UNLESS YOU BELIEVE

“I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (John 8:24 ESV).

Jesus warned that those who did not believe in Him as the Christ, would die in their sins. Sin is the state of all of Adam’s race. It begins as an attitude of the heart that wants its own way, and manifests as an act of the flesh that goes against God’s law. Sin is missing the mark of God’s righteousness. It has infected every aspect of man, his character, his thoughts and his deeds. We are born in sin and in sin we die, apart from Christ.

The Bible teaches that “all have sinned and fallen short” (Rom. 3:23). It also teaches that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Jesus’ warning is true. We are already sinners and we will die in our sins, unless we believe in Him. For we are born as Adam’s children, but believing in Jesus, we are born again. As the apostle Paul wrote, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).

To die in one’s sins is to retain sin’s consequence, which is eternal separation from God in a place called Hell. Yet, to all who receive Christ Jesus, to those who believe in his name, he gives “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). The one who dies in Christ, never really dies, but will live forever with Him.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are those who have believed in Your Son, Jesus, as the Christ, the Savior of the world. We confess our sin and receive Your payment for our sin, which was paid by Jesus’ death on the cross. We are justified by His resurrection. We too have died with Christ and are risen to new life in Him. Strengthen us to live this day as Your children, sharing the gospel of Jesus to everyone. In Jesus’ name, amen.