Who Me, a Sinner? No one likes to think of themselves as a sinner.  Certainly as we look around we can find some «good» people.  The important question is, «What is our criteria for determining good or bad?»  In other words, «What makes YOU a sinner?»  Sin does not change from nation to nation.  The universal criteria for determining sin is found in the Holy Bible!  «Sin is the transgression of the Law.»  (I John 3:4)  Sin is any violation of God's will.  The Bible says, «All have sinned and come short  of the glory of God.»  (Rom. 3:23)  That means that every person needs a Saviour!  «As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.»  (Romans 3:10)  «If we say we have not sinned we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.»  (I John 1:7)  «All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way...»  (Isaiah 53:6)  «What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; ...They are all gone out of the way, ... there is none that doeth good, no, not one» (Romans 3:10-12).  Just as birds fly by nature, and fish swim by nature.  So do young children cry «mine» by nature,  and selfishly grab their toys from others!  We do not have to teach a child to cry for his will,  but rather someone must teach the child how to behave and to share.  We cannot blame God for our sinful nature!  Adam and Eve committed the first "human sin" in the Garden of Eden.  They were punished for disobeying God's commands  and we have inherited their sinful nature!  «By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon ALL men, for that all have sinned» (Romans 5:12)  «For as in Adam all die...» (1 Cor. 15:22)  But God has given us a free will to choose between right and wrong, between His will and our will.  You cannot blame Satan for all your evil deeds!  Just as a television advertizement may influence you to buy a certain product, he may tempt you...  But, ultimately you decide.  If you steal, you decide to steal!  If you lie, you choose to tell a lie!  If you commit adultery, you have no one to blame but yourself!  You sin because as your sin nature is pulling you to sin, you simply give in.  The Bible says, «But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed»  (James 1:14).  Worldly attractions entice us to disobey God's Holy commands.  Our weak, fleshly bodies find pleasure in sin, but for a season.  Then too, because the Devil knows your weaknesses he always wants you to commit more sin...  Every individual will be judged for their personal relationship to the Saviour, because of the knowledge that has been revealed through our conscience!  If you are honest with yourself you know that you have sinned against God!  The Bible says, «...That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.» (I Timothy 1:15)  Jesus said, « They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. ...for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance»  (Matthew 9:13,14).  After healing a blind man, the self righteous, religious people questioned the Lord Jesus.  He answered them in a parable, «If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.» (John 9:41)  The hardest truth for religious people to learn is that they too are sinners, for all have sinned!  Now the question, SAVED FROM WHAT?  The Bible clearly teaches, «The wages of sin is death.»  (Rom. 6:23)  «Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.» (Matt. 25:41)  «For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already...» (John 3:17,18 )  This life is a test of your love for our Creator.  We are not robots or programmed.  Our Maker gave us a free will to accept or reject His plan of salvation!  Man can be honest, admit that he has sinned against the Lord and receive His gift of eternal life...  Or man can reject God's gracious offer and face judgement of eternal damnation!  We cannot understand the ways of God.  You and I often judge many things as unfair in this life!  But, one day, God will balance the scales of justice!  «And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.»  (Hebrews 9:27)  That will be the final accounting of your actions!  You will not take your money, your possessions, or your position in life with you from this world.  To be SAVED from the penalty of SIN, you must honestly come to Christ and confess that you are a sinner and place your faith totally in His finished work on Calvary!  «And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.»   (Luke 23:41,42)  Why don't you admit your faults like the thief on the cross and ask Jesus to save your soul.  Jesus promised in His Word, «...and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.»  (John 6:38)  You decide, the choice is yours to receive Him by faith or to reject Him by you choosing not to trust Him!  «It is finished», Jesus cried on the cross!  The payment for your sin was paid.  Will you look to Him and call upon His name?  «For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him» (II Cor. 5:21).  «That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;   And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father» (Philippians 2:10,11).  «If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.»  (I John 1:8,9).  The Saviour is offering you salvation by faith in Him alone, and not by anything you may try to do to earn it.  «For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God not of works, least any man should boast.»   (Ephesians 2:8,9)  We know that God cannot tell a lie because HE is Holy!  He has given us the message of eternal life through faith in His Son ,so that we could have peace in our hearts while we live in this troubled world.  «These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...» (I John 5:13).  Yes, God wants you to be sure, you can know that you have ETERNAL LIFE!  Pray to the Lord Jesus now, and ask Him to come into your heart!  If you do not know how to pray you could say something like this in your own words... «Lord Jesus.  I admit that I am a sinner and I could never save myself. Please forgive me for my sins.  Thank you for dying on the cross to pay for my sins.  I need You and I am trusting You and You alone for my salvation!   Please come into my heart and save me dear LORD! Amen!»
                                                                                                                                                    Tom Meador​