By: Cecil Eggert
(Answers in Genesis via INTO THE LIGHT Journal)
The Creator God tells us in the Book of Genesis about the origin of all things in six days—matter, light, Earth, sun, moon, animals, and mankind. His desire was that all of His creation would live in a perfect world where God and man could enjoy everything He had made . . . forever. Can you imagine living in a perfect world?
There was a perfect relationship between the Creator God and man; there was no death, disease, or suffering. Fear between man and animals was nonexistent, and every emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual need that Adam and Eve had was met by their Creator. The role of man was clearly defined: Adam and Eve were in charge of an orderly Earth that was “very good” (Genesis 1:31)!
Just imagine! God created man in His image, to have a relationship with Him, and gave him a perfect world to care for where mankind was the pinnacle of His creation! When God created Adam and Eve, He didn’t make them to be just obedient puppets; they had the freedom to choose and to make their own decisions.
The Fall
One day Adam chose to disobey God’s command and go his own way.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16–17)
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17–19)God called Adam’s disobedience sin. With Adam’s sin the process of death had begun. As Adam sinned and died, so do all of us. Romans 5:12 in the New Testament tells us “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Sin changed everything: it severed our relationship with God and introduced pain, suffering, and death into the world. This sin affected all of humanity, including you and me. The world was no longer the perfect place that God had originally created it to be.
WHEN ADAM AND EVE SINNED, IT TRULY WAS THE SADDEST DAY IN THE UNIVERSE.
Sin now corrupted everything (Genesis 3; Romans 8:20–22). When Adam and Eve sinned, it truly was the saddest day in the universe. But God had an eternal plan. While God, being just and holy, had to punish man’s sin (or disobedience), He still desired to have a loving relationship with mankind. God made a promise to Adam and Eve. God told Satan, who had deceived Eve, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). This promise was that in the future, He would send a perfect sacrifice from the offspring (“seed”) of Eve that would conquer Satan and restore the relationship that had been broken because of sin.
Adam and Eve now had hope for a future restored relationship between them and their Creator God. From Adam to Noah to Abraham, people continued to sacrifice animals. Through Moses, God revealed His law, and the people’s need for an unblemished sacrifice to be offered for sin. So, in obedience to God, the Israelites shed the blood of perfect lambs year after year for the forgiveness of sins. These temporary sacrifices only symbolized what was to come in the promised Messiah; the One who would provide the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.
The Messiah
Throughout Old Testament times, the prophets declared the message of God’s love, mercy, and justice, preparing the way for the coming of Messiah. Just as the prophets foretold, the Messiah came to earth, born of a virgin.
Throughout Old Testament times, the prophets declared the message of God’s love, mercy, and justice, preparing the way for the coming of Messiah. Just as the prophets foretold, the Messiah came to earth, born of a virgin.
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. . . . Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” (Luke 1:26–31)
He wrapped himself in the flesh of His creation to become the sinless sacrifice to die for the sins of the world.
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)
Jesus’ life was everything the prophets foretold. The sinless Son of God was born of the virgin Mary, grew in knowledge and stature, and began His public ministry when He was in His thirties.
During His ministry, Jesus healed the sick, restored the blind, raised the dead, and told them how they could receive eternal life. He did these miraculous acts to show that He truly was the Son of God.
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:30–31).
The time came for Jesus to become the perfect sacrifice—to die for the sins of the world and to restore that broken relationship between God and man, once and for all. He would willingly pay the penalty that you and I would have had to pay for our sin (Romans 6:23).
While nailed to the Cross, just before He died, Jesus cried out the word tetelestai. This Greek word means, “the debt is paid” or “paid in full.” The Cross showed God’s love for us. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ had finished what He came to do, to become the perfect sacrifice for sin and to restore man’s relationship with the Creator. This was God’s eternal plan.
But it doesn’t end with Jesus’ death on the Cross. Jesus didn’t remain in the tomb; He rose from the dead, conquering death. “He is not here; for He is risen” (Matthew 28:6). No longer was the temporary sacrifice of the unblemished animals necessary. The “Lamb of God,” Jesus Christ, became the perfect and final sacrifice. You see, in Adam we all die, but in Jesus we have true life and will live forever with Him in a new heaven and new earth that God is preparing, where there will be no more sin, suffering, or death. The first man Adam brought sin and death into the world; the last Adam—Jesus Christ—brings life to the world.
During His ministry, Jesus healed the sick, restored the blind, raised the dead, and told them how they could receive eternal life. He did these miraculous acts to show that He truly was the Son of God.
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:30–31).
The time came for Jesus to become the perfect sacrifice—to die for the sins of the world and to restore that broken relationship between God and man, once and for all. He would willingly pay the penalty that you and I would have had to pay for our sin (Romans 6:23).
While nailed to the Cross, just before He died, Jesus cried out the word tetelestai. This Greek word means, “the debt is paid” or “paid in full.” The Cross showed God’s love for us. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ had finished what He came to do, to become the perfect sacrifice for sin and to restore man’s relationship with the Creator. This was God’s eternal plan.
But it doesn’t end with Jesus’ death on the Cross. Jesus didn’t remain in the tomb; He rose from the dead, conquering death. “He is not here; for He is risen” (Matthew 28:6). No longer was the temporary sacrifice of the unblemished animals necessary. The “Lamb of God,” Jesus Christ, became the perfect and final sacrifice. You see, in Adam we all die, but in Jesus we have true life and will live forever with Him in a new heaven and new earth that God is preparing, where there will be no more sin, suffering, or death. The first man Adam brought sin and death into the world; the last Adam—Jesus Christ—brings life to the world.
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21–22)
God offers us the opportunity to be forgiven, spotless, and loved. When we understand and accept what God has done through His son Jesus Christ, we have a restored relationship with our Creator. The Bible makes it clear: God’s gift of salvation is offered to us, not just to hear or agree with intellectually, but to respond to in faith (John 14:6; Romans 6:23). This gift is something that we receive by faith (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5).
There Is a Decision
God calls upon men everywhere to repent of their sin and to place their faith in Christ. Those who repent and believe will have their sins forgiven, a restored relationship with their Creator, and life with Him for eternity. The Bible makes clear the eternal destiny of those who reject Him—they will be separated from Him forever in a place called hell (Revelation 20:15).
God calls upon men everywhere to repent of their sin and to place their faith in Christ. Those who repent and believe will have their sins forgiven, a restored relationship with their Creator, and life with Him for eternity. The Bible makes clear the eternal destiny of those who reject Him—they will be separated from Him forever in a place called hell (Revelation 20:15).
The Questions You Must Answer
Do you recognize that you are a sinner in need of salvation? Sin is disobedience to God’s commands. God’s commands are summarized in the Ten Commandments.
God says “do not lie.” Have you ever told a lie?
God says “do not steal.” Have you ever taken something that doesn’t belong to you?
God says “do not covet.” Have you ever been jealous of something that someone else has?
If you have disobeyed these or any other of God’s commands, then you are a sinner. Your sin prevents you from having a relationship with your Creator.
Would you like to receive Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross as payment for your sin, submit your life to Him, and receive the free gift of eternal life? Because this is such an important matter, let’s clarify what this decision involves. You need to:
Repent. Understand that you have disobeyed the Creator’s commands. Tell God you are sorry for your sins. Be willing to turn from anything that is not pleasing to Him. He will show you His plan for you as you grow in your relationship with Him and read His Word.
Receive Christ as your Savior and Lord. Believe that Jesus lived, died, and rose again in payment for your sin (John 3:16; Romans 10:9). Jesus says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9).
Rely on God’s strength. God does not promise that life as a Christian will be easy or that you will be healthy and wealthy. In fact, you can expect trials in life that will test your faith (James 1:2–3; 1 Peter 1:6–9). However, God promises that He will give you the strength to bear those burdens (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Jesus told His followers in Luke 14:25–33 that they should count the cost before following Him. If this is what you really want, and your desire is to make Him the center of your life, you can receive the Creator’s gift (eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ) right now. The Bible tells us,
Do you recognize that you are a sinner in need of salvation? Sin is disobedience to God’s commands. God’s commands are summarized in the Ten Commandments.
God says “do not lie.” Have you ever told a lie?
God says “do not steal.” Have you ever taken something that doesn’t belong to you?
God says “do not covet.” Have you ever been jealous of something that someone else has?
If you have disobeyed these or any other of God’s commands, then you are a sinner. Your sin prevents you from having a relationship with your Creator.
Would you like to receive Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross as payment for your sin, submit your life to Him, and receive the free gift of eternal life? Because this is such an important matter, let’s clarify what this decision involves. You need to:
Repent. Understand that you have disobeyed the Creator’s commands. Tell God you are sorry for your sins. Be willing to turn from anything that is not pleasing to Him. He will show you His plan for you as you grow in your relationship with Him and read His Word.
Receive Christ as your Savior and Lord. Believe that Jesus lived, died, and rose again in payment for your sin (John 3:16; Romans 10:9). Jesus says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9).
Rely on God’s strength. God does not promise that life as a Christian will be easy or that you will be healthy and wealthy. In fact, you can expect trials in life that will test your faith (James 1:2–3; 1 Peter 1:6–9). However, God promises that He will give you the strength to bear those burdens (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Jesus told His followers in Luke 14:25–33 that they should count the cost before following Him. If this is what you really want, and your desire is to make Him the center of your life, you can receive the Creator’s gift (eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ) right now. The Bible tells us,
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . . . For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:10–13)
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and do not deserve eternal life, but I believe You died for me and rose from the grave to pay the price for my sin. Please forgive me of my sins and save me. I repent of my sins and now place my trust in You for eternal life. I receive the free gift of eternal life. Amen.
Look at what Jesus promises to those who believe in Him: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47). And, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). We want to share in your joy if you have just made this life-changing decision. Our desire is to help you grow in your understanding of Jesus Christ and God’s Word. Would you please give us a call, write, or email us and tell us your story? We would love to hear from you!
We would like to know if you have made this life-changing decision or have questions on how you can receive eternal life. We also encourage you to contact a Bible-believing church in your area where the pastor accepts the accuracy and authority of the Bible from its very first verse in Genesis (including the Genesis accounts of a recent creation and a global Noah’s Flood).
We would like to know if you have made this life-changing decision or have questions on how you can receive eternal life. We also encourage you to contact a Bible-believing church in your area where the pastor accepts the accuracy and authority of the Bible from its very first verse in Genesis (including the Genesis accounts of a recent creation and a global Noah’s Flood).
A Challenge as You Take This Message to Others
The C.A.R.E. Factor
It has been said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Colossians 4:5–6 says, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
With all the equipping and knowledge we gain through the resources available to us today, it is possible for us to have an arsenal of answers without having a heart of compassion for those who need the gospel. The following acrostic will help each of us as we share this message with heart and purpose.
With all the equipping and knowledge we gain through the resources available to us today, it is possible for us to have an arsenal of answers without having a heart of compassion for those who need the gospel. The following acrostic will help each of us as we share this message with heart and purpose.
The Heart
C—Compassion
Compassion is cultivated as we view each person as a soul who will spend eternity with or without God.
A—Acceptance
Accept the person as an individual who has been created in the image of God.
R—Respect
Respect each person and treat him or her with dignity. The cultivation of good listening skills is critical to the proper communication of the gospel message.
E—Encouragement
Encourage the person along the way as you help answer his or her questions.
The Purpose
C—Connecting
Connect to others in common areas of life by being yourself and being transparent. Let your heart connect to their heart.
A—Assessing
Assess the worldview of your prospect before responding so you can understand his or her questions and know how to properly answer them.
R—Responding
Responding graciously is just as important as having accurate information.
E—Evangelizing
Evangelization can only be accomplished when we share the person and work of Jesus Christ. Remember, sharing the gospel message is His mandate.
As we answer a person’s questions, it may take many encounters before we are able to share the saving knowledge of Christ. A balance of grace and truth will always be in order during this process. A word of caution—grace without truth is compromise, and truth without grace is heartless. The practice of fear and meekness and grace and truth can speak as loudly as the answers we provide through His Word. As we prepare ourselves with answers to the questions of this age, let us not forget to equip ourselves with the C.A.R.E. Factor as we pray, love, and go to the lost.
