In the beginning, God created both man and woman in His image (Genesis 1-2). They were to have a relationship with God with no barriers. However, Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of good and evil. This tree was created by God and for God. It was not for the consumption of man. When they ate the tree, their eyes were opened. They leaned to their own understanding. From this, we learn that it is better to obey and live than to disobey and die. As a result of Adam’s sin, many things that lived became dead. Sin then lies at the door (Romans 5:19, Psalm 51:5, Genesis 4:7).
Throughout the Bible, we see many examples of where sin took preeminence. Cain killed his brother. Abraham lied about his wife. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband. The wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23). However, God always desired fellowship with man. He found a solution for the problem of sin by sending His only Son. It was the love of God that we see being poured out. It was His compassion and grace (Psalm 86:15).
The sin offerings made in the Old Testament was a shadow of what was to come (Hebrews 10). Jesus was the sacrifice made for our sin. His blood was shed for the atonement of our sins. He took the yoke of sin upon Him (Isaiah 53:3-6). He took the curse of sin. He laid down His life for us (John 10:11, 15:13). The cross is a symbol of great strength and victory (1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 5:10).
The message of the cross is foolish to many around the world (1 Corinthians 1:17). However, the cross is a message of salvation to us, the church. What Jesus did on the cross, was the launching pad for the cancellation. What death did to Jesus on the cross is nothing compared to what Jesus did to death. O death where is your sting?
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 (NIV)
Every sin that we have committed, has been cancelled by the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus was the debt paid once and for all. He died and was carried into a tomb (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Other religions would stop at the fact that Jesus died and was buried. However, the story did not end there. Jesus was resurrected and He lives today.
Jesus proclaimed that He would rise again on the third day (John 2:19-22). And indeed, He did. Jesus made His comeback. However, it doesn’t end there. The same Spirit that raised Jesus, lives in us (Romans 8:11). Therefore, we now can make our comeback. We are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. Leave the tomb behind! Come forth! It was never God’s design for us to remain in the tomb. Walk in victory today.
