The Love of God
The Fall of Man:
In the beginning Adam and Eve were given the
opportunity to prove their love to God by
(obeying his commands).
God told Adam in the Garden of Eden:
"You are free to eat from any tree in the
garden; but you must not eat from the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil, for when you
eat of it you will surely die." (Genesis
Chapter 2:16-17). But man in his disobedience
to the word of God ate the fruit from the tree
and allowed sin and death into the world.
(Romans 5:12). And since we are all descendants
of Adam and Eve we all are guilty of sin.
So we see that whenever we disobey the Word of
God - We Sin. And this is why the world is so
full of unhappiness, sorrow and pain. Adam and
Eve brought sin and death into the world by
choosing to set aside the commandment of God.
Adam and Eve set up their own definition of
right and wrong and did what "seemed right" in
their own mind. They thought happiness could be
found apart from God.
But God says "There is a way that seems right
to a man, but in the end it leads to death."
(Proverbs 14:12)
The world is full of people doing their own
thing. But God has concluded "All under sin".
(Galatians 3:22)(KJV)
From God's Love and Compassion for mankind
there came a time when he desired a
relationship with man - but sin prevented that.
So God in his infinite wisdom came up with a
plan whereby a person's sins could be forgiven.
In the Old Testament of the Bible we see that
the blood of animals was used to forgive the
sins of man.
Sin Offerings: (Leviticus 4:27-35)
"If a person commits a sin unintentionally and
does what is forbidden in any of the commands
of the Lord, he is guilty." The individual who
committed a sin against God had to bring a
female goat without defect (flaw). He was to
lay his hands on the head of the goat (sin
offering) and slaughter it. Then the Priest
came and dipped his finger into the blood and
put it on the horns of God's Altar. Next, the
fat from the goat was taken and burned on the
altar. In this way a priest was able to make
atonement (putting man back in a right
relationship with God) for a person who had
committed a sin against the Lord - and he was
forgiven.
At this point some may be asking- how can blood
be used to forgive sins? Because God has said:
"The life of a creature is in the blood" (Lev
17:11).
And "without the shedding of blood there is no
forgiveness". (Hebrews 9:22)
In the New Testament of the Bible we see that
Jesus Christ (The Lamb of God) shed his blood
for our sins. (1 Peter 1:18-20) (Ephesians
2:13) (Colossians 1:19-20)
Jesus Christ (John Chapter 1)
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"Just as man is destined to die once, and after
that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed
once to take away the sins of many people; and
he will appear a second time, not to bear sin,
but to bring salvation (deliverance) to those
who are waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:27-28)
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"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him
and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
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"This is how God showed his love among us: He
sent his one and only Son into the world that
we might live through him. This is love: not
that we loved God, but that he loved us and
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our
sins." (1 John 4:9-10)
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"For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. For God
did not send his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but to save the world through him."
(John 3:16-17)
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God clearly teaches us in the bible that Mary
was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus
(Matthew 1:18-25). God brought his Son into the
world this way so that he could come into the
world "without sin"; thereby becoming the
perfect sacrifice (sin offering) for all of
humanity.
The scripture also teaches us that Jesus is the
"Son of God" and that all things were created
by him and for him. (Hebrews 1: 1-14) (John 10:
22-33) (John 5: 16-30) (John 1: 1-18)
(Colossians 1: 15-23) (Philippians 2: 5-11)
Jesus is also referred to as the second Adam (1
Corinthians 15:45-49).
Jesus Christ and Adam are the only two people
in history who have ever come into the world
without having a sinful nature; and because
Jesus Christ was able to live his entire life,
without committing a single sin he became the
perfect sacrifice through which God was able to
lay our sins on his Son, that we might have a
second chance for eternal life. (1 John
3:4-6)(2 Corinthians 5:21)
There are many today who believe they can be
saved simply by living a good life and doing
what is right, but we forget that our past sins
are enough to keep us out of the "Kingdom of
God", and this is why everyone of us is in need
of a Savior (someone who can save us from our
sins).
And if it were possible for a person to be
saved simply by doing good things, then why
would God have to send his Son into the world
to die on a cross for our sins. Always remember
that God commanded that the "only way" for sins
to be forgiven is by the "shedding of blood"
and God has provided only one way to "eternal
life" and that is through the "shed blood" of
his Son Jesus Christ. The blood of Christ is
the "only thing" powerful enough to wash away
sin.
Also remember that it is Faith in Jesus Christ
alone that saves a person from sin and death.
God tells us in the Word of God that all the
sins of mankind were placed upon his Son Jesus
Christ. When Jesus rose from the dead he
defeated sin and death forever; and now the
only people sin and death have any power over
are those who refuse to believe that God has
sent his Son into the world to die for their
sins.
Now we see the Love God has for each and every
one of us. God loves everyone, but he will not
force his ways on anyone. God gives each one of
us the opportunity, to either submit to his
will or suffer the consequences of our sins.
But some may ask - why all the concern over
sin? Because God is HOLY (Revelation 4:8-11)
and God says that sin cuts a person off from
the Life of God, Presence of God, and the
Blessings of God.
God is called the "Father of Spirits" (Hebrews
12:9). And within our bodies God has placed a
spirit (which is who we really are). And no one
with the stain of sin within his or her spirit
can enter the Kingdom of God.
It is not God's will for anyone to perish and
spend eternity in Hell (which is a place of
punishment for those who have not had their
sins forgiven) (Rev 20:11-15) But God wants you
and I to spend eternity with him in Heaven. But
there are many people today who believe just
like Adam and Eve did; that they can do as they
please and that God will accept them the way
they are.
But God says something completely different.
(Mathew 7:13-14) (Luke 13:22-30)
Jesus Christ is the only way to God and eternal
life. (Acts 4:12) (John 14:6) (1 Timothy 2:5)
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"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever rejects the Son will not see life,
for God's wrath (anger) remains on him." (John
3:36) and (1 John 5:11-12)
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So the question comes.
How can I be saved? or
How can I become a Christian? (follower of
Christ)
God says to:
A. Repent!- turn away from sin to a new way of
life. Luke 5:32, Luke 15:7, Acts 2:38, Mark
6:12
B. Believe that Jesus Christ died for your
sins, and on the third day God raised him from
the dead and you shall be saved. 1 Corinthians
Chapter 15, Romans 10:9-13, Acts 10:34-43
C. Once you truly have Faith you will continue
to live a life that is pleasing to God. When
you accept his Son, God will give you his HOLY
SPIRIT, so that you will have the Power to live
a victorious life over sin. (Ezekiel 36:27)
Colossians Chapter 3 Ephesians 4:17-5:21
God makes it quite clear from the Scriptures
(Word of God) that if a person claims to have
Faith in Jesus Christ - yet does not do the
things he commanded. Then that person is still
dead in his sins. James 2:14-26, 1 John 5:1-11,
1 John 2:3-6
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"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming
when all who are in their graves will hear his
voice and come out - those who have done good
will rise to live, and those who have done evil
will rise to be condemned." (John Chapter 5:
Verses 28-29)
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*Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New
International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Gospel Track.
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