Given that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, in control of everything, and able to accomplish anything, why is every person born unrighteous, or becomes unrighteous, and destined for eternity in Hell? If anything is possible with God, why did he not create mankind to be, or to remain from birth, righteous and holy, thereby eliminating the need for a savior, bypassing the human experience, and arriving as God’s people in Heaven from the beginning? Why is it that we spend a short time on earth, and our best effort in our mortal life is like “filthy rags” to God? ^{Isaiah 64:6} Why must we be saved by faith in Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed in substitutional atonement of our sins? What might be the reason for this operation of redemption by faith?   

What we know from the word of God:

God desires a holy and devoted people.

God desires a people who are as his children to be the brethren of his son, Jesus. Children who possess the holy qualities of Jesus, worthy to be in his presence.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ^{Romans 8:29}

God desires a people for a relationship.

 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ^{Revelation 3:20}

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ^{Romans 8:15}

God desires a people who sincerely worship him from their hearts. People who genuinely love him, fear him, are humble, grateful, and devoted.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. ^{John 4:23-24}

We were made to be competent and independent.

God created man in his image to enable him to worship, serve, and rule by instilling in us the attributes of personhood. Personhood includes qualities such as consciousness, intellect, reasoning, articulation, the ability to comprehend abstract concepts, self-determination, and profound emotion. These characteristics are “in the image of God,” and distinguish humans from animals.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ^{Genesis 1:26-27}

Embodied in personhood is free will – the ability to act according to our desires and to function as individuals with personal agency, meaning we can exercise individual control and autonomy in decision-making and actions. Why man was given a will of his own is obvious, since our worship, gratitude, and service would be meaningless without free will. The citizens of the Kingdom of God will not be creatures genetically designed to be unquestionably obedient and compliant.

Man’s unrighteous predicament and the solution.

With free will to choose obedience or disobedience, mankind instantly went off the rails. Eve believed the lies of Satan, defied her creator, and took a bite of the apple to become enlightened and also cursed. Adam followed suit and hilariously blamed Eve and God for giving him Eve. Eve blamed the snake. Unfortunately for mankind, God’s standard of righteousness is perfection, and the price of imperfection is eternity in Hell.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ^{Romans 3:10}

God knew mankind would immediately fail and that every person born, except one, would be unrighteous, deserving condemnation and eternal punishment. To remedy this tragic situation, Jesus Christ, God incarnate, was sacrificed in substitutional atonement for the sins of mankind. God has given humanity a means of escaping his wrath and being reconciled to him for eternal life in Heaven. To be saved, believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be, have faith that Jesus died for your sins, was resurrected from the dead, and then submit to him as the Lord of your life. God has given mankind hope, something to have faith in.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ^{Romans 6:23}

Faith – the perfect defining element of character for salvation.

To have faith is to believe with firm conviction that what God tells you is true and to act accordingly.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ^{Hebrews 11:1}

Interestingly, one’s eternal destiny relies on this intangible attribute of faith. It is by faith in the words of a God we cannot see, hear, or touch that transforms the heart to obedience, humble submission, worshipful adoration, and gratitude.

Those who believe the incredible, implausible Gospel of Jesus Christ are those whose hearts are receptive to the prodding of the Holy Spirit. These souls possess the humility to acknowledge their sin and recognize that they need a savior to save them from the coming wrath of God. Those with free will, whose fertile hearts receive and accept the message, are those who will, by the grace of God, assume the righteousness of Jesus Christ and inherit the Kingdom of God.

God examines our faith, and if found authentic, counts it for righteousness to salvation. It is faith, rather than actions, religious compliance, piety, or lineage, that matters. Because saving faith resides in the soul involuntarily, it is never specious or inauthentic; it is the perfect attribute to attest to and confirm a humble, receptive, and transformed heart. A saved soul is a soul still unworthy, but with the character to acknowledge their wretched condition and to throw themselves on the mercy and grace of God. Faith is not something that can be conjured up; it is either present or not. It is a gift from God.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. ^{Ephesians 2:8-9}

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. ^{1st Peter 1:8-9}

Overcome the world by faith.

Our challenge, our race, our test in this life is to overcome the world. Overcoming the world is to triumph over Satan, to remain steadfast and endure in the faith through temptations and trials to the end. It is belief in Jesus, abiding in the word of God, living in love, obedience, and gratitude, that enables us to overcome the world.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? ^{1st John 5:4-5}

The presence and validity of true saving faith are confirmed by persistent endurance through the troubles and trials in this life. An untested faith may be no faith at all, and by overcoming the world, our faith is proven true. One’s faith may deepen into a confident conviction, or it may prove untrue and evaporate like a vapor when tested by life’s challenges. By the testing of our faith, those who endure are matured to be “perfect and complete, lacking nothing ultimately.”

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. ^{James 1:2-4}

Surmising why.

People who have a genuine love for their creator are those who possess the qualities of an independent, complete person who, in free will, give themselves to God. By these same qualities, the individual is free and able to choose disobedience, to live for their own desires, reject the message of Jesus, and the unmerited offer of reconciliation with God. Because God created mankind as a people with free will, they became, from the beginning, a congregation of wretched souls, condemned by inherent unrighteousness.

It is during mortal life that those who hear and respond with acceptance to the offer of salvation are known and separated from those who respond with rejection. It is by faith in the word of God that one is brought to salvation; it is faith that exists in the souls who are chosen, the elect to be God’s people. It is faith that reveals the true nature of a man’s soul, and God knows precisely what is in each man’s heart.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ^{Hebrews 4:12}

Therefore, we can surmise that the reason for the operation of redemption from sin, and salvation from the wrath of God by faith, is to produce a people qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the kingdom of his Son. Souls who sincerely and genuinely love, worship, and glorify God could not have come from a group without free will.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ^{Revelation 21:6-7}

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (qualified) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ^{Colossians 1:12-14}

God has big plans for us. Heaven will not be idle cloud lounging and harp plucking. Instead, we will be a “royal priesthood” consumed with worship, adoration, and gratitude. Our calling and duty will be to serve God and enjoy the honor of reigning with Christ. God will live among us, entrusting us with responsibility and authority to carry out his will.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; ^{1st Peter 2:8}

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: ^{2nd Timothy 2:12}

Imagine the joy of having successfully run the race, now a beloved child of God, living beyond faith, ruling with Christ, and serving as an instrument of righteousness, ministering to the all-mighty, eternal God. Our lot in Heaven promises to be an astounding, incomprehensibly thrilling life, and we should be in awe of the possibilities that await us there. Seize the opportunity to accept the gift of life. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and strive to please him in all that you do in this life.

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. ^{Deuteronomy 6:5}