Many do not know or understand what Jesus actually accomplished in his life, death and resurrection. Many religious, self righteous people don't like the idea that Jesus justifies ungodly sinners. If we read the New Testament we will find that it was the prostitutes, tax collectors, publicans and sinners that believed upon him and followed him. It was the religious, self righteous Pharisees that rejected him.
"But to him that does no works (Religion) but believes on him that justifies the ungodly (sinners) his faith is counted for righteousness" Romans 4:5.
The big question is do you qualify? Are you an ungodly sinner? Paul wants everybody to know that he qualified when he wrote that he was "The Chief of Sinners" 1 Timothy 1:15. Was Paul really the chief of sinners? Of course not. He just wanted us to know that sinners are not excluded from the salvation that is in Jesus Christ.
How does Jesus save and justify ungodly sinners? Does he do something in them? Does he re-habilitate ungodly sinners by the works of the law? Or does he provide a salvation that is totally and completely outside of them. If the sin is within, the salvation must be without. Paul wrote, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. This scripture tells us that salvation in Jesus Christ is outside of us. It is so far outside of us that it happened over 2000 years ago, before we were ever born.
Not only is salvation outside of us, it is also found in another person, Jesus Christ. This is not complicated, even a small child can understand this. Jesus is God's new Adam. The old Adam who sinned against God and brought sin and death upon on us was crucified with Christ, God put him to death in Jesus Christ, Romans 6:4. No, you have not been predestinated, you were crucified with Christ. Our old Adamic nature has been destroyed so that we don't have to obey it any more, Romans 6:6.
When Jesus walked out of Joseph's new tomb our new humanity walked out with him. We have been MADE new creations in Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17. The old has been destroyed and the new has arrived. God now sees us as perfect and complete in his Son Jesus Christ, Colossians 2:10. What is our part in all of this? The only thing that God asks us to do to be saved is to trust and believe in his Son Jesus Christ, plus nothing.
"For by grace (God's goodness) are we saved, through faith; and not of yourself, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest anyone should boast" Ephesians 2:8.
