By Rev. JAMES SCARBOROUGH

Donalsonville Assembly of God

A few days ago, a truck loaded with new furniture stopped across the road from the hospice office. The driver came inside and informed us that he had a load of items for sale at great prices. Several people went out to take a look, but I chose not to. I could not think of any furnishings that we really need and I figured that if I bought something that we do not need, even at a discounted price, it would still not be a wise and worthwhile investment. (But if it had been a truck load of tools, I would have been among the first to go out and take a look!) I am sure I would be a lot better off-not to mention that my wife would like it a lot-if I stopped and asked myself the question, “Why do I need that?,” before every purchase.

During this Easter season, we can come to a greater appreciation of Christ’s death and resurrection if we pause and consider some of the reasons that we need Him as our Savior. In so doing, perhaps it will bring us to a fresh realization of how absolutely essential it was for Christ to come and pay for our sins with His life. Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (New International Version).

As we consider our need for Christ as our Savior, we must remember that we need Him because of the sinfulness of humankind. God had a perfect relationship with the first man and woman that He created, but that was interrupted by sin. Because of His holy and righteous nature and the sin-corrupted nature of humankind, sin had to be properly dealt with before that relationship between God and man could be restored. Only Christ could provide that means. Without Him we remain dead and hopeless in sin, but through Him we have the promise of everlasting life. Romans 6:23 reminds us: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We also need Christ as our Savior because all other means that humankind has used to attempt to gain God’s favor have failed. Throughout history, men and women have tried to earn God’s favor by doing good works, and they have attempted to access Him through empty religious routine and ritual. These all failed and will continue to fail. Only faith in Christ will bring us into God’s favor and forgiveness. As Peter and John were called on the carpet for their faith in Christ, Peter courageously and accurately expressed to the doubting religious leaders of his day, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And to Whom was he referring as the only source of our salvation? Jesus Christ.

Do we need Christ as our Savior? There is no doubt that we do, and the reasons that we need Him are infinite. The more personal question is, will you by faith receive His love and forgiveness into your life?