This article is from a letter a friend of mine sent out with all his Christmas cards.
As human beings in our natural condition, our identification is with Adam. All of us, male and female, are identified with Adam. He is our original parent and because he sinned, his legacy to the human race is sin and death. Notice Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as through on man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." All sinned in Adam. We are not sinners because we sin; we are sinners because he (Adam) sinned. Being sinners, we are separated from God; alienated from Him. Scripture says sinners are "dead in trespasses and sins" and "without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." Ephesians 2:1 & 12
Thank God, there is a cure! God’s cure for our sinful condition could only be one thing: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to god through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Romans 5"8-10
" For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit." 1 Peter 3:18
" He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21
" For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
The scriptures above are all stating the same glorious truth: at the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ died for our sins. He took our sins upon Himself and completely satisfied God’s righteous requirement. The moment we trust the scriptures, we are saved. Salvation is a new, right relationship with our Creator, and scripture describes it a new birth. We are born again, "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:13
It is a spiritual birth that is accomplished by God, through His written word.
" Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." 1 Peter 1:23
This new, perfect, unending relationship between God and regenerated man is only possible because of the work of the Son of God upon the cross of Calvary. It cannot be achieved through the works of the law; it cannot be achieved through good deeds; it cannot be achieved through good moral conduct; it cannot be achieved at all! Salvation is something that mankind can only receive, and we only receive salvation through belief in God’s stated word, and salvation is the greatest gift of all. |
