It's the bad news about sin and its consequences that makes the gospel of Jesus such good news. Because it is a message for sinners only, who, then, are the sinners?

The Bible informs us:

1. All are sinners (Rom. 3:23).

2. All people, without exception, are guilty (Rom. 3:19).

3. All stand condemned before God (Jn. 3:18,36).

4. All are under the penalty of spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God (Eph. 2:5).

5. All are helpless to wipe out their own guilt (Rom. 3:20).

This blunt description of sinners presents an urgent need for a life-saving solution. The typical human solution is to try to make sure that our good works outweigh the bad and just hope that we will win God's approval.

Christ's all-sufficient solution, however, was to perform the ultimate good work on our behalf—He died and paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. Now we all have a choice to make—accept or reject His solution.

Which choice have you made? Have you accepted Christ's forgiveness, or are you continuing to reject Him? Accept Him now, for there's no other solution!  — Joanie Yoder