“There are so many people in the world today who have heard of Jesus or Christianity or the church. And one of the things that brings great sorrow to my heart is that even though they have heard these words, they do not truly understand what Christianity is or do not truly understand, who Jesus is or what he has done.

Sometimes people are browsing the Internet or browsing television programs and come across some TV evangelists, who are screaming or screaming. Or they do all sorts of strange things ostensibly in the power of God, asking for money for it. And this causes great pain in the heart of a sincere Christian. Because on the one hand, it is sad to know that there are people who do not know Christ, but even greater pain is that Jesus and Christianity are often distorted. Which is why many harden their hearts against Christ and Christianity, which is not really the right version of it.

Sometimes I would like to meet each of these people in person. To explain to them what Christianity really is, or what the gospel is, that if they refuse it, then they will at least refuse what it really is, or if they accept it, they will accept the correct version.

What is Christianity? The answer is to be found in its name-Christianity. It concerns the person, Christ. Who, then, is Christ? This is the English version of the Greek term, which represents the Hebrew idea of a single promise. This is the promise of the Messiah, anointed man, deliverer. The Bible begins in 1 Corinthians with the book of Moses, where God creates man and this world and that was good. But then, perhaps incomprehensible to us, but nevertheless true, we understand that sin came into the world.

A rebellion against God that led to separation from a just and loving God. And to a sinful and often angry person. And this separation between man and God also led to a great separation between man and man. So the world we see around us is the result of man’s fall. This is the result of sin. And it doesn’t matter whether we create some kind of political utopia or achieve abundant material well-being in every home. We can never escape the reality of our sin and our separation from God.

So, one of the main questions in Christianity and the Word of God – the Bible, is this: if God is holy and can do nothing with sin, if God is just and must always oppose sin, how can we ever be reconciled to God? The Bible teaches us in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” And you can argue with my terminology, but you can’t argue with its truth.

We see evil in this world. If you don’t believe what I’m saying, then just turn on the TV or read the newspapers. Or do some research on human history, and you’ll see that it’s a history full of events where people do horrible things to each other. Where sin is piling up, countries are rising and falling, people are suffering oppression, violence taking place for no apparent reason. This is the result of sin. How can sinful man be reconciled to a just God, whose justice demands that they should be punished? The answer is to be found in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Bible teaches us that God is the Trinity. God is the Father, God is the Son and God is the Holy Spirit. And in order to save man, God did something wonderful, unheard-of, inexplicable, incomprehensible. He showed us His love, and in doing so He did this: In His righteousness He condemns our sin, but in His love, God becomes a man, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Historical figure. God intervened in human history. And this Jesus of Nazareth lived in perfection as we never could, and never have with you. And then he goes to the cross. And most of us have heard of the Roman tradition of crucifixion, you may have seen movies about it, how Jesus was nailed there with thistles with a crown on his head. And all this was done because of our sin.

But what is impossible to show, even in the best movies, that it took more than Christ’s physical death to pay for our sins. On the cross, our sins were loaded upon Him, and all the punishment of the Holy and Just God fell on the shoulders of the Son of God. He endured it to the fullest and just before his death, He cried out, “It’s finished!” Which means – paid in full. We are indebted to God for our sin. And that debt means suffering eternal punishment. But on the cross, God himself took our place. He bore our sin and suffered the wrath of God that we deserved. He erased it, He diverted it. And on the third day He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and this Jesus, the Son of God, sat down at the right hand of God.

And now the Bible teaches, that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life, and that no man can come to the Father except through Him.” That there is one God and one mediator between God and man. And that is Jesus Christ. You see, a true Christian is the only one who can say that he will go to heaven, without being full of himself. Why? In other religions, how do you get to heaven? You get to heaven by being good or by deserving it.

In Christianity we cannot be reconciled to God by virtue or by our works, but we are reconciled to God because of the virtue and works of His Son. If I were to die now, I have a great assurance that I am reconciled, that I have been accepted by God. Why? Because 2000 years ago, the Son of God died for sinners and paid off my debt. I don’t believe in myself, in my good deeds, into your church, into your religious deeds. This is Christ alone. And you say: you don’t understand, I’ve sinned so much! We have all sinned so much. But His death is so much more powerful, than any sin we could commit. His death is enough to pay for all our sins.

You ask: But what must I do to be saved? The Bible says you don’t have to do anything heroic—like climb into heaven or descend into hell. Only to believe, to put our trust in Jesus Christ. Abandon all hope for good works or your religiosity. And put your trust in the person, Jesus Christ, and in His work that He did for you.

For so God has loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall inherit eternal life (John 3:16). This is God’s promise to the greatest sinners.”

Paul Washer–HeartCry Missionary Society