The Fall of Man and Redemption part 1

Because we all live in a world ruled by the great deceiver, our ideas of sin and punishment are backwards. We think most people are basically good. We also think that a merciful God would not send people to hell. If there is a hell it is for murderers and child-abusers. The truth is we all deserve death and Hell. But God, through His grace is trying to rescue as many of mankind as is possible.

Try to imagine it this way. There are two kingdoms. The kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. There is no middle ground. You either belong to one or the other. Everyone born in this world is automatically by default subject to the king of darkness.

Mankind was originally created to walk and fellowship with God. Through disobedience to God’s one and only command he rebelled against God. All of Heaven watched in disbelief as Adam deliberately committed high treason in the garden. He relinquished his authority as steward of the world and in a sense bowed his knee to Satan. Through that one act of unrighteousness, all men were made sinners.*

Through an incomprehensible act of selflessness, God’s only son petitioned the father for the privilege of going into the dark world that belonged to Satan and risking falling into the same trap that Adam did. Only this time the odds were against Him. Adam lived in paradise and fell prey to the evil one. Jesus, in the most incredible “kings gambit” ever, laid aside his divinity and entered the dark world as a lowly son of Adam.**

Through his life and sacrifice He single-handedly defeated the hosts of hell and with His own shed blood and made redemption available for whoever would come.***

So the gift of life has been made available. Still, few will come. There are minimum requirements. These “requirements” do not demonstrate your worthiness. They are rather simply a nod and a bow to acknowledge His Lordship. We belong to the kingdom of darkness. Before God’s final judgment comes we must realize that the kingdom of Heaven as an invading force will soon come. Pledge your obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ and His kingdom NOW before it is too late.

Our Evil Master has been defeated. His fate is sealed. He knows the inevitable day is coming when the Lord Jesus Christ will come back to completely destroy His enemies and set up His kingdom on Earth. His only goal now is to deceive as much of humanity as possible to bring them with him into his fate, the lake of fire. There, he and all who have been deceived into following him will spend eternity.

So where do we stand? We are forced to live our lives in the kingdom of darkness. But while here on earth we must rebel against this kingdom and bow our knee to the new King who will soon take His place. How do we do this? REPENT. That means turn away from and reject ALL sin from now on. Declare Jesus Christ as your Lord. Then tell someone what you did. Be publicly baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Any church will do this for you at your request. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.****

We are like Rahab***** the prostitute in the city of Jericho. She, by her acknowledgment of the new conquering kingdom put her scarlet cord in the window. It didn't matter who or what she was in the kingdom that was about to fall. She simply needed to bow down and embrace the new King. By this she and her family were spared the destruction that came to her city. We too by our acknowledgment of Jesus the King are spared from the destruction that is reserved for all the wicked.

God’s grace and mercy are offered to all. So we have no excuse.

By Phil Meyers

PhilipAmos3.7@secondhandprophet.com

* Romans Chapter 5 Verse 12

** John Chapter 3 Verses 16-21

***Romans Chapter 5 Verses 12-21

****Acts Chapter 2 Verse 38