The story of humanity begins beautifully: God creates all things. But quickly, that story takes a turn. We rebel against God through sin, and sin carries a penalty we cannot escape on our own.

What exactly is sin? It’s setting our hearts on something other than God. It’s choosing to worship almost anything: success, comfort, approval, control, instead of the One who made us. The Bible doesn’t mince words: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Every one of us. That’s the bad news.

But here’s the good news: We’re not left to fix this ourselves. No amount of hard work, generosity, or good deeds can save us from what sin creates. We need a Rescuer, someone outside ourselves, someone with the power to do what we cannot do.

That Rescuer is Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus “became sin who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God.” He took our place. He bore what we deserve so that we could receive what we don’t deserve: forgiveness, peace, and eternal life with God.