Post by delo63 on Jul 21, 2017 6:47:12 GMT -6
How far would you go to save someone that you love? If someone you loved was dying and you had the power to save them would you? Most people would answer yes, but what if the only way to save them was to die? Would you still do it?
These were the stakes that this world was founded on. In the instance before creation a decision had to be made, God had to decide if creating us was worth His death. Knowing full well that if He created humans and gave us free will, we would end up betraying Him. This is made apparent in the creation account, God gave Adam the choice for all creation. Will you stay with me or will you take your own path?
Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, “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 from it you will certainly die.”
Even though God issued this as a command, He allowed Adam to decide for himself who he will serve, God or himself. This was the first showing of free will and power that God granted us, to decide the destiny of this world.
Now some of you might be wondering why I asked these questions at the beginning and then told this story. The reason is that at that precise moment when God allowed Adam to choose for himself, whether or not he would obey or disobey God, he ultimately was deciding God's fate on the cross . If Adam would have not taken the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, then there would be no death as death came into the world because of sin that Adam unleashed. That would mean Jesus would not have had to die on the cross for the sins of the world, because sin would not exist. We would all still be in Eden with God. However, since Adam did disobey God, it forced God to have to die on the cross, if he wanted us humans to be in heaven with Him.
As we start to understand this we then start to see God's character, knowing full well the consequences of His love for us. As soon as sin enters the world the decision is already made, that He would come to earth to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus who was crucified on the cross, was God making up for our betrayal. He allowed us then to become right with Him, by taking part in His resurrection.
Romans 5:12-21 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So we see the depths of God's love for us through His sacrifice.
Now the reason behind the second question that I asked, is simply that there are many out there that have not accepted the free gift of salvation. Every believer has people surrounding them who do not know Christ personally, so this scenario is directed to you.
How far would you go to lead those around you and those you love to salvation? How important is it to you? If they do not know Christ then they are already dead, will you go out of your way to lead them to life?