The Solution

Lucky for us, God provides a solution to the problem.

To re-iterate the problem:

The holiness gap between God and mankind is infinite.
Because the gap is infinite, there is no way that finite, sinful mankind can bridge the gap.

The following diagram illustrates this problem.

Let's take a look in the table below at what is required to solve the problem.

Requirements of the Solution

What and Who	Requirement	Why?	Reference	Scripture
What Has to Be Done	A death is required	Because the wages (cost/price) of (mankind's) sin is death	Romans 6:23	for the wages of sin is death
Who Has to Do It	By someone who is both Infinite and Holy	Because the sacrifice has to be holy to qualify to remove the sin.	Hebrews 7:26	Such a high priest (Jesus) truly meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
Who Has to Do It	By someone who is both Infinite and Holy	The person must be infinite because the separation is infinite.	Old and New Testaments	Jesus is infinite because He is Deity (more information coming soon).

Now, in the table below, take a look at what God did to solve the problem.

What God Did

What and Who	What and Who Did It	How He Did It	Reference	Scripture
What Had to Be Done	He died.	Jesus (second person of the Trinity) became a man, who is both human and Deity, the God-Man, who died a substitutionary death for all mankind.	Romans 5:8	God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Who Did It	Jesus, who is both infinite and holy, died for the sins of the world.	How can Jesus be infinite? Good question! See the Deity of Christ.	John 1:29	The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

The diagram below shows God's solution.

What Have We Got?

So, what does all this mean?

If we could summarize all of this information regarding God's actions (the solution) into one big package, it would be one monumental gift. And this is what God calls it in the New Testament, a free gift:

Free Gift

Solution Summary	Reference	Scripture	Comments
Free gift	Ephesians 2:8,9	For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.	This key verse emphasizes that it is a free gift, not accomplished by the works of man. Remember "saved" is one of those Biblical words discussed in terms.

About the Gift

Please consider some of the cool characteristics of the gift:

Characteristic	Reference	Scripture	Comments
It's free	Ephesians 2:8,9	For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.	It costs nothing.
It's free	Acts 8:20	But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!"	It costs nothing.
Everyone is invited	John 3:16	For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.	God has no favorites. Rich/poor. Awesome/Ordinary. Strong/Weak. Everyone is welcome.
Everyone is invited	II Peter 3:9	The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
God invites you to take it	Revelation 3:20	...if anyone hears My voice and opens the door,...	God will not violate our free will. He does not force anyone to love Him or live with Him. It is your choice.
God invites you to take it	Romans 10. 8-10	...for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD ...

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