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God created everything for His glory. He made the universe with a perfect design and created the first humans, Adam and Eve, in His image and for the purpose of walking in a relationship with Him. The earth was full of perfect peace where everything worked according to God’s intention. The world was made for human flourishing, where we could live in joy in the presence of our Maker, worshiping God by loving Him and one another forever. (Genesis 1 & 2, Psalm 139:13-14, John 1:1-4)
While God created humanity to be in relationship with Him, we separated ourselves from God through sin. Sin refers to anything we think, say or do that goes against God’s desires.
The price for sin is death – eternal spiritual separation from God unless something changes.
Adam and Eve rejected God’s rule over them. We refer to their rebellious choice as “the fall,” and because they represented all of humanity, their action affects us too. We have— through our attitudes and actions— declared ourselves to be God’s enemies by breaking his commands and living life the way that seems right to us. This rebellion results in physical and spiritual death.
Every person has sinned and is separated from a relationship with God their creator. We cannot restore our relationship with God on our own. (Genesis 3, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12)
This is where Jesus comes in. Though fully God, Jesus also became fully human through His birth. He lived a perfect life then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead, proving His power over sin and death.
When we believe in Jesus and what He did on the cross, we receive forgiveness for our sins and the gift of eternal life. Jesus makes it possible for us to be restored to a right relationship with God.
Thankfully Jesus entered the story of human history. Through Jesus Christ, God implemented His plan for redeeming His world and rescuing us from our sin. Jesus, though fully God, was born as a baby, lived a perfect life, and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. The good news of God’s story is found in the death and resurrection of Jesus. After appearing to many witnesses, Jesus ascended to His throne in Heaven and actively works in the lives of His people, waiting for the day of His return. Through faith in Christ, we can receive forgiveness for our sin and be restored to a renewed relationship with God. (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, 6:23, 10:9-11, Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus is God’s solution for how sinful people like us can be made right with a holy God. Through Jesus, we can be forgiven, transformed, and adopted as God’s children.
The story doesn’t end with redemption. God has promised to renew the whole world, and the Bible gives us a peek into this glorious future. The restoration of all things will take place in two ways. Christ will return to judge sin and evil, and He will usher in righteousness and peace. God will purge this world of evil once and for all and bring about an eternal Kingdom with Jesus Christ as King. All who have turned from their sins and come to Jesus by faith will live forever with God in a restored creation and renewed relationship. (Colossians 1:11-14, Romans 8:18-25, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 21:1-4)
You can find your place in God’s story by going to Him in prayer:
If you have trusted in Jesus for the first time or have questions about becoming a Christian, the pastors at Carmel would love to help. Connect with someone here.
