wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). When you admit to God that you are a sinner and believe in your heart that Jesus paid for your sins, your relationship to God is restored: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Those who receive Christ’s payment for their sins are declared righteous before God and brought into the family of God, even though they may continue to sin. Once you become a child of God, you can never lose that position: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12). This means that salvation is not based on whether or not we are good people, but rather on our personal faith in Jesus Christ’s payment for our sins. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10).