God created earth and life on it perfect in every way. Adam and Eve knew no sin; they didn’t understand, and had no need to understand, what sin was. But when Eve was persuaded by Satan that she would not die if she ate from the one tree God forbade them to eat from, the tree of knowledge of good and evil [Gen 2:17], but would be as God, knowing good and evil [Gen 3:5], she succumbed to the deceit and then encouraged Adam to do the same. They had acted against God’s word, which is what sin is, and became aware of their nakedness. Once the knowledge of sin was acquired, that knowledge became part of the human make-up and, through their disobedience, sin had entered the world. A perfect and righteous God could not possibly tolerate the presence of sin, which is why the punishment for sin had to be death. The problem is obvious: If the punishment for sin is death, then the human race could not survive beyond the first couple. To resolve this, God, through His grace and mercy, allowed mankind a substitute to take away the burden of sin. Life depends on blood; it provides oxygen and nourishment to the body. When enough blood leaves a body, life leaves that body. Since life is in the blood, then blood had to be shed (to bring about the punishment of death) as an atonement for the sin. God allowed an animal’s blood to be that atonement. An innocent life is sacrificed in place of the sinful one; the penalty of death is paid. God declared to Moses For the life of the flesh is in the blood. And I have given it to you on the altar to make an atonement for your souls. For it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul. [Leviticus 17:11]. The shedding of substitutionary blood on the altar makes atonement, since the blood of the innocent victim was given for the life of the one who had sinned. However, the sinners offering their sacrifices would sin again, and a sacrifice would have to be repeatedly offered. Their sacrifices were only a temporary solution to their sin. This is why God sent His son. Jesus died on the cross, shedding His blood to become the ultimate and final sacrifice. Jesus was perfect in every way, enabling His blood to be the perfect sacrifice; the blood of the innocent victim was given as payment for the lives of those who had sinned, and will sin again. It was a one-time payment, valid for all time. For He (God) has made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. [2 Co 5:21]. This is why the only way to God is through Jesus. He is the only one who was able to shed innocent blood as a substitution for sinners. Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me. [John 14:6]. It is through belief in Jesus that we are saved: ….. iif you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. [Romans 10:9]. This will only happen if you accept you are a sinner and reach out to the only one who can save you, Jesus Christ. Many will think they don’t sin, considering sin to be something they know is wrong and is obvious to others. But we are relating to a perfect God, and the slightest imperceptible sin, even in thought alone, is an anathema to God. Consider a ‘clean room’ which has no impurity in it. One single speck of dust allowed to enter that room means it is no longer a ‘clean room’. God’s perfection cannot allow that ‘speck of dust’, otherwise His perfection is compromised. We are all, at the very least, that speck of dust. I have read that Martin Luther said, “The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man is that somehow he can make himself good enough to deserve to live forever with an all-holy God” The only way to reach out to Jesus is to accept you are a sinner, at the very least that speck of dust, recognise that you need Him as your saviour and ask Him into your life. If you do this with humility and a sincere heart, you will be saved and, whether you sense it or not, God will give you His Spirit and you will inherit eternal life. For 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]. I have heard this expressed as the ultimate love story. Jesus left the throne room in heaven to come to earth as a man and give His life that we might be saved. I have also heard it expressed as a rescue mission. However you might choose to view it, if you reject the love, turn down the offer to be rescued, then eternity for you will be a separation from God. There is no other choice.