Our Standing With God
In the beginning Adam and Eve had fellowship with God in a perfect environment, there was no sin, guilt or death. God told them that they could eat of all the trees except from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, that if they ever ate of this tree they should surely die. Through Satan's temptation they disobeyed God by eating the fruit. That day they died spiritually, they were separated from God and began to die physically. Sin entered into the world (Genesis 2 & 3). "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12)
Our Sin Separates Us From God
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23). "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10, 23). "For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). |  |
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power"
(2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9).
Man's Way - God's Way
Most people know they have sinned and that their sins must be paid for: so they try to earn salvation (their way to heaven). We can't pay for our own sins else Christ wouldn't of had to die on a cross for our forgiveness of sins. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12). Man's way doesn't work because: It doesn't pays for our sins, nor gains us the perfect righteousness that God requires. "... Be ye holy: for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). "Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). But God has a way: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him"
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
End The Separation
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When you are born again, you are born into God's family, you are a new creature. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). | |
It Is Up To You Now
Christ died to bring us to God, will you come to God?
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6, 8). "For Christ also hath once suffered sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit"
(1 Peter 3:18).
Now that you understand that Christ has paid for your sins, stop trusting in what you can do for God and trust in Christ as your substitute: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7). "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth" (Romans 10:4).
Now do you want to be a new creature in Christ, to be born again? Than receive him into your life by faith: "But as many as receive him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).
Note: When you believe in something it shows in your life outwardly. If your Christian walk is based on a passive belief nothing really will happen, just like a passive interest in anything else would have no growth.
Now look at verse 10 of Ephesians chapter 2: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." We are to do good works but it is Christ's shed blood that saves us.
Recommended reading:
(Romans chapter 6)
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