-- Genesis 22:8
All mankind is, by nature, in sin.
This goes back to the very beginning in Genesis when Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil -- the one tree out of every tree on earth they'd been commanded not to eat of.
It's not the "good" that God didn't want them to know. They would have had all the "good" they'd ever need simply by living forever in paradise with Him.
It was the evil that was a problem. Once Adam and Eve had knowledge of it, it was a part of this world -- a part of our existence passed down from generation to generation.
God removed them from the Garden of Eden, it says in Genesis, because He didn't want them to take also of the Tree of Life and live forever.
This wasn't punishment. This was mercy. God didn't want them, or anyone, to live eternal life knowing evil. Who would anyone want to live forever under the curse of sin? If it had been intended as punishment, God would have just pulled up roots and let us be through the rest of time.
But it was always in God's heart to bring mankind back to that tree of life. The next time you see it mentioned in scripture is at the end of all things in God's Kingdom after He makes a new heaven and new earth because the old ones had passed away. The next time you see the Tree of Life, it is straddling the banks of of the River of Life which flows from throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1-2).
The trick was getting us back to a state where we were no longer under the curse of sin.
Without getting into a long, drawn-out review of Old Testament prophecy and typology and New Testament fulfillment, it comes down to this: God can not dwell with sin. It is not found in Him. However, He greatly desires to dwell with us.
So He established a law, one He knew we could not fulfill (hey, if we can't stay away from one tree, why should we be able to uphold 10 commandments -- or all of the book of Leviticus for that matter?), to show us that we are, by nature, law breakers. It also showed us we were incapable of bridging the gap between an unholy world and a wholly righteous God.
He also established a process of sacrifice to cover our transgressions, which also showed to us our need for forgiveness, because even through that, the guilt remained. The importance was that we learned sin needed to be atoned for.
The problem with that, though, was that no human life was without sin. No sacrifice given here could truly cleanse us from all sin, because all things on earth were under the curse of sin.
So God, out of the depth of His love for us, sent His only son, Jesus -- a Servant King who willing laid down His life for humanity -- as His sacrifical lamb.
There was no sin to be found in Him.
He fulfilled the law, not because he tried really hard and got just enough of the commandments right, but because the entire law had been written to speak of Him. It was a pre-determined slate of qualities and actions that described who He had been from the beginning and who He would be through the end of time.
Being fully man, He could pay the price for our sin and relate to our plight. Being fully God, there was nothing this world could offer Him that would detract Him from doing His Father's will.
He loved us to an extent that He was willing to endure this world until it killed Him, all so that we might live with Him. When He rose from the dead, His victory over death sealed a new covenant -- One of eternal life.
The blood He shed has the power to cleanse us from sin and to bring grace and mercy. That blood, not our works, is our ticket back to the Tree of Life.
It is through that sacrifice that we either repent of our sin, accept Jesus as our King and thereby receive eternal life or reject Him and spend eternity apart from Him. It is by our attitude toward that sacrifice that we are either justified or condemned. Simple as that.
The choice is yours. What do you say?
From Calvarychapel.com:
To enter God’s kingdom, you must be born again. Just look to Jesus Christ, who died for your sins on the cross, and believe in Him and His love for you, and that transformation will take place. Thus the question, "Have you been born again by the Spirit of God?" If not, the process is very simple.
Today you’re in one of two camps; it all depends on your relationship to Jesus Christ. You can both believe and look in faith to Jesus, who died for you on the cross; or you can continue going on as you are. It’s an amazing thing—to be lost; you don’t have to do anything. Just keep on doing what you’re doing now and you will perish.
But, if you look to the cross and believe in the One who died for your sins, then the free gift of God is yours... The gift of eternal life.
The Bible says:
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God—Romans 3:23
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out—Acts 3:19
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life—John 3:16
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved—Romans 10:9
If you want a personal relationship with God and the assurance that your sins have been forgiven, here is a suggested prayer...
Father, I come to you, confessing my sin and asking for your forgiveness. I thank you, Lord, for You have promised that if I will confess my sins, You will be faithful to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I want to turn from my sins, and live in a way that will please You. And so I ask for your help, Lord. I ask that you give me the power through your Holy Spirit to live the right way.
I thank you that Jesus Christ died on the cross, paying the price for my sins, and then rose from the dead. I accept Him now as my Savior, my Lord, and my friend.
I also thank You, because You've said that whoever comes to You, You will in no way cast out. Thank you for giving me a new life in Christ. I surrender myself to you. Make me what you want me to be in Jesus' name. Amen.
