Christ's Answer
Because our sin has separated us from God, we have been left with a "God-shaped vacuum" or spiritual emptiness. The world's many religions are all evidence of man's endless struggle to fill this vacuum. And his relentless search for inner peace through pleasure seeking, power, fame, fortune, drugs, and mystical experiences all tell of his inner emptiness. But as Augustine put it, "You have made us for Yourself, 0 God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You."
As it is impossible for us to find God or peace with Him through our own efforts, God in His love and mercy sent His own sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our predicament (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Christ did this by dying on the cross in our place to pay the ransom price for our sins--which was death. Thus Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin and He is the only way back to God and eternal life (John 14:6 and Romans 5:8).
As the Bible says, "For there is one God and mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men" (I Timothy 2:5-6).
Your Response
If you were found guilty of a serious crime and were condemned to death, would you accept a free pardon from the President? I certainly would.
Through the consequences of sin we are all condemned to eternal death. But because Christ died on the cross in our place and paid our ransom, God now offers us a free pardon. All we need to do is to respond to God's love and accept His pardon.
How can we do this?
First, confess. The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).
Second, repent. Turn from sin to God. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the good news" (Mark 1:15).
Third, believe. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).
Fourth, receive. Again God said, "To all who received Him [Christ], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
