There are a number of scriptures that reveal the need for mankind to be saved from the penalty of sin. Paul wrote that the penalty of sin is death, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). It is God who defines sin when He states His law. We are not born with an understanding of sin. It is the Bible, inspired by God that defines sin.

We are not born with an understanding of sin. It is the Bible, inspired by God, that defines sin.

Many humans go blithely through life sinning—often with no conscience toward sin and no idea that their eternal lives are in danger. Not only do people fail to understand what they do that cuts them off and creates a barrier between themselves and their Creator (Isaiah 59:2-3), but they have no idea there is a redeemer who can help them regain His favor. Isaiah 59:16 explains that since God did not find a “man” to be an intercessor, “His own arm brought salvation for Him.” In verse 20, Isaiah wrote that “the Redeemer [would] come to Zion.”

The references in the Bible to a “Redeemer” refer to Jesus Christ in His role of saving people from a state of sinfulness and its consequences. To “redeem” is to set free, rescue or ransom (by paying the cost, whatever that is). Since the penalty of sin is death, Christ had to take our place and die so that could live.

When we do not know we have offended God and cannot correct that offense, we are helpless. It is not enough to simply stop offending—there is a price to pay for past offenses. It goes without saying that once we know what our offenses are and once the account has been cleared, we should struggle with all of our strength to be sure we do not offend again. Paul tells us to do our best to follow Christ’s example, who “resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:4).

It is not that God has left mankind totally blind. Right from the beginning, God began teaching humans, and He also began to reveal to them the need for a Redeemer through whom they could regain His favor (Genesis 3:15). Satan was at work in the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve were not able to resist him. We all were lost to sin, but have been redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:10-17). Paul tells us to be sure we do not give ourselves over to becoming slaves to sin again. Sin ought not to have dominion over us.

That does not mean that God has redefined sin. Some think that the law was “nailed to the cross,” and humans cannot sin no matter what they do. That is Satan’s deception all over again. Paul continues to speak out against sinning. Verse 15 shows that being under grace does not mean we have permission to sin. There are many scriptures like these that explain that once we are under the forgiveness made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood, we must not deliberately and willfully sin.

As mentioned before, eternal life is offered to us as a free gift (Romans 6:23). It is not easy for a human to accept such a free gift. We seem to think there is something we must do to deserve this gift. It is clear from Isaiah’s writings that the Lord is the Redeemer (Isaiah 60:16). Isaiah is writing mostly about Israel, but as we read in John 3:16, Jesus died for the sins of all mankind. Some make the mistake of thinking that there is nothing at all that we humans can do in order to be saved—it has all been done for us through Jesus’ blood. What a great error in thinking that is.

What should we do?

When the disciples of Jesus who were now enlightened through the Holy Spirit were asked what was to be done, they had an answer. That can be read in Acts 2:38-41. The first thing is to believe and repent. Repentance entails understanding what sin is and being truly sorry for our offense against God (Psalm 51:4). The second step is to allow a servant of God to baptize you and lay hands on you for the receiving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17; 2 Timothy 1:6). God then grants you forgiveness and pours His Holy Spirit into your now clean self, to continue to lead you toward all truth. Then, as Paul states in Romans 6:1-2, we are to be sure we do not continue in sin. We are to resist and fight against any and every tendency to break the laws of God, which define sin.

A young man asked Jesus what he needed to do to receive eternal life. Jesus’ answer was “keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). That was and is our part, although we must rely fully on God for the help to do our part. Jesus knew He would pay the price for the past sins of this man and of all humans through His impending death, but we are left with the responsibility to resist Satan and resist evil—to stop sinning. Ecclesiastes 12:13 also states that we are to fear God and keep His commandments.

It is preposterous to think that God erased and changed the definition of sin after Jesus’ death, thereby making it impossible for humans to sin. Those thoughts come from their author, Satan—the one who does not rest in his quest to keep you from receiving the promise of eternal life that God offers.

God then grants you forgiveness and pours His Holy Spirit into your now clean self, to continue to lead you toward all truth.

Not only do we need an understanding of sin in order to repent and receive the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from our sin, we also need the additional help from God through His Holy Spirit to have the strength and power to resist Satan and to choose the right thing to do. It is hard for us to learn to rely on God for every spiritual thing, but in fact, we depend on Him for the physical things necessary for life—the beat of our hearts and the oxygen we need to live. We humans are created physical, and we need the life-sustaining work of God every moment of every day.

Still, to think that such a tremendous price was paid “just because we slipped or sinned” is hard for us to swallow. We seem to want to pay something or do something to atone for our own sins. Christ is our atonement, and our obligation is to obey Him and our Father in heaven.

The Redeemer was in place before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8). All who are saved should worship Him and strive to return the love God has shown to us all. Our redemption is through His blood (Colossians 1:14). Our appreciation and return of that love that God has shown to us all is wrapped up in obedience to Him. John stated that the love of God is perfected in one who keeps His word (1 John 2:1-6).

God’s awesome and ultimate love for mankind was made clear in the sacrifice of His Son. Now the question is, do we love our Redeemer? Do we love Christ?