In January 1945, the Nazi commandant of the war camp, ordered Edmonds to identify all of the Jewish POWs the next day.  Edmonds knew that the Jewish soldiers would be killed.  The next morning, when the Jews were to be identified, Edmonds instructed all of the nearly 1,300 soldiers to line up.  19-year-old Tanner stood on his right; another Jewish soldier, Paul Stern, stood at his left.

The commandant was infuriated.  “They can’t all be Jewish!” he yelled at Edmonds.

Edmonds responded, “We are all Jewish.”

The commandant put his pistol to Edmonds' forehead, threatening to kill him then and there if he didn't identify all of the Jewish soldiers. 

Edmonds refused.  He warned that even if the commandant were to kill him, "We know who you are, and you will be tried on war crimes."

The commandant relented and walked away.

That day, Roddie Edmonds saved the lives of at least 200 Jewish soldiers, including Lester Tanner.

Lester Tanner had stated that it was the defining moment of his life. *

There is something that is true of all of us.  No, we are not all Jews, but we are all sinners.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  Because of our sins, we are separated from God and destined for destruction (Isaiah 59:1-2; Matthew 7:13-14).

But Someone loves us so much that He not only stood up for us; He stood in our place.  Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died for our sins on the cross so that we could receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23; 1 Peter 2:24).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  God will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

It will be the defining moment of our lives when we acknowledge the truth that we are all sinners but Someone died in our place so that we can be saved.  When we accept His gracious offer on His terms, we find a new identity with an everlasting hope: we are Christians, followers of the One who died so that we might live.