Last week we studied about “The Beginning” and the problem that Adam’s disobedience brought upon mankind: death.  When Adam’s spirit died he became a sin-natured man, (separated from God) and then his body began to die; and, he lost the authority that God had given him to subdue the earth.  But God loved man (mankind) so much that He was not willing to leave the human race in that predicament.   God had a plan to redeem mankind.  The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 that, “the wages of sin is death”.   Since a sin-natured man could not redeem the now sin-natured human race, God’s plan was to send His own son Jesus to take the punishment for the sin that Adam had committed.

The sinless Son of God-Jesus- would take would take the punishment for the sinful mankind. (Romans 5:18-21)  In doing so He would restore righteousness to all of mankind.  Righteousness is the right to stand before God as though one has never sinned.  Glory to God for His mercy, love, and deliverance!

We get our first glimpse of God’s plan in Genesis 3:15 when God said to the serpent (the devil in disguise) that “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed: He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel”.  Then God gave the description of the sign of the coming redeemer in Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”.  Another reference is in Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace”.

Now let’s jump to the New Testament where we see God’s plan unfold and where we hear about the conception of Jesus.  In Matthew 1:18-25 we read where Mary was “found” to be with child and apparently not by Joseph who she was engaged to, because he didn’t want to make a public example of her and decided to put her away privately. But an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife “for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  (Matthew 1:20)

Luke 1:26-35 gives more detail of the conversation between Mary and the angel concerning how this conception would take place since she “had not known a man”.  The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you and the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God”.   John 1:1-2 clearly teaches that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God”.  Then we see that the Word was made flesh. (John 1:14)  God’s Son was born.  God’s plan for redeeming and delivering mankind from that sin-nature has arrived to set man free from sin.

Most everyone knows or has at least heard of John 3:16, “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”.  When we read further in verse seventeen we learn that, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved”.  Know now that God is not mad at you.

However there is somewhat of a catch in this plan; sending the Redeemer was God’s part of the plan but man also has a part in this plan; each person must accept Jesus as their personal Savior and Redeemer.  God gives mankind the choice to either accept the Savior He sent or to reject Him.  God created the world and He sent His Son to save the world because God wants an individual relationship with each person.

The good news is that Jesus is NOT still on the Cross dying again and again for each of our sins.  He only had to die once for all sins.  We read in Romans 6: 9 that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no dominion over him.  God raise Jesus from the dead and set Him at His right hand.  (Hebrews 10:11-12)  Hebrews 7:24-25 teaches that, “Because Jesus lives forever he has a permanent priesthood.  Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them”.  God’s part of the plan was completed.  We learn from John 14:5 that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Him.

The rest of the story is now our part; whether to accept Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer or to reject Him.  In John 3:3 Jesus tells Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, that “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, today is the day to make that decision; He will not turn you away.  He wishes that none perish – meaning God wants to give you the life He has provided in and through Jesus His Son.  Say this prayer from your heart:

“Heavenly God I thank you for all Jesus has done for me.  I believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead so that I might be saved and have eternal life.  I accept your forgiveness from all my sin.  I confess Him to be my Savior and Lord, and now accept Him to live in me.  I will live for Jesus from this day forward.  Thank you Father for giving me eternal, for saving me, and for making me a new creation!  In Jesus Name, Amen”.   (Romans 10:9-10)

If you have walked away from God and want to rededicate your life to Him, know that God is abundant in mercy to all those who call upon Him, (Psalm 86:5); therefore pray  from your heart:

“Father, I come in Jesus’ name and thank you for never leaving me, for loving me and drawing me back to you.  I believe that I am your child because I believe that you raise Jesus from the dead and that He is still my Lord.  I thank you that you are faithful to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness and believe I am forgiven.  I thank you that I have fellowship with you again, in Jesus name, Amen”.

Next week we will study more about our part in how to daily walk out our Salvation.  Receiving Jesus as our Savior and Lord is the beginning of our life with Jesus; there is much more to come.