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9. The work of Christ in heaven

9 • Jesus Christ’s Ascension and Work in Heaven

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples, gave them instructions and spoke about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:1-5). Later, He was taken up into heaven on a cloud (Acts 1:9)! The disciples literally saw Jesus going into heaven. God’s Book foretold (prophesied about) this event centuries before in Psalm 68:18 where it says, “You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive, You have received gifts among men, even for the rebellious.” Jesus mentioned to His followers that He would return to this world. After Jesus’ ascension into heaven two angels appeared to the disciples and said to them, ‘Just as Jesus went up to heaven so He will return one day’ (Acts 1:9-11).

It is very important that Jesus is now in heaven. It is written that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18). Since ascending into heaven, Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Ephesians 1:20). That means He has the most powerful position in the universe. In Philippians 2:9-11 it is written, ‘that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow …and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.’ God the Father has given Jesus authority to rule over every power, might and dominion in this world and the next. Jesus Christ is the Head and Leader of the church, His family and army (Ephesians 1:20-22). The Bible states that there is only one Mediator between mankind and God; that Mediator is Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Not Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, nor any other dead, nor supposedly holy person, nor any of our forefathers can hear us from heaven! Jesus taught that the dead have no connection with the living (Luke 16:23, 26). Praying to them is a useless exercise, forbidden by God and condemned by God’s Book (Deuteronomy 18:10-14), because when any person dies, he/she will be either in heaven (paradise) or in hell (Hades) waiting until Jesus comes again (Matt 25:31-46; Luke 16:22-26).

Jesus Christ now prays from heaven for His living children and for those that will be saved, but not for the dead. The Bible states that He prays 24/7 (24 hours a day and 7 days a week) for those who come to Him. That means Jesus never stops praying for those who come to Him (Hebrew 7:25)! You might wonder what He is praying about. He prays for the salvation (Hebrews 7:25) of those whom God has given Him and who will come to Him (John 6:37). He also prays for the sanctification in the truth (growth in holiness) and for the unity (oneness) of His children on earth (John 17:17, 21-23), as well as that His children should be kept from the evil one (John 17:15) and that they might receive and enjoy His joy (John 17:13), love and glory (John 17:22, 26).

Jesus said that if He did not go to heaven, and rule from on high, the Holy Spirit would not be sent to earth (John 16:7). It is therefore beneficial and essential for us that Jesus is in heaven now. Jesus said that He wouldn’t leave His children to be like orphans without a father (John 14:2, 18). He said He would send the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Life (John 3:3-8), Truth (John 16:13) and Power (Luke 24:49)—so that we can have a vital and real connection with God, like a cell phone that has unlimited Internet connectivity in a Wi-Fi Hotspot. The Holy Spirit’s presence within God’s children is the guarantee and first deposit of the inheritance in heaven of the followers of God (Ephesians 1:13, 14). If you buy a house, you usually first must put down a deposit before living in the house. So, God gave his children the Holy Spirit as thé deposit and as thé guarantee of their inheritance in heaven!

Reality to consider: Do you know that Jesus Christ is praying for all believers? The Bible says He never stops praying for those who come to Him (Hebrews 7:25). Please come to Jesus and do not stop coming to the Saviour and only Mediator of the universe!

Read: Acts 1:1-4; Acts :1-9-11; Psalm 68:18; Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Timothy 2:5; Luke 16:23,26; Deuteronomy 18:10-14; Matthew 25:31-46; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; John 17:13,15,17,21-23,26; John 16:7; John 14:2,18; John 3:3-8; John 16:13; Luke 24:49; Ephesians 1:13,14.

8. The demolition of sin, Satan and Death

8 • Demolishing the Power of Sin, Satan and Death

In Lesson 2 we said that the reason for death, sin, suffering and sickness in the world is because of the sin of Adam and Eve. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death and teaches that death reigned through Adam. In Adam all died (1 Corinthians 15:22). Adam was the first representative of the entire human race. Their sin allowed the devil to wreak havoc in this world. In a sense, the world in its sinfulness belongs to the devil and to all who follow him (1 John 5:19). By deceiving Eve and Adam, the devil catapulted the whole human race into sin and death.

But then Jesus Christ came, the second representative of mankind (Romans 5:12, 15, 17-19). He lived a perfect life and died for the sins of believers, thereby demolishing the power of the devil and death (Hebrew 2:14). Christ overcame Satan by conquering death (Hebrew 2:14; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Three days after Jesus’ death, God raised Him from the dead in a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)! Jesus ate food with His disciples in His glorified body (John 21:10-14). God broke the power of death and sin in this way. Death could not hold Jesus Christ in the grave, because He is God who is sinless (1 Peter 2:22). Many of Jesus’ followers saw Him after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-7). There were many eyewitnesses who saw Him as it is written in the gospels. The followers of Jesus rejoiced at this event, but some, like the disciple Thomas, doubted until they physically saw and touched Him (John 20:27-29; Luke 24:36-44).

Jesus said to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed”. We have not seen Jesus physically risen from the dead, like His disciples did, but blessed will we be if we believe like His disciples believed! Before His death Jesus prophesied that He would be raised on the third day (Luke 9:22; Luke 18:31-33). The resurrection of Jesus Christ was and is of cardinal importance in the history of mankind. Death, Satan and sin would still have power over us if Jesus was not raised from the dead, and death would still be an eternal reality even for those who belong to God (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). But because God the Father raised Jesus from the dead through the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 1:19), people can live forever if they believe in Jesus Christ (Romans 4:24, 25). In Colossians 2:14, 15, it states that Jesus made an open spectacle of the devil and his angels (where it refers to principalities and powers) by triumphing over them on the cross. To mankind it seemed as though the devil was victorious, defeating the Son of God (Matthew 27:39-43). But because Jesus never sinned and is God, death could not hold Him in the grave. Jesus’ sinless life gave Him the power to be raised from the dead. God raised Him from the dead and the Holy Spirit testified to the fact of Jesus’ divinity (Romans 1:4). Jesus said, ‘…unless a grain of wheat falls in the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it produces much grain’ (John 12:24). Jesus was thé Grain of wheat that died and because of His resurrection, everlasting life is certain for those who believe (John 3:16). Because Jesus is God and never sinned, the grave and its power were demolished forever! This is the good news of Jesus Christ!

Truth to consider: Death for Jesus’ followers is not the end but becomes a doorway to eternal life with God! That isn’t only good news but great news! In fact, if Jesus did not rise from the dead His followers would be still in their sins (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). But the sting of death has been removed. Death has been swallowed up in victory! Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:54, 55, 57).

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 John 5:19; Romans 5:12,15,17-19; Hebrews 2:14; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; John 21:10-14; 1 Peter 2:22;1 Corinthians 15:3-7; John 20:27-29; Luke 24:36-44; Luke 9:22; Luke 18:31-33; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 1:19; Romans 4:24,25; Colossians 2:14,15; Matthew 27:39-43; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:12-18.

7. The perfect life and death of Christ

7 • The Perfect Life and Perfect Death of Jesus Christ

Jesus came to this earth with a divine mission: to live a perfect, sinless life and fulfil all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). Because Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit it was possible for Him never to sin. He was no ordinary man! The Holy Word of God states that He was tempted in every way in His estimated 33 years on earth, but that He never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15). Jesus’ whole life was a life of perfection. He obeyed the laws of God and the Ten Commandments perfectly, and He demonstrated immense compassion towards the poor and sick. When He was 30 years old, God the Holy Spirit came upon Him in a special, powerful way, giving Him authority to do many miracles and wonders (Luke 4:18-21).

Jesus walked on water! He calmed storms at sea! He gave sight to the blind! He made the deaf hear! He raised the dead! He healed lepers and the sick from their diseases! He drove demons out of people! Twice He multiplied a few fish and pieces of bread to feed thousands of people! He exposed the secrets and intents of people’s hearts and prophesied about future events that were fulfilled in his lifetime and later. He was a truly remarkable man. Never was there anyone like Him! He was and still is fully God and fully man, the GOD-MAN! The miracles He did bore witness to the fact that He was God and not merely a prophet or a special person (John 20:30, 31). Many of the things that Jesus did were written down for us to read in the New Testament in God’s Book (the Bible).

But all these things that He did were only part of the reason why Jesus came to earth. The other main reason was to die on the cross in order to save believing sinners from their sins – this for God’s glory. This happened about two thousand years ago just outside Jerusalem. One of His disciples, Judas, betrayed Him (Matthew 26:14-16), and after a mockery of a trial by the religious leaders, Jesus was accused of blasphemy and given a death sentence (Matthew 26:65, 66). After his scourging by the order of the Roman Governor Pilate, the Jews shouted that Jesus should be crucified and that a murderer, Barabbas, should be released instead (Matthew 27:16-23). Pilate, the Roman Governor, was reluctant to give the orders to crucify Him, but the Jews’ shouting “Crucify Him!” prevailed (John 19:15).

Jesus’ willing sacrifice on the cross was, is and always will be of supreme importance to the world. Jesus knew that He would come as the blameless, sinless (Hebrews 9:14) Lamb of God (John 1:29) to die for the sins of believers; He prophesied about His own death before it happened (Luke 18:31-33). Jesus came to this earth to sacrifice Himself to God the Father and bear His wrath against sin (1 John 2:1,2), satisfy His justice (Romans 3:24-26), die as a substitute and in doing so cancel the guilt of believers (Isaiah 53:3-6;10-12). He came to live a perfect life, to fulfil the righteousness of the law (Romans 8:3, 4), to obtain righteousness by His obedience (Hebrews 5:8, 9), and to die a perfect death—in order to put all believers in a right relationship with God. Just before Jesus died on the cross, He cried, ‘It is finished’ (John 19:29). That meant the work that He came to do was completed. Jesus’ work of doing the will of His Father had been done (John 4:34). The world had been reconciled and united with God again. As 2 Corinthians 5:19 says, ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them….’

Reality to consider: Only Jesus can take the guilt of our sins away, as He is the perfect man who never sinned as well as being God, (Hebrew 9:14). That is why Jesus’ life was so unique and why His death was so precious in God’s sight!

Read: Matthew 3:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; Luke 4:18-21; John 20:30,31; The Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke records Jesus’ miracles; Matthew 26:14-16; Matthew 26:65,66; Matthew 27:16-23; John 19:15; Hebrews 9:14; John 1:29; Luke 18:31-33; 1 John 1:1,2; Romans 3:24-26; Isaiah 53:4-6;10-12; Romans 8:3,4; Hebrews 5:8,9; John 19:29; John 4:34; 2 Corinthians 5:19.

6. The Incarnation of God

6 • The Incarnation of God—God Becoming Man

There are many stories in the history of the world of people who have claimed to be God or who have been believed to be God. Some world leaders have even believed themselves to be gods, like the Roman Emperors 2000 years ago (e.g. Emperor Nero and Domitianus) and others in more recent history in Japan and North Korea. All these claims and stories are just fables or misconceptions put out by deceived lunatics to refute the truth. The God of Israel in Isaiah 46:9 says: ‘For I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me’. The devil (God’s enemy) is not called the deceiver for nothing! (Revelation 20:7; John 8:44).

There are more than three hundred prophecies about the Messiah in the Old Testament (God’s Book) and they were all fulfilled in and by just one person—Jesus Christ. They all came true in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When the right time finally came, God announced the coming birth of the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ was to be born in Israel. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, by the virgin Mary, about two thousand years ago. This is recorded in the books of Matthew (1:21-25) and in Luke (2:26-38). It is written in Matthew 1:23, “Behold the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and He shall be called Immanuel”, which is translated, ‘God with us.'”

His birth was foretold by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-27). The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you, therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” There was no sexual union between Mary and her fiancé Joseph. The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and impregnated her womb without any sexual union. God just spoke the word and it was done. God became a human being in this way about two thousand years ago! The Bible says and Christians believe that God is one God, but that He reveals Himself in three Persons simultaneously. Jesus’ followers don’t believe in three gods, but in one God in three persons (2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7). Mary is not and was not God. God didn’t have sexual relations with Mary, because God is Spirit. To the limited human mind these things are incomprehensible but should be accepted by faith. Isaiah 55:6, 7 says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

In the account of Genesis, when God made the heavens and the earth, it is written, ‘let Us make’ (Genesis 1:27). Also, when God scattered the nations and created different languages at the Tower of Babel after the global flood, God said, ‘let Us go down’ (Genesis 11:5). Also, when Jesus was to be baptized by John before his public ministry the Holy Spirit came upon him in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16,17). These Scriptures prove that there is more than one Person in the Godhead. In Colossians 2:9, it is written, ‘…for in Him (Jesus Christ) dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily’. God becoming a man is what Christmas is all about. Jesus’ followers celebrate the ‘Incarnation’ (God becoming human) of God the Son during Christmas. God became a human being! God became a baby! This miraculous event was ordained by God within the Godhead before the world began (1 Peter 1:20, Revelation 13:8). The purpose of the incarnation was the perfect, sinless life and atoning sacrifice and death of Jesus.

Reality to consider: God knew that Adam and Eve would sin and therefore He purposed that Jesus Christ would be born to save those who believe in Him, from the power of sin and death. As the Angel of God said, when Jesus was born, in Matthew 1:21: ‘You shall call His name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.’

Read: Isaiah 46:9,10; Revelation 20:7; John 8:44; Matthew 1:21-25; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 1:26,27; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:18,19; 1 John 5:7; Isaiah 55:6,7; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 11:5; Matthew 3:16,17; Colossians 2:9; 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; Matt 1:21.

5. Prophecies and Promises about the Messiah

5 • The Promises and Prophesies about the Messiah

God chose the people of Israel to be His special people for a very specific reason, i.e. the Messiah would come out of that nation (Daniel 9:25, 26). Messiah means ‘anointed one’ or ‘Saviour’. We can learn much from the nation of Israel: how God wanted His people to behave and live. They had to sacrifice animals in order for their sins to be forgiven (Numbers 5:5-10; Leviticus 4, 5). These animals for sacrifice had to be perfect, without fault or blemish (Leviticus 1:3; 4:3). In this way God revealed His holy and His just character to the Israelites. God cannot overlook sin or just forgive sin without justice being done (Exodus 34:6, 7; Habakkuk 1:12, 13).

There were many prophets throughout Israel’s history. Prophets were ordinary people sent by God to speak His words and tell the Israelites God’s will and purpose for them. They spoke as they were moved and inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). These prophets warned the people of Israel to love, serve and worship God, keep His commandments and not serve other gods. These prophets also prophesied (predicted or foretold) the Messiah’s birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven centuries before He came to earth. Most of these prophets did not know one another because they lived at different times or in different parts of the world. Reading some of their words in the Old Testament gives us clues as to the details of the Messiah’s life. The Israelites believed that the Messiah, a Saviour and a King, would come Who would deliver them from their sins and rule over them in righteousness, mercy and justice (Genesis 49:10; Psalm 72; Psalm 45:3-7).

Throughout the Old Testament (which is the written account of God’s acts with and words to His people) there were prophecies about the coming Messiah. The first prophecy (covenant) was given after Adam and Eve had sinned in the Garden in Eden. God said that out of Adam’s seed (his descendants; Genesis 3:15) Someone would come Who would destroy the head of the serpent (the devil who had deceived Eve into disobeying God) and had the power over death.

Other prophecies specified that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:1); that He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14); that He would rule with righteousness and justice (Psalm 72:2-4); that He would be raised from the dead (Psalm 16:10); that none of His bones would be broken (Psalm 34:20); that He would be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9); that He would be humble and ride on a colt (Zechariah 9:9); that He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zachariah 11:12); that He would work many miracles (Isaiah 61:1-3); that His hands and feet would be pierced in death (Psalm 22:16); that He would be numbered among the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12); that God would make His soul an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:3-5;10); that those who crucified Him would divide his clothes by lots (Psalm 22:18); that His kingdom would have no end (Isaiah 9:6; Daniel 7:27); that all nations would be blessed in Him (Psalm 72:17) and that the nations would be His inheritance (Psalm 2:7). Many other detailed events about His life were predicted (foretold) by different prophets centuries before the Messiah arrived. There is no way that all their prophecies could come true in one person just by chance. God was working everything according to the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:10; Romans 11:36) throughout the centuries.

Question to consider: Do you know Who this Messiah and Saviour of the world is? The answer might just change your life forever! The fact is: more than three hundred prophecies were fulfilled by the Messiah alone when He appeared about two thousand years ago in Israel.

Read: Daniel 9:25,26; Numbers 5:5-10, Leviticus 4,5; Leviticus 1:3;4:3; Exodus 34:6,7; Habakkuk 1:12,13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Genesis 49:10; Psalm 72; Psalm 45:3-7; Genesis 3:15; Micah 5:1; Isaiah 7:14; Psalm 72:2-4; Psalm 16:10; Psalm 34:20; Psalm 41:9; Zechariah 9:9; 11:12; Isaiah 61:1-3; Psalm 22:16; Isaiah 53:3-5;10,12; Psalm 22:18; Isaiah 9:6; Daniel 7:27; Psalm 2:7; Eph 1:10; Romans 11:36.

4. The Moral law of God

4 • God’s Moral Law Given to Moses

The people of the world, descendents of Noah, still behaved in ungodly ways even after the global flood, but God chose a special people called the Israelites. God sent them to live in Egypt for 400 years, about 3600 years ago, because of a regional famine (Genesis 41-47). The Egyptians treated them badly and oppressed them. God appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai in Arabia in a burning bush (Exodus 3:2-8). Moses was an Israelite who previously lived in Egypt and had fled for his life, because he had murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:12). After wandering as a shepherd in the desert of Arabia for 40 years God appeared to Him. God told Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt to Mount Sinai to serve Him as His own people (Exodus 3:7-12). Moses reluctantly obeyed God and through miraculous signs and wonders God delivered the nation of Israel from the Egyptians (Exodus 7-12).

The Israelite population numbered about 2 million at that time. God destroyed the army, nation and livestock of Egypt with His awesome power because of the Egyptians’ rebellion and sinfulness and for His own glory. God demonstrated through miraculous wonders that the gods the Egyptians served did not exist. God had a purpose for His people Israel. When the Israelites came to Mount Sinai, God told Moses to climb the mountain alone. There, on the mountaintop, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, engraved by His finger in stone tablets, amidst lighting, thunder and fire after Moses had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 19:18-20:19; Exodus 24:18). The Ten Commandments given to Moses showed the Israelites how God wanted them to live as His own people. The Ten Commandments expressed God’s character, nature and holiness. They show us what God expects of us and what our relationship with God and our fellow human beings should be.

God again made a covenant with His people Israel at the mountain and said that He would be Israel’s God if they obeyed His commandments and statutes. The sacrificial ordinances, by which animals had to be slaughtered, were part of God’s covenant with them (Leviticus 1-7). God’s Book (the Bible) states in Romans 2:15 that God’s moral law is written within each person’s heart. This means that God has given us a conscience to live by. This conscience (knowledge of the divine), is within us. God has written His laws in our hearts even if we have never heard of the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments are: ‘You shall have no other gods before Me’; ‘You shall not make any idol nor bow down or worship any god besides Me’ ; ‘You shall not take the Name of the Lord in vain’ ; ‘You shall keep the Sabbath holy’ ; ‘You shall honour your mother and father’; ‘You shall not murder’; ‘You shall not commit adultery’; ‘You shall not steal’; ‘You shall not bear false testimony’ and ‘You shall not covet’ [See Exodus 20:1-21 for the full version.] The New Testament reveals the real meaning of the law. Jesus said that only looking at a woman with lust is adultery with her in the heart (Matthew 5:28) and 1 John 3:15 says that if you hate your brother you have committed murder in your heart. Romans 7:12 says that the ‘law of God is holy and the commandment holy and just and good.’ Romans 3:19, 20 state that the law shows that the whole world is guilty before a holy God and that through the law comes knowledge of sin. Psalm 19:7 says ‘the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.’ No human being who has ever lived, except Jesus, has kept the Ten Commandments (Romans 3:9-12). The law shows us we are guilty before God and that we deserve God’s punishment.

Question to consider: Have you ever experienced God speaking to your heart? God can speak to you through your conscience. What God says through it will always agree with and never contradict the Ten Commandments given to Moses and Israel by God.

Read: Genesis 41-47; Exodus 2:12; Exodus 3:2-8; Exodus 3 :7-12 ; Exodus 7-12; Exodus 19:18-20:19; Exodus 24 :18 ; Romans 2:15; Matthew 5:28 ; 1 John 3 :15 ; Romans 7:12 ; Romans 3:19,29 ; Psalm 19:7 ; Romans 3:9-12; Galatians 3:24.

3. The Covenants of God

3 • The Covenants of God

God knew that mankind would fall into sin (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8) and knew that people would not be able to live without His protection, provision and goodwill. Therefore, God made agreements (covenants or contracts) with several people throughout history—and especially with one nation in particular. The first covenant of grace God made with man was with Adam and Eve just after they had sinned. God promised that out of Adam’s descendents Someone would come to bruise (destroy) the head of the serpent (the devil) and God killed an animal (or animals) to make coats of skin for them to cover their nakedness and shame (Genesis 3:15; Genesis 3:21).

The second covenant of grace that God made with mankind was the covenant with Noah. Adam and Eve had produced children, and successive generations had populated the earth. Years after the fall, mankind became so wicked that God decided to destroy the world with a global flood (Genesis 6:5-7) ‘God saw that every imagination and thought of mankind’s heart was only evil continually.’ Noah found grace in God’s sight (Genesis 6:8) and God told Noah to build an Ark and then, just before the flood, God ordered Noah and his family into the Ark along with at least a pair of each of the animals. In this way God planned to repopulate the world after the flood (Genesis 6-8). After the flood and the destruction of all living things on earth, God then made a covenant with Noah and all living things. He said He would never destroy the world with water again (Genesis 8:21; Genesis 9:11). The covenant was instituted with the sacrifices of animals. God said: ‘I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth’ (Genesis 9:13).

God made His next covenant with Abraham. God chose Abraham and commanded him and his family to leave their country—in the region of the Middle East—about 4000 years ago. God told Abraham that through his offspring all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). God told Abraham that He would give him the Promised Land (in the vicinity of present-day Israel) as a lasting possession (Genesis 15:18). And so, God chose His special people (who eventually became the Israelites and Jews), and made agreements with them and gave them promises over the course of the next 2000 years. God told these people, the Jews, to serve Him as the true God for Him to bless them, which He did. Along with all these covenants, God always required the death of animals (Leviticus 3, 4). The blood that was shed was necessary for the institution of the agreements (covenants). The death of the animals made forgiveness of the Israelites’ sins possible (Hebrews 9:22 says without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins).

These sacrifices, as we will later see, were only types and shadows of the real sacrifice that would take away the sins of the world. Other important covenants which God made were with Moses on Mount Sinai about 3600 years ago (which we will discuss in chapter 4), and also with David (Psalm 89:3, 4) and Solomon, who were kings of the nation of Israel. The covenants God made with the human race and with the people of Israel had two sides. God committed Himself to His people and put His Name on them, but they had to keep the agreements and contracts (covenants) by obeying Him and living as His holy people. The covenant blessings of God could be cancelled by disobedience and rebellion by His people that would result in curses (Deuteronomy 27-28) although God’s Covenant of redemption (His purpose for Creation and Mankind) would come to completion regardless of man’s disobedience (Genesis 3:15; Revelation 13:8; 1 Peter 1:20; Psalm 89:34-37).

Reality to consider: God didn’t leave the world to rot and decay, but He chose the nation of Israel and the Jews, of whom Abraham was the father, to reveal His nature, covenants and care, with the purpose of eventually blessing all the nations of the world.

Read: 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; Genesis 3:15; Genesis 3:21; Genesis 6:5-7; Genesis 6-8; Genesis 8:21; Genesis 9:11; Genesis 9:13; Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:18; Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 4, 5; Psalm 89:3, 4; Deuteronomy 27, 28; Psalm 89:34-37.

2. Fall of Mankind

2 • Mankind’s Fall into Sin

Have you ever wondered where death, sickness and suffering come from? When God finished making the heavens and the earth and everything in it, He saw that ‘it was very good’ (Genesis 1:31). When God created the world there was no death, sickness or sin (bad thoughts, deeds and words) in it. God made the first two people on earth. He created them man and female (Genesis 1:27). They were called Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:20). Eve was also called the mother of all living human beings (Genesis 3:20). When God made the human race, He made them in His own image (Genesis 1:27). God made man from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). Adam and Eve had open communication with God; they were innocent and united with God. God gave them the authority to rule over the land and the sea as well as all the animals and sea creatures He had made (Genesis 1:28).

God is holy, pure and just, and there is no darkness, wrong or malicious motivation in Him (1 John 1:5). God is good (Psalm 145:9). He created the world not out of His need (Acts 17:25), but for His own purposes and glory (Psalm 19:1; Romans 11:36). In the beginning God made human beings with a free will and put them in the Garden in Eden (Genesis 2:8). God’s people believe that this garden was in the vicinity of present-day Iraq. Because God is a God of love (1 John 4:8), He gave Adam and Eve the choice of loving and obeying Him or not loving and disobeying Him. Adam and Eve were neither automatons nor robots. God gave Adam and Eve a free will in order to test their love for Him (Genesis 2:16, 17).

God made a tree in the middle of the Garden in Eden. He named the tree the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:9) and told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of it. God warned Adam that if they ate of it, they would surely die (Genesis 2:17). Tragically Adam and Eve ate the fruit from this tree, a deed instigated by the devil (the fallen angel, Lucifer). The devil and the fallen angels had rebelled against God before this event and God had chased them out of His heaven because of their pride and sin (Revelation 12:7-9; Ezekiel 28:13-17). The Bible does not tell us exactly when this event happened. All we know is that it happened after creation and before the fall of mankind. The devil deceived Eve and told her she would be like God, knowing good and evil, if she ate the fruit of the tree (Genesis 3:4, 5). Eve ate the forbidden fruit and so did Adam. They believed the devil rather than God; they disobeyed God, they sinned. Because of this, God cursed the devil, the earth, and Adam and Eve. They became aware that they were guilty, sinful and naked before God. They realised that they now had to die because of their sin.

God pronounced that from then on mankind would both physically die and be spiritually separated from Him (spiritual death). All of creation was affected by their sin, even the land animals, the sea creatures and birds (Genesis 3:17-19). That is the reason why things decay and die and why there is sickness and suffering in the world. Since that tragic day, every human is born sinful (Psalm 51:5). In Adam, we have all died (1 Corinthians 15:22). That means, because the first man, Adam, was the father of the human race and the representative of mankind, the whole human race became subjected to death, sickness, sin and suffering (Romans 5:12, 16; Romans 8:20, 21). You and I would probably have chosen to eat of that tree as well if we had been the first people on earth.

Reality to consider: All humans are strangers to God because of their sinful nature. None has the close union and fellowship Adam and Eve had with God in the beginning – all are separated from God’s wonderful nature. We are born sinful, dead spiritually, and our ongoing sin, in essence, cuts us off from life with God.

Read: Genesis 1:27-31; Genesis 2:7,8; Genesis 3:20; 1 John 1:5; Psalm 145:9; Acts 17:25; Psalm 19:1; Romans 11:36; 1 John 4:18; Genesis 2:16,17; Genesis 2:9; Genesis 2:17; Revelation 12:7-9; Ezekiel 28:13-17; Genesis 3:4,5; Genesis 3:17-19; Psalm 51:5; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:12-16; Romans 8:20,21.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.