The End of Sin

Not only did Christ cover our sin, he crushed it.

Every generation asks the questions: Why is there evil in the world? Why is this world so corrupt and depraved? As we’ve discussed this week, the answer is sin. Everything that is appalling about this world is because of sin. And we chose this course. He gave us free will and we used it to disobey His commands. Even now, we routinely choose the wrong words, the wrong path, the wrong actions. So, are we doomed? Is there a way out?...
You bet there is!

That is the magnificence and awesomeness of the Gospel. God has provided a way back to Him, a way back to paradise. In Genesis 3:21, God used animals to make clothing for Adam and Eve to cover them up. Those animals had to die for that purpose and some believe this was foreshadowing of Christ one day dying for us to “cover” our sins so God would accept us again. But Christ did more than that.

     The end of verse 15 says, “He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” Who is “he”? Christ! Not only did he make us right with God, but he stomped on sin, crushed it and destroyed its power in our lives. As a result, we are no longer slaves to our sinful nature.Christ took our punishment, made us right with God again and defeated sin. He suffered unimaginable torture and pain, losing his life in the process, out of love and as a gift for us. He offers freedom to all of us if we choose it.  

READ and THINK… What does the Bible say?

Before God speaks to Eve and Adam, telling them what will happen because of their choice to disobey Him, He first speaks to the serpent, cursing him to crawl on his belly and eat dust and then He defines how Satan will interact with mankind.

Question: What does this verse tell us about the relationship between Satan and man from that point forward?

Genesis 3:15 (New Living Translation)

“And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Answer:

We all come from the family line of Adam. The inheritance he passed onto us is a sinful nature and the outcome of that nature is death. This verse tells us of another family line that has a different destiny.

Question: 

Knowing the first man is Adam, who is the second man referred to in this verse? What did the second man do to obey and offer righteousness?

Romans 5:19 (New International Version)

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Answer:

In Romans 5, Paul was teaching about the hope and peace that are available through Christ, who died for us while we were still sinners.

 Question: Now, what does this verse say was restored by Christ’s death? How sure can we be about being saved?

 Romans 5:10 (New Living Translation)

For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

Answer:

LIVE… What will you do now?

What role do we play in restoring our relationship with God?

If you are not a Christian, what is keeping you from professing Christ as Lord of all and turning your life over to him? If you are a believer, how can the verses be a reminder to you of all that Christ has done?

PRAY… God, what do you want me to know and do? Thank God for pursuing you and providing a way to restore your relationship with Him. Thank Jesus for having enough love to endure the pain and torture that ultimately renewed our relationship. Ask God to open your mind so you can fully understand just what He has done for you to become a member of His family and the true cost of that gift.