He really exists, and has His own real character, independently of what any of us think.

Scripture references:  Exodus 3:13-14,  Hebrews 11:6 

He created us for a specific purpose. We can do nothing without Him, and to even try is to attempt to escape our own reason for being.

Scripture references: Genesis 1:1, John 1:3, Genesis 1:27, Jeremiah 1:5a , Psalm 139:16

As the Westminster Catechism says “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.”

Loving God necessarily includes obeying Him. That is because love for an all-powerful God who created and loves us naturally includes trust that whatever He wants is always right.

Scripture references: Deuteronomy 6:5, John 14:15

We have tried to avoid God’s claim on us, and have tried to run our own lives. Instead of trusting and obeying Him, we think we can do better our way. 

The Bible’s most common term for this rebellion is “sin”.  The word literally means “missing the mark” as in failing to hit a target or meet a goal.  In this case, the target or goal is God’s purpose for our best good.

Scripture references: Romans 3:23, Psalm 14:2-3

That relationship cannot be restored as long as the rebellion remains. But, we are helpless to stop rebelling; we can’t completely submit to having anyone else, even God, with that absolute authority over us. Even if we could, the offense of our prior rebellion would still stand between us and God.

Scripture references: Romans 6:23a, Romans 7:18b-19

God desperately wants the relationship to be fixed. He wants it so much that He came in person to cover the cost that makes reconciliation possible.

The historical man Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem of Judea about 4 B.C. and executed in Jerusalem about 30 A.D., was and still is God himself. He proved that by not remaining dead after he was executed, by being literally resurrected and walking the earth again. He is the source and the ultimate ruler over everything that will ever exist.

Jesus’ perfect life (with no rebellion) and sacrificial death was the price needed to pay for our rebellion. No other payment is sufficient; no other is necessary. We are not able to fix the problem ourselves, so Jesus fixed it for us.

Scripture references:  Isaiah 53:5-6, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Ephesians 2:4-5a, Colossians 1:19-20a

There are no boxes to check, no hoops to jump through. Just:

“Yes, I’m a rebel and need help.”

“I’m sorry. I want to quit rebelling and return to you. Please forgive me.”

“Thank you for your gift.”

“I trust you to make me right.”.

Scripture references: John 3:16, Romans 10:9, Acts 16:30b-31a, Revelation 3:20

In effect, it’s a trade: We are considered as righteous as He is, because He was considered to be as rebellious as we are and paid the price for it. A quote says “He lived the life we should have lived, and died the death we should have died.”

Scripture references: 1 Peter 2:24-25, Mark 10:45, Romans 5:19

We can have God’s presence in our everyday lives.  We can have His guidance as we make choices.  We can have His comfort in the inevitable problems and sorrows.

And, we can look forward to an eternal future where the entire world is restored and nothing wrong is even possible.

Scripture references: John 5:24, John 14:1-3, Revelation 21:1-4