We all stand guilty. Every single one of us has sinned and fallen short of God's glory. That's the hard truth we must face before we can truly understand the beauty of what comes next.

But here's the incredible news: God's righteousness isn't about keeping the law or earning salvation through our works. It never was. From the very beginning, through the prophets and Scripture, God promised that salvation would come through faith in Jesus Christ.

Think about what Jesus did on that cross. When the curtain in the temple tore from top to bottom, it wasn't just fabric ripping. That curtain was 60 feet tall, 20 feet wide, and 4 inches thick. Nothing on earth could tear it. But God did, signaling that Jesus' sacrifice was complete and accepted. The barrier between us and God was destroyed forever.

Through faith in Christ's blood, we receive justification - not just being declared "not guilty," but being covered in God's own righteousness. We receive redemption - a ransom paid in full for our freedom. Jesus became our propitiation, our atoning sacrifice, standing in our place and paying the price we could never pay.

And here's what breaks my heart: some of us accept this incredible redemption, only to walk right back into the captivity of sin. Imagine being ransomed for a million dollars, set free, and then returning to your kidnappers. Yet we do this when we return to our sin.

God has removed your sin as far as the east is from the west. If you start walking east, you'll never walk west. Your sin is GONE. Done. Signed, sealed, delivered.

This isn't just hope - God wants you to KNOW you have eternal life. That's why He had it written down. Your faith rests on God, His Word, Jesus' actions, and the Holy Spirit's presence.

The question is: will you accept His redemption and walk in freedom, or return to captivity?