God cannot tolerate sin because of His holy character.  Our Creator is completely pure, loving and righteous.  Many people think of sin as a crime or things done against society.  But it is more – it is living for ourselves without regard to God or His laws.  Because of our sin, the Bible states that God hid His "face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities (Isaiah 64:7). 

God is eternally loving, yet His holiness and righteousness cannot allow Him to overlook sin.  Every tiny trace of it must be judged.  The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

As our lives continue to fall short of His holy standards, the burden of our sins just grows bigger and bigger.  Many people try to erase their past sins by doing good works, but Isaiah 64:6 says, “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” 

Others think that if they avoid committing really awful sins, their sincere efforts will make a good impression upon God.  The Bible’s response to this is, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point,, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). 

According to the Bible, God does not want us to work or strive to get to heaven – He simply wants to give it to us.  “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).