The Basic Problem
THE BASIC PROBLEM
One of the greatest problems for the Christian faith is ignorance. This is obvious for those living in parts of the world where there is little exposure to or influence by Christians. But it is also true for those living in parts of the world where Christianity has had a strong heritage but is now on the decline. Despite such a tradition, people do not know or understand the basic beliefs and practices of Christianity. While some people reject Christianity without clearly understanding it, others are attracted to Jesus and probably would become Christians if they knew how. This booklet explains in simple terms how to become a Christian.
Christianity claims to be God’s solution to the greatest problem humans face. But it’s impossible to understand or accept the solution without being clear about the problem. So let’s first examine the problem.
The Bible says, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth” (1 John 1:5-6). Based on this Scripture, our basic problem can be summarized in three statements.
First, we “walk in darkness.” In other words, all people are sinners. Though we don’t often think in terms of sin, we can’t close our eyes to an obvious fact. The Bible teaches and our experience confirms that the darkness of selfishness and sin overshadow our lives.
Second, “God is light.” Unlike us, “there is no darkness at all” in him. God is pure and spotless.
Third, just as light and darkness can’t live together, neither can God and sin. Speaking about God, the ancient prophet Habakkuk says, “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing” (Habakkuk 1:13). The Bible also says that God “lives in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16). This is the logical conclusion: we cannot “have fellowship with him” until the darkness—sin—has been removed from us.
The problem should now be clear to us. How can we who live in darkness be reconciled to a holy God, who lives in light? More directly, how can my sins be forgiven and removed so I can have fellowship with God?