Romans 5:6-11(ESV) 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die- 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Before Jesus died on the cross, people sinned on a regular basis, and they sacrificed animals for forgiveness. The Bible tells us that Jesus death on the cross was meant to give us a better way. He came to bring righteousness to his chosen people. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us this: "For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Scripture also says: 1 Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness." Scripture also says: “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:18. There are many people who call themselves Christians today who do not live any differently than people did before Jesus came. They sin on a regular basis just as people always did before. They believe they have been saved even though there is no distinction between their lifestyles and that of unbelievers. They believe Jesus made the sacrifice so that they can sin without a penalty and recieve constant forgiveness. This was not what God intended. The free gift that he offers is only for those who are obedient to living without sin. Hebrews 5:9 tells us: "And being made perfect, he (Jesus) became the source of eternal salvation to all who OBEY him," Deliberate rebellion against God was not acceptable before Jesus came: Numbers ch. 15 tells us: "But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him." Also, we are told that deliberate rebellion today is still not tolerated even after Jesus died on the cross: “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26). Jesus came to forgive sins and also to bring righteousness to those that he chooses to forgive. Most Christians deny that righteousness is possible. Without faith in the power of God to deliver us from the bondage of sin, they will not be able to enter his kingdom. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 confirms that righteousness is required for Salvation: "do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." God’s grace does not forgive continual sins. It frees us from the bondage of sin itself.
