Here we see an illustration of two dwelling places separated by a great gap. Man is always trying to get to God on the other side of the gap. The problem is that no matter how great our effort, we cannot get across to the other side where God is. God states that the "wages of sin is death." Wages are what we earn for the sin we have committed. In I John 1:8 & 10 We are told: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.... If we claim we have not sinned, we make him (God) out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." So, we neet to accept that we are sinners and that the consequence for our sin is death. Death is eternal separation from God. However, the scripture from Romans continues with a BUT. This is our hope! ...."But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." We are given a gift of eternal life, of life with God, in favor with God, by His grace. Grace means unmerited favor. We don't deserve it, He chooses to give it to us. But this gift is given through Jesus Christ our Lord. So, Jesus comes and stands in that gap so that we can get to God. But how is it that Jesus can do this? Jesus chose to leave heaven..................yes, He existed before the world began, (see John 1:1-5 & 14) and became a man. He lived a holy, sinless life and chose to take the consequences of our sin upon himself. In other words, you were the one that was to be hung on that cross because of your sin, and Jesus came and exchanged places with you and took that punishment upon himself and gave you his holiness. Now God sees you as holy through his Son's sacrifice and you are acceptable to Him. Again, here is an illustration; | 
