In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He spoke into existence the world and declared it good. In His image God created man and woman who were named Adam and Eve. They were created perfect and walked in harmony with God enjoying His creation and ruling over it.
God gave Adam and Eve all of creation to enjoy except two trees found in the center of the garden: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were told not to eat of these trees for if they did so they would surely die.
Satan, coming as a serpent, tempted Adam and Eve to eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They gave into the temptation, disobeyed and ate the fruit. As warned, the result of this disobedience was death. Adam and Eve became separated from God, no longer perfectly bearing His image, or desiring to do God’s will. Sin entered the world.
God, knowing that His creatures could not return to Him in their own power, created a way for sin to be destroyed. God, being full of grace, promised a Savior who would one day come and conquer death so that all could once again live in harmony with Him.
This Savior was born through a woman named Mary, who had never known a man. She was a virgin who was found to be with child and gave birth to a baby boy, Jesus Christ, who was the Savior of the World.
Jesus is God’s own Son who humbled Himself by taking on human form, being both fully God and fully man. During His time on earth Jesus was a teacher, a healer, and showed people how to live Godly lives. Jesus lived a life that was without sin; He walked with God and did His will.
Jesus’ mission on earth was to defeat sin and restore humanity’s relationship with God. In order for sin to be defeated Jesus had to die a sinner’s death. He was falsely accused and punished with the painful death of being nailed on a cross. He hung on this cross until He was physically dead and then was placed in the tomb.
Thankfully, the story does not end there. Three days after being placed in the tomb Jesus Christ defeated sin by rising again. He left the tomb empty, creating a way for all of humanity to return to God. He showed Himself to many as a witness that there is a life eternal, either spent in heaven or in hell. Just as sin entered the world through the disobedience of one man, Adam, sin was destroyed through the obedience of one man, Jesus Christ.
Jesus created a way for all of us to be made right with God. However, each of us has to make the decision for ourselves whom we are going to follow. Will you believe that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again, or will you choose to listen to the voice of the serpent? In order to be saved you need to believe in Jesus Christ and allow Him to take control of your life. The Bible tells us that if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord you will be saved. When this is done forgiveness from sin is yours and eternal life in heaven, spent in the presence of God, is promised.
