Perfect God, Imperfect Man

"Moses could mediate on the law; Muhammad could brandish a sword; Buddha could give personal counsel; Confucius could offer wise sayings; but none of these men was qualified to offer an atonement for the sins of the world. Christ alone is worthy of unlimited devotion and service" - R.C. Sproul in "Reason to Believe" p. 44

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:4)

Our Father in Heaven is the creator of the universe. He is perfect. Because we are not perfect, we cannot approach Him. Israel understood this as the Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the temple by a thick veil. Behind it was the Ark of the covenant holding the perfect law, a reminder of our sinfulness. Daily sacrifices were made in the outer court for there cannot be the forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood.  (Hebrews 9:21-23) But daily we remained guilty.

But Jesus, the perfect Son of God, turned all that around. He made one perfect sacrifice. (Rom. 3:21-26) On that day, the veil of the temple was torn in two. (Mt. 27:51-54) We are no longer separated from the holiness of God. We have been adopted as His children. Sure, we are not perfect. But with the aid of the Holy Spirit, we are growing into the likeness of God’s Son. Only Christ, one with the Father, made this atonement, propitiation for our sins! He alone is worthy of our devotion!

And how do we know this once and for all offering was for us, the believer? God’s law is not separated by a thick veil, but is written on our hearts!

And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"
then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. "Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:15-18)

Our conscience bears witness to God’s promised redemption.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. John (3:19-24)