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Biblical studies and Christian preaching teach us that man was created in the image of God, in a state of purity, clean, without stain and in holiness because he had no sin; man did not ask to be created, but God created him to close with a flourish his masterpiece of Creation.
Genesis 2:7-15
Let’s pause here for a moment to look at three very important observations.
First:
Biblical studies reveal to us that when God created man, he did not create him in the Garden of Eden as we have believed; but he formed it out of the garden, and although we really don’t know the place where he formed it, but if you read carefully verse 8, you will see what it says: “And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, on the east; and he put there the man that he had formed.”
Second:
It’s in verse 15 that says, “Then the Lord God took the man whom he had formed, (from where he had formed him) and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it;” notice that Adam was placed there when he was already Adam, he was already created and Jehovah took him and gave him the position of administrator of the garden with the difficult task of naming everything.
Third:
This is precisely what we know as the fall of man, verse 16-17: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying; you may eat from every tree in the garden; verse 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” This was the moment of the first evil action of the devil to counteract the will of God for man and to make man fall into sin from the beginning. Take a look at these two verses, and ask yourself this question: Why did man fall into sin? The answer is simple, because he disobeyed the voice of warning that God gave him.
The order was blunt, do not eat from that tree; having 20,000 species of trees and plants to eat their fill; he had to go give sin a little taste, that little taste cost him dearly because it caused him to be expelled from the garden that was his house; it cost him separation from God and spiritual death; his relationship with his creator was shattered that day. He lost the purity of his own creation, the one with which God had formed him and fell into sin thus transgressing God’s law.
I want to invite you to take your Bible and read 1 John 3:4 which says: “Whoever commits sin also breaks the law; for sin is lawlessness.” It was not difficult for Adam to disobey, just as he disobeyed; he transgressed, and as he transgressed he also fell from the grace of God. From there, man is now born in sin, and this is called inborn, adamic or hereditary sin because it comes from Adam.
Repentance:
The psalmist David said; Psalms 51:1-5 – Have mercy on me O God according to your mercy, according to the multitude of your mercy; erase my rebellions, wash me more and more of my evil and cleanse me of my sin, because I recognize my rebellions and my sin is always within me.
Dismissed:
On the other hand there in Romans 3:23 the word of God says: “Because we all sin, we fall short of the glory of God;” What happens is that when there is sin in us, it distances us from God, creating an impenetrable barrier between the divine and the human, between God and men, between the Holy and the unclean. There is no means of union between God and sin in all of creation, but there is a way to cleanse us from sin, and that way is the grace of God.
Ephesians 2:8 says; “For by grace you have been saved through faith, this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God;” not by works so that no one can boast thinking that because he does, did or will do some good deed, he already has the right or already deserves to be saved. Salvation is for man, solely and exclusively by the infinite grace of God, there is no other reason that justifies the salvation of the human being, more than the grace of God. Had it not been for his grace we would live dead in our crimes and in sin.
The value of his grace:
As all Christians know, man cannot buy salvation, but he can obtain it because God is good only by his grace, because the salvation of sinful man will give God the power, the glory, the honor and the praise and the honor . That He and only He deserves.
The gift of salvation by grace comes to us from God who loves us and by his very grace forgives us, cleanses us, purifies us, justifies us, regenerates us, and saves us. Thanks be to God.
1 John 3; 3 says: And whoever has this hope in Him purifies himself as He is also clean. His purity is given to us at the moment of justifying us. Romans 5:1 says: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
And why through Him? Because in no other is there salvation because there is no other name under heaven in which we can be saved.
God’s grace for us is free. Romans 3:24 says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Have we paid any money for our salvation? No, because the whole act of cleansing our hearts has been gratuitous by the immeasurable grace of God and his immense love for man, the same thing that made him come to die on that tree for us.
The parable of the prodigal son is a great example of God’s grace, and it is worth reflecting on. The son left, took the money and wasted it, squandered it, later when he had nothing, repentant, he came to his father and said: father I have sinned against heaven and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but if you have grace for me, make me like one of your hired men.
The reaction of that father was:
Sorry; because that son who returned repentant; God also forgives us when we come to Him in repentance.
Grace; The father did not make any claim or reproach his son for the money wasted and allowed him to re-enter the family. Nor does God claim us when we sin, he warns us of danger, but he forgives us.
Party; kill the fattest calf and put on it the best clothing because this lost son of mine was and has been found; there is also a party in heaven when a sinner repents. And this is what symbolizes the grace of God for us, grace that he sent us through his son Jesus Christ who gave himself voluntarily to redeem us from our sins.
The man:
What is man? Dust nothing more, but grace is the means that God uses to give value to man. Ephesians 1:6 says, “to the praise of the glory of his grace, whereby he has made us accepted in the Beloved;” this values us by making us like pearls of great price.
10 aspects of God’s grace:
One: God’s grace is great: Acts 4:33. The grace of God was reflected in the apostles who served him with great joy and great grace.
Two: God’s grace is sovereign. Romans 5:21. If sin reigned in us to death, grace now reigns in us to eternal life, we no longer have reason to sin again because we no longer live by sin but by grace.
Three: God’s Grace is Rich. Ephesians 1:7 and 2:7. God made us accepted in the Beloved and gave us redemption by his blood and remission of sins by the riches of his grace, to show in ages to come the abundant riches of his grace.
Four: The grace of God is imminent; 2 Corinthians 9:14. We have the ineffable gift of God’s eminence acting on our behalf when by his grace and love we have been saved.
Five: God’s grace is varied; 1 Peter 4:10. There are a variety of ways in which God manifests himself in us.
Six: God’s grace is sufficient; 2 Corinthians 12:9. Paul was going through difficult times of suffering, and perhaps also pain with an illness, which he called a sting. What disease was he? We do not know for sure, but what we do affirm with certainty is that the grace of God was with him in his anguish. God’s response was: “My Grace is enough for you” because with it you don’t need anything else. I want you to realize that in your weaknesses is where I perfect myself, and in your weaknesses I make you strong.
Seven: God’s grace is abundant; Romans 5:20 and 5:15. The grace of God abounds in us and when we come out of sin and come to Him, the grace of God is greater, if happiness is great, greater is his grace if more are the sorrows greater is his peace.
Eight: God’s grace is true; 1 Peter 5:12. The grace of God is not a mythology or a Chinese tale, it is not an ideology nor an invention of religions, the grace of God is true, it is there present at the disposal of those who wish to have it, just demand it from God and He will give it to you .
Nine: The grace of God is glorious; Ephesians 1:6. He has washed us to the praise and glory of him. (Amen)
Ten: The grace of God is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:10. The grace of God is what builds our spiritual future and we are no longer ourselves but we are new people, full of God’s grace. Paul said, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain because I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, what I now live in the flesh, I live in the glorious Faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Let’s learn to depend on the grace of God in the face of any adversity in life, the grace of God will be enough for me.
Say it again: God’s grace will be enough for me.
* If I am happy, the grace of God will suffice me.
* If I am sad, God’s grace will be enough for me.
* Yes I am ill….
* In a hospital….
* At school….
* At work….
* In the street….
* At home….
* In the church….
* Given my economic needs….
conclusion
Dear reader friend; If you want the grace of God to reach you and cleanse you from all his sins and you want to give your life to Him, now is the time. If you can, close your eyes and say:
Lord I know that I have been a sinner, but I also know that Your grace is enough to rescue me, now I ask your forgiveness, take my life and make me a new man only by your grace for me I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen .
6. “Because I have not found your works perfect before God,” the Lord has searched but has not found the works of the Sardis believers. The works of the Sardis believers were without divine approval because they were not generated by genuine faith. What is reproached is not the quantity of the works but the quality of the works of that church.
III. THE WARNING:
“Remember… what you have received… heard… keep it, and repent…” (v. 3).
1. They were to remember how they had received and heard the gospel.
Apparently there was a time when they had experienced zeal and enthusiasm as young Christians. Like the Ethiopian Eunuch, when he heard and responded to the gospel message, they joyfully went their way. They needed to remember that initial shock.
2. God has given us a number of things that will stand as memorials to us.
* A). The Scriptures place us in remembrance of the things God has done for us (2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 1:12-13).
* B). Every time one is baptized into Christ, that should…