Does This News Make You Joyful?

© 2018 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Early in man’s history, Adam and Eve succumbed to the trickery of the Devil.  Appearing as a serpent, he tempted them to disobey God.  God had warned them about this, and told them that such disobedience would bring death.

Thus, Adam and Eve earned the death sentence for themselves and all their descendents.  There was nothing they could do to undo this terrible situation.  Their offense was against an infinitely Holy God and only He would be able to redeem them if He chose to do so.

Although God was not obligated to provide such redemption, He lovingly undertook a costly plan to purchase the redemption of all who would call upon Him for forgiveness.  It involved the blood sacrifice of God the Son who would take on human flesh.  He would offer Himself in an excruciating ordeal of crucifixion to pay sin’s penalty.  God presented Adam and Eve a picture of what His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, would do.  God killed animals and used their skins to cover the sinfulness of Adam and Eve.  Then He told the Serpent, who had tempted Adam and Eve, that though he would bruise Christ’s heel, he, himself, would be eternally cursed.

“And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15)

The rest is history.  Jesus Christ, the Savior, was born of a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit.  He lived a life fulfilling all requirements of the law and of God’s absolute perfection.  Then He endured the awful punishment of a Roman crucifixion.  Having thus paid the penalty of sin, He was removed from the cross and placed in a tomb.  Three days later He rose victoriously from the dead.  He now offers salvation to all who come to Him burdened over sin.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11:28)

Have you partaken of this joyful news?

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