Michael continues that according
to Genesis 3:11-13, “And he (God) said, Who told you that you were
naked? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not
eat? And the man said, The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of
the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this
that you have done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did
eat.”
Adam blamed the woman and
Eve blamed the serpent. Adam and Eve refused to own their own sin. There were
plenty of excuses but there was no confession. According to 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve only
knew the love of God and they were innocent of sin and death. When they
disobeyed God’s only command, they died spiritually and lost their innocence.
Their eyes were opened and knew sin, and experienced separation from God. Even
though they were consumed by guilt and fear, although that very day they died
spiritually, God pursued them and made a way of redemption. In order to be
clothed in righteousness, an animal had to die, for there is no payment for sin
without the shedding of blood.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate
sacrifice for our sin that we inherited from Adam. Romans says that Jesus Christ is the last Adam. We inherited our
sin nature and spiritual death from Adam. However Jesus Christ came to
reconcile us back to God. He came that we may be born again of the spirit of
life in Christ. Romans 5:16-21
explains our redemption through Jesus’ payment for sin on our behalf: “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is
the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of
many offences unto justification.
For if by one man’s (Adam’s) offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
For if by one man’s (Adam’s) offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “For Jesus Christ, who was without sin, became
the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the
righteousness of God in Him.” According to Galatians 2:20, “For I was
crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me.
And the life that I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and
gave himself for me.”
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice
for sin on our behalf, we have been reconciled to God: we have been restored
into fellowship with our Heavenly Father. For
there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.
What amazing grace!
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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