishing you or me, God hung his own son on a cross to be tortured and die. If Jesus looked down through the ages and saw that he must die just for you, he would have still sacrificed his life just for you.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Paul explains salvation in Romans 10:9 & 10:10. We are washed clean by the blood that Christ shed on the Cross. The bible says that if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he will cleanse us of all our sins. If you have accepted Jesus for the first time, I want to encourage you to begin to go to a church in your area, where they can teach you more about being a Christian.

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