The Bible is very clear about the depravity of all mankind. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament make it clear that “All have sinned.” “There is none righteous, no not one.” The Bible also teaches us that all of our so called good works will avail us nothing with God. He won’t love us more for doing good nor will he hate us more for doing bad. It says, “our righteousness is as filthy rags” to God. But it’s really comforting to think that we’re not as bad as some of the really bad guys: Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Adolph Hitler and many others. We like to think we’re safe because God will be occupied with dealing with the really wicked people.  Much of religion today has to do with comparing ourselves with others in order come out feeling good about ourselves. It was the same case in Jeremiah’s day. In Jeremiah 6:14, he indicts the preachers and teachers of religion. He says, “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”

There is never any peace with those who are attempting to find it by being good. There is never any peace for those who are looking for it in religious rituals or religious rules or regulations. First of all we’ll never measure up to the standard of perfection God has set for us in the law and demonstrated for us in the person and works of Jesus Christ. We will all fall short. You never know if you’ve done enough good deeds, given enough offerings, lite enough candles, helped enough people. There is no peace there. But there is true peace in trusting Jesus. In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

One of the most famous sermons in American history is the one entitled, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God.” In that sermon Johnathan Edwards had his congregation shaking with fear and crying out for mercy. He presented the precarious position of hanging from a spider web over the eternal blazing fires of hell. The Bible isn’t about that! The Bible is not about sinners in the hands of an angry God. The Bible is about a loving God in the hands of angry sinners. They hung him on the cross during which time he paid the penalty for the very ones driving the nails. God so loved the world that he sent his one and only perfect son into the world to pay for our sins. Anyone who believes in Him will never perish but will have everlasting life and find true peace.