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A Skeptic's Conversation with a Christian (Part 2)
(Christian) God has a bunch to say, but we'll work on the main message of the Bible:
"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)
(Skeptic) I've seen THAT one before! You had it on your first page. I also see it in the end zone during NFL games.
(Christian) Uh-huh. That's because it's important! This verse is called "The Bible in a nutshell" because that is what the Bible is all about: God's plan of salvation for all of us. This is part of the Great Exchange.
(Skeptic) So, what do we have to trade with God?
(Christian) There's no easy way to put this: We don't have anything worthwhile to trade away. We do have sin, however, and lots of it.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23 NIV)
(Skeptic) What exactly is sin?
(Christian) Sin is anything that is contrary to God. That means sin can be in our thoughts, in our words, in our deeds. Bummer, huh?
(Skeptic) Yeah. Just how bad is sin?
(Christian) Completely bad. You see, God is a perfect, almighty being. And while he is a God of love, God is also a God of justice. He says, in the book of Romans:
"The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23 NIV)
And not just any death. God means death in a way that you are completely cut off from him, his love, and his mercy. You continue to exist, but in a horrible existence completely devoid of mercy, love or even oblivion.
(Skeptic) Ummm... that would be hell, right?
(Christian) Smart cookie. That's right. God didn't make hell for mankind, he made it for Satan (Yes, Virginia, there is a Satan.) and Satan's angels (re: demons). But if man is against God, then God says, "Okay, you can go to hell, too." After all, if you hated God, then spending eternity in God's home (heaven), wouldn't be a lot of fun, would it? (Nor would it really be heaven for those who do serve God and now have to put up with God's enemies for all eternity.) Remember that question about what happens to you when you die? Turns out there's a fourth possibility: You go to hell.
(Skeptic) This is not good.
(Christian) This is not good. There is hope, though. True, reliable, guaranteed hope. Here's the rest of that Bible passage:
"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
(Skeptic) Whoa. This is the Great Exchange?!? We give God our sins and he gives us his Son?? What is he, an idiot?
(Christian) Not even. God demands justice. Our sins - every last one - must be paid for. But God was willing - in fact, he promised - to have Jesus pay for all sins. ALL of them, from the Adam's first sin to the last sin committed in the last second before Judgment Day. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, so God is able to see us as pure and without sin. That means eternal life with him in heaven.
(Skeptic) But what about our sins now? Or the ones we commit tomorrow?
(Christian) Paid for.
(Skeptic) And the sins that we don't know about?
(Christian) Read my lips. Paid for.
(Skeptic) How about the sins we like? Or the ones we don't think are sins? Or...
(Christian)  !!
(Skeptic) Okay, okay! I get it! You don't have to yell.
(Christian) Sure I do. Why wouldn't I? Because of Jesus, my eternal salvation is guaranteed!! No doubts, no worries, no fears.
(Skeptic) Wait a second, Sherlock. What's my end of the deal? What do I have to do?
(Christian) *Sigh* I thought we covered this. Nothing. Zip. Nada. It's all been paid for! You don't have to do anything!
CONTINUE TO PART 3
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