Lesson 28

The death of Jesus is the payment for our salvation. Until that payment was made on our behalf, how could anyone be considered clean? Everyone was worthy of death.

Romans 3:9-22 Good News Translation
9 Well then, are we Jews in any better condition than the Gentiles? Not at all! I have already shown that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say: “There is no one who is righteous, 11 no one who is wise or who worships God. 12 All have turned away from God; they have all gone wrong; no one does what is right, not even one. 13 Their words are full of deadly deceit; wicked lies roll off their tongues, and dangerous threats, like snake’s poison, from their lips; 14 their speech is filled with bitter curses. 15 They are quick to hurt and kill; 16 they leave ruin and destruction wherever they go. 17 They have not known the path of peace, 18 nor have they learned reverence for God.” 19 Now we know that everything in the Law applies to those who live under the Law, in order to stop all human excuses and bring the whole world under God’s judgment. 20 For no one is put right in God’s sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make us know that we have sinned. How We Are Put Right with God 21 But now God’s way of putting people right with himself has been revealed. It has nothing to do with law, even though the Law of Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it. 22 God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all:

The Temple curtain separated God from mankind. It was torn open by the death of Jesus. Before he died mankind could not have full contact with God. Had Jesus failed to overcome the temptations of Satan, where would have that left mankind? If some were already with God in heaven, could they stay there without the sacrifice of Jesus? Is believing in Jesus the only way to God? What is the whole truth?

Matthew 27:50-51 International Children’s Bible
50 Again Jesus cried out in a loud voice. Then he died. 51 Then the curtain in the Temple split into two pieces. The tear started at the top and tore all the way down to the bottom. Also, the earth shook and rocks broke apart.

John 3:16 Easy-to-Read Version
16 Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.