The Deal is that man & woman (Adam & Eve) were created good, and pure. They were allowed to live, protected, in a perfect environment & were given free will.
CENTRAL to God’s plan for people is their FREE WILL!
God set before them a choice-to have a relationship with Him, on His terms, or to follow their own desires. They chose the latter, thereby severing the relationship with God and choosing, ultimately, death.
But God loved them and knew the horrible fate to which they would be consigned-and all of their descendants as well. I believe His heart was grieved for all of mankind that would follow, already sentenced to death and cut off from relationship with Him. (Since Adam’s choice, all people are born with a ‘sin nature’ and each will ultimately commit sin him/herself. Once a person knowingly sins, they are cut off from relationship with God.)
He had known, sadly, when He created them that this is the path they would take and so, when He created them He already had in mind a plan to bring about good for them, in spite of the choice they would make. Although angry with Adam & Eve, He still loved them and His heart overflowed with forgiveness.
In order for mankind to be reconciled to Him, He would have to come to earth, live a sinless life in a human body of His own, and pay for the sins of all mankind by surrendering Himself to death and hell.
So, He chose a virgin and, by His Spirit, conceived a child within her. The Son, (part of God, who is a triune being–Father, Son and Holy Spirit) who had lived in Heaven, now came to earth in a body of flesh. He lived a sinless life so that His death could pay the price for the sins of all mankind and so that they could be set free-if they choose.
He surrendered His body and spirit and paid the price for the sins of EVERY person that ever had lived, or ever would live. He spent 3 days in the grave, triumphed over Satan, and was resurrected. He spent a short time on the earth with his disciples after His resurrection, and then ascended into heaven.
To be reconciled to God you
- admit and repent of your sins (be sorry about them, confess them, and ask forgiveness for them, and make up your mind not to live that way anymore)
- believe that Jesus is God, that He came to earth, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and died to pay for your sins
- be baptized in Jesus’ name
- continue in obedience to His Commandments
It’s that simple. You could compare it to someone buying you an all expenses paid vacation to the Bahamas. But you won’t wake up on the beach unless you accept their gift, take the ticket, pack your bags and get on the plane. Although the price has paid, you still have to make the choice and do your part.
When we repent, confess, and are baptized in Jesus’ name, we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads us in righteousness, opens our understanding of the Bible, and empowers us to live right. However, God never takes away our free will. We still have to choose, daily, to do the right things. We must resist the devil and choose not to sin. (The longer we do this, the less difficult it will be.) The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do so.
We must endure to the end to be saved. For this reason it is vital that we pray often, and read the Bible to understand what God expects of us. It is through the reading and study of the Bible that our minds are transformed and we grow spiritually. Ask Him to connect you with other true Christians for friendship and spiritual support (compare their actions to Galatians 5:22-24 to see if they are TRUE Christians that will be a good example to you). Be faithful to God. CHOOSE to obey Him, and ‘say no’ to sin. Without holiness, no one will see God. Love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself–and be sure to share the gospel message with others!
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