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3.
Jesus Died to Take Away Sin
How many people have sinned?
What is the penalty for sin?
Why did Jesus die? "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Romans 5:7, 8). "Look, the Lamb of God, who TAKES AWAY THE SIN of the world!" (John 1:29). All of us have sinned and are subject to eternal death—the ultimate penalty for sin. But Jesus "became sin for us" (2 Corinthians 5:21), He died in our place, thus paying the death penalty for us. His act in dying is a gift, therefore "the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Suddenly an older prisoner pushed his way toward the front. It was Father Maximillian Kolbe, a saintly man who managed to share the love of God even amid the horrors of Auschwitz. "Herr Kommandant," Kolbe said, "please, sir, may I take his place?" The dumbfounded SS officer ordered Kolbe to join the other nine on their way to Block 13. In its dark, fetid basement they were to be starved to death. During the next several days, the men could hear prayers and songs of praise coming from Kolbe's cell. Finally he was killed by injection with carbolic acid. Father Kolbe had lived a life of heroic virtue in the most trying circumstances. But he was willing to lay it down freely for a stranger in need. Love like that is almost beyond human comprehension. But Jesus laid down His perfect, righteous life as a gift—for the most unworthy. Because of His death "we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
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One
day in the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz, the commandant announced that
ten prisoners must die because a man had just escaped. Ten names were
read on the parade grounds. When the last one heard his name called, he
sobbed in agony: "My wife and my children!" 
