How to Have Peace With God
In order to understand man's nature, and his need for deliverance from the penalty of sin, we must go back to the beginning. God created Adam and Eve, and put them in the beautiful Garden of Eden. He walked with them daily, and instructed them that they could eat of the fruits of all of the trees of the garden, but they were to avoid the fruit of one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). It wasn't long before Adam and Eve both defied God, and followed the temptation of the devil to eat of that very tree (Genesis 3:6). Because of this, they were driven out of the Garden of Eden, and the entire race of mankind was put under the curse of death. This death is both physical death, and the spiritual death of eternity in hell.
Even from the pronouncement of the curse, God gave them hope of forgiveness (Genesis 3:15). The promise was that God would send One who would crush the head of the serpent. This crushing was done by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our inclination to do what is forbidden is evidence of our sin nature. Every person sins. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." This means that we have all stepped across the line that God has established. The result of that sin is seen in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death." The punishment of our sin is that we are condemned to hell for all of eternity. Revelation 20:15 says, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." The good news is seen at the end of Romans 6:23, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Jesus came (as was promised to Adam and Eve) as God in the flesh. John 1:1,14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." He lived a sinless life. Hebrews 4:15 says that He "Was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Since He had not sinned, He was not under the condemnation of death. As God, He died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven in Him. Romans 5:8-10 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." II Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
The Bible says that we are to quit trying to "do enough" to achieve God's favor. God's favor was already achieved by Jesus. We must instead come in repentance of sin to Him in faith, accepting the provision of forgiveness that He has achieved by His sacrifice. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." The Bible says that this invitation to accept His free gift goes out to all. Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Accepting the forgiveness that Jesus offers results in a person no longer being an enemy of God. Ephesians 2:13-15 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity" It also results in eternal life in heaven instead of eternal condemnation and torment in hell. John 3:16 "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."
This is God's plan of salvation. It is the only way, and it is only though Jesus. Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Have you accepted His free gift?
If you have questions about this, please e-mail us, or call us, and we would love to share more of God's Word with you.