The incredible truth is that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Even more amazing is that God loved us when we were still sinners. We were still under the death penalty of sin when He called us to conversion (Romans 5:8).

Jesus has a deep, burning desire to help mankind share eternity with Him (Matthew 23:37). The book of Hebrews says that we should be “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

It was anything but joyous to go through scourging and crucifixion, an incredibly brutal form of execution. Isaiah 52:14 prophesied that Christ’s appearance would be “disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness” (NIV).

Psalm 22 describes some of the thoughts and feelings of anguish and pain Jesus faced when enduring His betrayal and death. Yet He had the spiritual vision to look past His own suffering to the joy of spending eternity with others who would choose the road to eternal life (Hebrews 12:2).

He willingly accepted the curse, the death penalty meant for us, “having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)” (Galatians 3:13). (To learn more about who Jesus actually was and what He went through for us, read or download our free study guide Jesus Christ: The Real Story.)

Christ’s sacrifice was so complete that no sin ever committed is too big or small for God to forgive (Psalms 103:3). Paul called himself the chief of sinners, as he had persecuted Christians, yet God used him powerfully after his conversion (1 Timothy 1:15). Throughout the book of Psalms, King David praised God’s mercy. He saw God’s mercy as endless, filling the earth (Psalms 119:64).

Such examples inspire great hope. No matter what our background or past mistakes, when we genuinely repent and are baptized, God promises complete forgiveness.

We can try to hide from sin, ignore sin or pretend that there is no consequence of sin. We can try to run away from the natural penalty of sin. But no human efforts can forgive sin and completely remove the spiritual penalty associated with it. Only Christ’s sacrifice can permanently cleanse and forgive us.