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IT GETS WORSE
While it may be obvious that man is sinful and in need of forgiveness and cleansing, the
far deeper truth is that man is actually dead and in need of life. Amazingly, of all
writings which claim to be sacred, only the Bible seems to address this issue.
The Hebrew word for "man" is adam, from whence is taken the name for the original
man. Adam was and is all of humanity. Everything you now are was once in Adam, all
46 chromosomes of you. Likewise, your soul was once in Adam and is derived from
Adam. Likewise, your spirit. Adam was created as three in one (body, soul, spirit) in
God’s triune image (Father, Son, Holy Ghost).
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden
thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou
shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
[Genesis 2:16-17]
Adam (and you in Adam) ate and died that very day. He died spiritually, yet not
physically until many years later. This is how sin and death were introduced and are
still passed on to us. Mankind is born with a sinful nature comprised of a live body and
soul, but an unborn spirit. We, therefore, naturally disobey God. Thus,
. . . by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned . . .
[Romans 5:12]
Sin is simply that which is in opposition to the character of God which originates in
temptation to lust (sexual or otherwise). If you feel separated from God, this is the
reason. Lust causes sin, which causes death:
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be
tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when
he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it
bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
[James 1:13-15]
Death is, in fact, the just reward, the wages of sin. Death is exactly what we deserve
through sin. No one (Christians included) deserves eternal life, no, not one. Eternal life
is a free gift:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
[Romans 6:23]
Now that God has reconciled the world (returned all humanity to a state whereby new
life may be imparted), our part is to be reconciled to God (freely receive this gift of new
life). Yet, our ability to receive and return his love requires a miracle. It requires prayer:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath
reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation . . . Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
[2 Corinthians 5:17-20]
To be reconciled to God, we must turn from our sin of unbelief:
The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of
faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith,
Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
[Romans 10:8-11]
Jesus explained that this reconciliation requires not merely a human effort of self-
righteousness, but a miraculous new birth. In fact, Jesus teaches that the only way to
see Heaven is to be born again:
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
[John 3:3]
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in
his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of
the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may
believe on the name of the Son of God.
[1 John 5:11-13]
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
[Revelation 3:20]
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[John 3:16]
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never
die. Believest thou this?
[John 11:25-26]