Answer the following questions, knowing that one “Yes” answer means you have sinned and are in need of God’s forgiveness…

•  Have you ever failed to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind? (Luke 10:27)

•  Have you ever failed to love your neighbor? (Luke 6:31, 10:27)

•  Have you ever been drunk? (Ephesians 5:18)        

•  Have you stolen something that wasn’t yours? (Exodus 20:15)         

•  Have you lied? (Exodus 20:16)         

•  Have you had sexual intercourse with someone other than your spouse? (Exodus 20:14; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10))

•  Have you ever entertained lustful adulterous thoughts in your mind? (Matthew 5:28)   

•  Has any “perverse speech” proceeded from your mouth? (Proverbs 8:13; Ephesians 4:29) 

•  Have you been arrogant or prideful? (Proverbs 8:13, 16:5; Galatians 6:3)     

•  Have you paid all your taxes? (Romans 13:6–7)         

•  Have you lived your life in subjection to the government (i.e., obeyed the laws of the land)? (Romans 13:1–2)         

•  Have you hungered after (coveted) something that didn’t belong to you? (Exodus 20:17)         

•  Have you ever replaced a four letter vulgar word with the name of Jesus? (Exodus 20:7)         

•  Have you ever disobeyed or dishonored your parents? (Exodus 20:12)         

•  Have you murdered anyone, or even had harsh thoughts about someone? (Matthew 5:22)         

•  Have you ever used anything as an object of worship or veneration? (Exodus 20:4)         

•  Have you ever given allegiance to anything else over God in your life? (Exodus 20:3)       

How did you do?

If you answered, “Yes” to even one of these questions, you have violated God’s holy standards. This means you are a sinner and in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. Those who turn away God’s offer of salvation purchased for them through Jesus’ death on the cross will stand before God on the day of judgment still in their sins, only to be judged, justly condemned, and cast away from God’s presence forever in Hell (Romans 2:5; Revelation 20:15). Friend, you do not want to go there! And God doesn’t want you to go there either (1 Timothy 2:4). That’s why Jesus died on the cross for you. He received the punishment you deserved for your sins, so you could be pardoned and forgiven. He loves you (Romans 5:8)! So how can you be saved? Click here to continue reading how you can experience that forgiveness right now.