In Romans, the apostle Paul reminds us that the genetic disorder of sin is always at work within our bodies. He wrote, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (7:24).

We want to do good, yet the destructive effects of the sin disorder are constantly at work in our lives. Sin is not just something we do; it is a part of who we are as descendants of Adam and Eve. We are genetically predisposed to rebel against our Creator.

Our God is a righteous, holy, and just God, and we stand guilty before Him. The court of heaven declares that if we violate His laws (and we can’t help but do so), then we will spend eternity separated from Him.

Many people find God’s judgment difficult to accept. They refuse to acknowledge the awfulness of their own sin. “I’m a good person,” they say. “Sure, I sin from time to time. But on the whole, I think my good deeds probably outweigh the bad. If I do enough good works, God will accept me.”

But that is not how He sees it. His Word tells us that we can never do enough good works to counterbalance the weight of our sin. We can never hope to pay for our sins. We can never make ourselves acceptable to God by our own efforts. We cannot earn His approval or work our way to heaven.

Prayer: God, I realize that my sin separates me from You and that there’s nothing I can do to make myself good enough to live in the presence of Your divine holiness. Thank You for providing Jesus as my Savior—my only hope for eternal life in glory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

Check out more from Dr. Michael Youssef, here!

About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.



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