Most people think Christianity is a moral improvement project — don't drink, smoke, or chew, or run with girls who do!

But Jesus told the religious leaders of Israel—the most upright, moral people of their day—"The tax collectors and the prostitutes enter the kingdom of God before you" (Mt 21:31).

Wait. What??

How can prostitutes enter God's kingdom before priests? Jesus explains in the next verse:

"John came to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him" (Mt 21:32).

Prostitutes and thieving tax collectors were entering God's kingdom before priests because they believed John's message, and the priests did not.

OK, what was John's message?

John pointed at Jesus and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29).

According to John, the way of righteousness, the answer to the problem of sin, and the entrance into God's kingdom is not a code of ethics; it's a Person.

All of us, priests and prostitutes, have a morality problem — a sin problem (Rm 3:10-12). Since the doctor slapped our fannies, we have rebelled against our Creator (Ps 51:5), defying Him to become our own gods. Romans 3 is crystal clear: No one is good. No one is moral.

So, how did God respond to our rebellion? In the most mind-boggling way.

He died for us.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus came not to dole out our judgment (Jn 3:17) but to bear our judgment.

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross" (1 Pt 2:24).

Jesus bore the punishment for our sins in our place on the cross, and three days later rose triumphantly from the grave (1 Co 15:1-5).

This is the gospel. This is Christianity.

Jesus' message to you is not, "Do better! Try harder!" but "It is finished!" His goal is not to make you moral; it's to make you His. He does this, not through your effort, but through His effort on your behalf.

Christianity isn't a burdensome morality project; it's an enjoy-Jesus-forever project.

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (Jn 15:11).