Everyone has problems. Whether it is struggling with money and debt, dealing with difficult people and situations at work, or trying to fight anxiety about the future—everyone has problems unique to his or her specific situation.

But there is one problem that we all have in common. Every person in every nation, from every race, and from every walk of life has this same problem. Some people try to distract themselves from facing the problem through wealth, alcohol, drugs or relationships. Others do not even realize that the problem exists. How could one problem affect all people? What is this problem?

The Problem

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Bible says that the problem that every person has is sin. No one measures up to God’s perfect and holy standards. Everyone disobeys His commands. Everyone has sinned.

Why is sin a problem? It’s a problem because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sin does not simply complicate our lives for a few weeks or cause us to have a bad day. The penalty for breaking God’s perfect law is death.

If everyone sins, and the punishment for sin is death, then what are we to do? How can this problem be fixed?

The Provision

There is nothing that we can do to fix the problem on our own. But God, in His mercy, did not leave us without an answer. Even though we have sinned against a holy and perfect God, He does not simply condemn us to be punished for our sins. Instead, God made a provision—He sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to be punished for our sins in our place. That is how great God’s love for us is—“in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and then conquered death by His resurrection! By dying in our place, Jesus was the substitute for us and made it possible for us to have eternal life. “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

What does this provision mean for the problem?

The Promise

The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). God’s promise to us is that if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He truly did die on the cross for our sins and rise from the dead, then we will not pay the wages (price) for our sin. Instead, God promises us the gift of eternal life.

If you want to claim the promise of eternal life that God gives through the provision of Jesus Christ, you can pray something like this today:

“Dear God, I know that I have a problem. I know that there is nothing I can do to fix the problem of sin on my own. I believe that You sent Your Son Jesus to die on the cross in my place for my sins. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. Your Word says that I can be free of sin’s punishment and have eternal life. I call on Your name, God, and ask for Your forgiveness of my sins. Amen.”