Would You Rather?
Pastor Josh opened with a creative “would you rather” exercise — but with a twist. These weren’t frivolous questions about sports championships or free gas. He posed one final scenario that’s all too real:
“Would you rather live a full life — rich, meaningful, purposeful — but at the end, have to stand before God and pay for every last one of your sins? Or would you rather have all your sins given to someone else… and they experience the full wrath of God for everything you’ve ever done wrong?”
This is the real question. And the answer is what makes this weekend — Memorial Day weekend when we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom — so meaningful. Because there is someone who took the wrath so we could go free. His name is Jesus.
God’s Forgiveness Is Gracious
Romans 6:23 tells us plainly: “The wages of sin is death.” Every sin we’ve ever committed earns death — separation from a holy God. We can never work off that debt. Unlike a mortgage or student loan, we can’t earn our way to forgiveness.
But look at the other half of that verse: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
— Romans 3:23–24
Our forgiveness is not earned. It’s a gift. Jesus earned righteousness by living a perfect life — and God graciously credits that righteousness to everyone who trusts in Christ. We get what we don’t deserve and could never earn. That’s grace.
God’s Forgiveness Is Complete
Under the Old Testament system, animal sacrifices had to be offered again and again because sins kept accumulating. The debt was never fully paid. But Hebrews 10:11–13 shows us something remarkable about Christ’s sacrifice:
“When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…”
Why did He sit down? Because the work was done. The payment was complete.
Colossians 2:14 gives us the ultimate receipt — the nail scars in Christ’s hands and feet:
“By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands, this he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
— Colossians 2:14
Picture it: God took every sin — past, present, and future — and nailed it to the cross. The debt is gone. Past sins and future sins alike — all paid in full. Our forgiveness is complete.
God’s Forgiveness Is Certain
Acts 26:16–18 records Jesus’ words to Paul on the road to Damascus:
“I am sending you to open their eyes… that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Notice the certainty language: “a place among those who are sanctified.” This isn’t tentative. It’s not “maybe” or “probably.” A permanent transaction has occurred. We have been transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:12–13).
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
— 1 John 1:3
So What?
Three characteristics of divine forgiveness: gracious (a gift, not earned), complete (the debt is cancelled forever), and certain (a permanent transfer has taken place).
If you’ve trusted in Christ, this is your standing before God forever. You are no longer an object of wrath — you are a child of God, co-heir with Christ, with your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
But here’s the most important question: Have your sins been nailed to the cross? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work? If not, today is the day. You can pray right now:
“God, I know I’m a sinner and my sins deserve punishment. But I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins and You raised Him from the dead to prove my sins are forgiven. I confess the death and resurrection of Jesus as the only way I can be saved.”
If you prayed that for the first time — tell someone. Tell a friend, a family member, or one of our pastors. You’ve trusted in the complete forgiveness that Jesus purchased on the cross, and that’s worth celebrating.
Scripture References
- Romans 6:23 — The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
- Colossians 2:13–14 — God made us alive with Christ and cancelled our debt, nailing it to the cross
- Isaiah 1:18 — Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow
- Ephesians 2:1–3 — We were dead in sins, but God made us alive together with Christ
- Romans 3:23–24 — All have sinned, but all are justified by His grace as a gift
- Acts 10:42–43 — Everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins
- Acts 26:16–18 — Paul was sent so that sinners might turn to God and receive forgiveness
- Colossians 1:12–13 — God qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints, transferring us from darkness to Christ’s kingdom
- Hebrews 10:11–13 — Christ’s single sacrifice was sufficient; He sat down because the work was done
- Romans 10:9–10 — If you confess Jesus is Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved