1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NLT)
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He
is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 21 So you see, just as
death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has
begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to
Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
The apostle is confirming to the Corinthian Christians
that while Christ died -- He has risen from the dead and taken His place in
heaven. It reassures us as adopted sons and daughters of God because of our
faith in Christ we too will be joined with Christ upon our death. The apostle
gives reference to Adam that because of his sin man was handed over to death,
but those who belong to Christ will be given a new life, a life abundant in
grace in mercy on earth, and a life ever after in heaven upon our death.
Adam and Eve were given a wonderful life in the Garden of
Eden. They were told one thing they should not do -- and that was to eat from
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yet they disobeyed God and sin
entered into their hearts. They were no longer pure and free from sin.
Sadly there was another tree in the garden called the
tree of life, which they could have eaten prior to their failure. This tree
would have given them eternal life. God in his loving mercy and grace knowing
Adam and Eve were now filled with sin moved them from the Garden of Even; away
from the tree of life. God even placed an angel with the tree to protect anyone
from gaining access. God knew that man was now filled with sin and that to have
eternal life would mean a life eternally filled with sin and no hope of
salvation. That was not God’s plan for man.
So God gave His Son Jesus Christ to become a sacrifice
for our sins. Through Christ’s death those who believe in His death, who are
willing to repent of their sins and ask Christ to be their Lord and savior are
once again free from the bondage of sin that Adam and Eve placed upon mankind.
God had prepared mankind for this by providing laws and commandments, which
mankind was not able to obey or keep. God wanted to show them their need for a
savior; one who could free them from the debt of sin and give them an everlasting
life.
John 3:16-17 says, “16 “For God loved the world so much
that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will
not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to
judge the world, but to save the world through him.” For those who try to live
by law and commandments are judged by the those laws; yet those who receive
Christ as their Lord and Savior are given mercy and grace.
Over the past month my mother has passed away along with
some of my childhood friend’s parents. Some of my close high school friends
have also passed away or their brothers and sisters. It’s been a tough month,
but I find comfort in knowing they knew Christ and that they are all together
in heaven with Christ. It brings a peace beyond understanding to know they are well,
they are no longer suffering and are they are at total peace. Christ has indeed
given them an abundant and new life to enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment