Humans were created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). Which means fundamentally we were created for relationship; relationships with one another, and with God. This is why when Jesus talks about “the Great Commandment”, he says we must seek to love God, and love others (Matthew 22:36-40). To be truly human, you cannot have one without the other.
Unfortunately, as a result of our sin (the intentional and unintentional actions we take counter to God’s revealed will for our lives) our relationship with God and others has been severely wounded, and despite our best efforts we are incapable of fixing ourselves on our own (Ephesians 2:1-3). But by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in the work of Christ alone, are we truly saved from the effects of sin and enabled to live the lives God created us to live from the beginning (Ephesians 2:4-10).
For through Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, came to earth to reconcile us with God (John 3:16-17). Jesus became fully human and lived a life without sin (John 1:14; Hebrews 4:15). Then he willingly sacrificed his life in our name. By suffering death on the cross, Jesus took the punishment our sins deserved (Matthew 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Ephesians 1:7), and brought peace between us and God, and us and one another (Ephesians 2:13-18).
Three days after Jesus died, he rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Through his resurrection, Jesus conquered death, proving death is not the end of anyone’s story (John 11:25-26), and that the eternal life he offers is something to be taken hold of today (John 10:10).