This is holy week. It marks the last week of Christ's life on earth. His whole ministry was leading up to this time. He spoke time and time again about believing in Him. He often spoke about having to die in order to live, not only in His life, but in ours as well. He became an example for us. He did not let the world tell Him otherwise. His teachings were hard and narrow to those who didn't like what He had to say but He was relentless.
His teaching showed us who we are in this world and who and what we can be--through Him and Him alone. There is something called the Roman Road. It is a series of scriptures from the Book of Romans, with a few others, that will light the path to salvation in Christ. Remember, He alone is the Way. Today I will try to explain what the Bible says about the sin portion of of our lives. Tomorrow, what we can do about it.
Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one."
As it is written...Psalm 14:3 in the Old Testament...They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.
The Bible is dotted with examples of our unrighteousness. But God...always has a way out and you can find that there too!
Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...
There is none righteous. Not since Adam and Eve when they listened to the lies of the serpent, were cast out of the Garden of Eden, out of communion with God and into sin. When we are born into this world, we are born into that same sin and separated from God. Not just an adulterous neighbor or one who gossips, or someone you work with who steals time or lies about their "sick days," but you as well. No one is exempt. We have all been born into disobedience against God.
We see in the Old Testament how there were constant sacrifices being lifted up to God to atone for the sins of the people. Today there is no work we can do...we can never be good enough, give enough, love enough to get us to heaven. All that we consider good apart from God amounts to nothing. All our works are as filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags...
That's why God had to develop another plan for all people so they could be reconciled to Him once again. He chose to make it a one-time issue, this gift of salvation, but one which we have the choice to make. It's not about endless working or sacrificing to try to please God. No. Just one thing. And why? To put an end to our sinful natures and allow us to encounter eternal life. Then our works, done for the glory of God, are good.
Adam and Eve. It all started there. And it was Adam who was to blame, not Eve. Adam knew the rules firsthand having spent time walking with God. Eve entered the picture and got the word secondhand from Adam. Satan knew who he could work on.... And when she ate of the apple, death became reality in her life. An interesting theory I'd heard: Adam knew what Eve's consequences would be--banishment from the garden and ultimately death--and he could not envision life without her. So he ate of the apple as well. He would opt to go through whatever she did. Again, this is just an interesting theory. Adam did, however, know the consequences... Whatever the reason their actions brought about our physical death. But we are also given a chance to experience a way for life after death spiritually.
Romans 6:23b - ...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In the beginning God made it very evident that following Him and obeying His commandments was the way to go. Over and over the people turned their backs on Him. Some worshiped Him, some obeyed, but there were always those who did not. There has always been a remnant of people focused on God who would draw others. And there has always been a larger number who did not believe. It's no different today. There will always be a remnant of Christians. He continues His call to draw all men unto Him.
God has always loved the world. It grieved Him, I'm sure, to have to make the decision to not allow all mankind into heaven. But you need to understand that God is holy and cannot be in the presence of sin. He has also given us the option to make our own choices. Some choose to follow Jesus, some choose not. Jesus is the only way to life; to believe otherwise may seem narrow minded, but the road leading in that direction is a narrow one and only for those who choose to follow it.
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. For I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through Me. (John 3:16 and John 14:6)
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