Why would I want to be a Christian?

Why is Christianity such a big deal with you people?

Why even be anything? Who needs religion anyway?

I think I'm doing just fine without religion or God.

I think I'm just fine the way I am.

But unfortunately, God seems to disagree...

The fool has said in his heart; "There is no God." Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none that do good.

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

Every one of them is gone back; they are altogether become filthy. There is none that do good, no not one.

Psalm 53: 1-3

Why would God say something like that?

I know lots of nice people, they don't seem bad to me!

But God says in Isaiah 55:8; " My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

There is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

The soul that sins, it shall die.

Ezekiel 18:20

You people are all alike! Always talking about sin, and how God is gonna' punish everybody for not measuring up.

What is God anyway, just some big heavenly spoilsport?

Some big bully, picking on us because we can't live up to what He wants?

Does God get a kick out of punishing people?

As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn you, turn you from your evil ways, for why will you die?

Ezekiel 33:11

 Now you show me a verse that says the wicked need to turn away from sin in order to live, but meanwhile, two lines back up this page, the Bible says in another place that there is none that do good.

If it's impossible for anybody to please God, and everybody is a sinner, and God condemns everybody, how can anybody be saved?

If everybody who was ever born is a sinner, and condemned, it is almost like you would have to be born into some kind of fresh start to avoid that curse!

Oh, yeah...I remember...Jesus did say something about that, didn't He?

The scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Galatians 3:22

Jesus said to him; Verily, verily I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I say to you, you must be born again.

John 3:3,6-7

But even if God did give us a fresh start by being born again, what about the sins that we have already done?

If He just ignored them, and pretended they didn't matter anymore, that wouldn't say much for His justice or accountability.

Wouldn't there have to be some way for God to satisfy His own sense of justice for the sins we did before we got saved, and also any sins that we did after?

How would God deal with those sins?

He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.

It pleased the Lord to bruise Him, He hath put Him to grief, when you shall make His soul an offering for sin...He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53:5,10,11

 Does that mean that God is able to forgive my sins and justify me on the basis of Jesus Christ's death on the cross?

Is there anything I need to do besides trust in what He has already done, and accept it as my own, finished for me?

If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

Romans 10:9