Romans 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

We are all sinners. For some people this is a revelation that requires for them to be sitting to accept, but harsh reality at the end of the day is that we must admit we have sinned against a Righteous God. The “reward” for sin is death, for a Just God cannot allow sin to go unpunished. This certainly puts God in a tough position in that He has His creation whom He dearly loves and yet they have chosen sin over Him. There are two options. On one hand, He could certainly destroy the entire world, sending all of us to an eternal punishment and this would be the act of a Just God. Or he could “lower the bar of holiness,” turn His head, and through His love allow entrance into heaven anyway.

Thankfully, He didn’t do either. God’s answer is so much better. Instead, we have the cross. On the cross we have a picture of the wrath of God poured out on Jesus as he takes the full punishment of sin upon Himself on our behalf. At the very same time, the cross is a picture of the absolute love God has for His Creation. He didn’t sentence us all to death and He didn’t “lower the Bar” instead, He sent His Son to die for our sins and we inherit His righteousness. It reminds me of an old hymn.

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed me white as snow.