Creation

In the “beginning” God created the heavens and the earth.

It all started in Genesis 1:2  about 6,000 years ago….

The earth was without form, darkness covered the deep waters.

The spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Then God said, “Let there be “light”.

God divided the light from the darkness; called light “day” and darkness “night.”

Let there be space to separate the waters of the heavens and the waters of the earth.

God called the space “sky”.

God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry land may appear; called the ground “land” and the waters “seas”.

God saw that it was good.

God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass and vegetation, every sort of seed-bearing plant from which they came”.

God said, “Let there be all sorts of seed-bearing fruit trees and plants of the same kind”. And God saw that it was good.

God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days and years”.

God said, “Let these lights in the sky shine down on earth”.

God made two great lights; the larger one to govern the day and the smaller one to govern the night.

God also made the stars.

He knows the number of the stars. He gives names to all of them.(Psalm 147:4)

Lift up your eyes and see. Who has made these stars? It is the One God who leads them out by number. He calls them all by name. Because of the greatness of His strength, and because He is strong in power, not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40:26)

Don’t you yet understand? Don’t you know by now that the everlasting God, the Creator of the farthest parts of the earth, never grows faint or weary? No one can fathom the depths of his understanding. His understanding is too great for us to begin to know. (Isaiah 40:28)

Lord God, you stretched out your mighty arm and made the sky and the earth. You can do anything. (Jeremiah 32:17)

God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning.

God said, ” Let the waters be filled with an abundance of fish and living creatures, and let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures. And God saw that it was good.

God said, “Let the birds fly above the earth”.

Then God blessed them saying, “Multiply, let the fish fill the seas and the birds multiply on earth.”

God made every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind, livestock and small animals and any creeping thing that scurries along the earth. And it was so.

God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw it was good.

And God said, “Let us make man in our image to be like us. Let them reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the animals including small animals that scurry along the ground.”

God had now created a man and named him Adam.

So God created human beings in his own image. (Genesis 1:27)

(This verse is often cited as the foundation for understanding the human purpose within creation, as being created “in the image of God” signifies our unique role in managing and caring for the world and that humans are in the image of God and are to love one another in their moral, spiritual, and intellectual nature.)

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Then God saw everything that He made and indeed it was very good. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished. And God saw that it was very good.

In general,  Scripture teaches that God brought the world into existence as His crowning achievement of His good work and for His own glory and to provide a place for his sons and daughters to dwell here in morality.  He created people in His image so they can share in his overflowing love, grace and goodness through their relationship with Him. People were created to love God and each other.

The Lord God planted a garden, an earthly paradise in the East, in Eden and there he put the man he had formed and had named Adam.

A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, the name of the second river is the Gihon, the name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur and the fourth river is the Euphrates.

In the Garden of Eden, the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food and nourishment.

God wanted to show Adam His goodness and His love for him in providing Adam with a beautiful place to live, all of Adam’s needs were met. God’s plan and purpose for Adam was to live there and take care of  The Garden of Eden; caring for the plants and trees that were nutritional ensuring their growth and vitality and maintaining the overall beauty. He was also in charge of naming all of the animals that God had now created. (One of the most enjoyable responsibilities ever!)

In the middle of the garden was the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for when you eat from it “you will certainly die.”

And if Adam obeys God’s command and does not eat from The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and eats only from the Tree of Life and the other plants and trees in The Garden he will have eternal life and live forever.

Adam did not know of either spiritual or physical death or what sin was as there had never been a reason to.

Adam was actually living in the literal presence of God and had never been separated from him.

(God has said, and it is accepted by Christians today that if you are disobedient to God and have sinned against him you will experience a death in your relationship with him and lose your relationship with God)

God asked Adam to name all of the animals, birds and fish but none proved to be a helper suited to him. God then caused a deep sleep upon Adam, took one of his ribs and made a woman and brought her to Adam. Adam then said. “She shall be called a Woman because she was taken out of man.”

Adam named his wife Eve because she would become the mother of all the living.  Genesis 3:30

Every person to this day is related to Eve and Adam.

Eve’s purpose:  God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth…. Genesis 1:28 Eve’s name, “mother of all living,” signifies her role as the ancestor of all humankind and the life-giving potential of all women. 

Adam and his helper Eve then lived in The Garden of Eden. (Interesting thought: Adam and Eve did not have belly buttons since they were not born of a woman.)

The Garden of Eden would have been the perfect temperature, the perfect humidity, without pests or diseases, roses did not have thorns and there was nothing that would detract from their enjoyment of knowing God in a perfect and pure way.
Adam and Eve lived a life of blissful innocence.  They had never sinned; therefore they had no guilt or shame and had never experienced temptation before.  They were original, untouched and new. They needed no clothing because they did not know what being naked was.  When the woman gave birth there would not be pain and animals lived among them peacefully.  This was life as God intended it to be.

Adam and Eve together took care of the garden and enjoyed a relationship with God, and with each other, that was able to continue without being stopped or made difficult by the power of sin because sin did not yet exist. Adam and Eve were the only two people on earth…and they were privileged in a way that no one since has been.  They met and intimately communicated regularly with the God. They had no problems. It was perfect.

And then everything changed within seconds…

In the Garden of Eden a serpent approached Eve by surprise. This serpent was more devious than any living creature which the Lord God made. The serpent asked Eve, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

Eve replied, “We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden, but not the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat it, nor touch it, you will certainly die.”

The serpent then said to Eve,

“You will not certainly die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

And now for the first time ever Adam and Eve are being tempted. Their minds and hearts have been immersed in love with God and had never questioned anything God said because there was no reason to do so.

But being tempted by this serpent directly contradicted what God had said and for the first time it caused them to question God’s character and his intentions for them.

And this is the beginning of the collapse of their perfect relationship with God.

This serpent is God’s enemy and is referred to as Satan or the Devil and is the embodiment of evil and rebelled against God.

He has one job and that is to keep you from a relationship with God no matter what it takes.

Because of what Satan told them Adam and Eve now believe that God is a liar and they have a new sense of doubt, disbelief and rebellion against God’s authority.  And they have been told if they eat from the tree they could be like God, knowing good and evil.

Satan is tempting Adam and Eve to be disobedient to God so they will no longer have a relationship with God. This is Satan’s goal.

Adam and Eve have been given the choice to chose to rebel against God’s authority and take matters into their own hands……. or not,  and if they chose to believe what the serpent says they will have an immeasurable problem.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her and he ate it.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

God found them and asked, “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

And now sin was born due to the first immoral behavior (disobeyed God) which was catastrophic and ultimately separated them from God, just as God warned them.

(Yes, sin is now born but know that God had a plan before Adam and Eve had a problem)

Not only are they separated from God, they will eventually experience a physical death and not have eternal life and live forever. Remember that God warned Adam that if he ate from that one tree that he  would  lose his perfect relationship with God. 

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked (Genesis 3:7)  The Lord God then made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

This implies God murdered and sacrificed an innocent animal and it’s blood was shed.

He killed an innocent animal to temporarily cover their guilty sin and naked bodies;  the first sacrifice of life for a covering of sin. Their disobedience led to a realization of their own nakedness and shame.

Many interpret this animal sacrifice in Genesis 3:21 as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross where his innocent life is given and his blood will be shed to cover for the sins for all people.

The animal did nothing wrong yet God chose to sacrifice an innocent animal and shed it’s  blood and use the blood of this innocent animal to cover the two who sinned against him and to show Adam and Eve that- BOTTOM LINE: sin has consequences and blood must be shed for God to forgive them.

The consequences of their sin include actual physical death, suffering, and a universal tendency towards sin, as described in Genesis 3:17-19. 

Adam and Eve are the first parents of the human race and now sin is in their nature and sin will now be inherited by every person.

And because of this there is now and forever a fracture in humanity and this is known as “The Fall” of Humanity because

we have ALL inherited this sinful nature, whether we are white, black or brown. We have all been affected by sin. It is the source of all of our relational tensions, our insecurities,  our shame, our failures, It is the source of disease, sickness and wars and  poverty. It has affected all of creation. There are no exceptions and this is why Christians believe we are all sinners and say we need to be “saved”.  Saved from what?

Saved from separation from God and actual death as we know it. 

“Getting saved” means the need of rescue from the consequences of sin, which is separation from God and not spending eternity in Heaven. 

So why did God create this serpent who tempted Eve and Adam?

According to the Bible God created the serpent in the Garden of Eden to give Adam and Eve the free will to continue to be in relationship with him or not to be

just as he does with all of us.

Adam and Eve had the free will to choose to do what God commanded them to do but they failed.  Eve was tempted and deceived by a serpent who is known as the Satan and Satan tempted her to eat the forbidden fruit. She should have not taken the fruit and ate it. Adam knew full well the consequences of eating that fruit and did so anyhow which is a direct rejection of God. This was the first time Adam or Eve had ever disobeyed God and because of the choice they made sin was now part of their nature.

Adam was commanded by God to do just one thing; to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, just one thing and Adam failed.

It is Biblical fact that Satan’s only purpose was to tempt Adam and Eve into sin which would keep them from knowing and loving God and to separate them from him. (read John 10:10). And Satan succeeded.

Satan is a symbol of evil, temptation and deceit.  He introduced Adam and Eve to lying, fear and guilt and does the same to you including violence, pride, rage, greed, lust, temptation,  theft, adultery, vanity and more. Jesus refers to Satan as the “father of lies” and “liar”. This signifies that Satan is not only a liar but the originator and primary proponent of deceit. He is not simply a liar by habit, but rather his nature is rooted in falsehood. John 8:44 

Satan is called the Father of lies.

Beware that according to the Bible Satan is a created being who currently roams the earth tempting people to sin which separates them from God. Every day, whether we realize it or not, we are all in a spiritual battle.

The Bible tells us that Satan is a deceiver, an accuser, and an enemy of our souls.  Satan’s goal is to weaken our faith, fill us with fear, and tempt us in any way he knows to turn us away from God. That is Satan’s purpose.

When a human being body dies the spirit lives forever and will either live for eternity with God in Heaven (New Earth) or live for eternity with Satan and not in Heaven. It’s your choice.

Unfortunately Satan has completed his goal by tempting Eve and Adam to disobey God. Beware because Satan’s job is to separate all people from God including you.  “The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy… (John 10:10)

However, even with our sinful nature and with a sincere heart to repent  God still gives us unlimited chances to try to get back into relationship with him.

The way is through his son Jesus.

God has a plan and he had this plan before people had this problem.

This is known as “The Greatest Story Ever Told” because it is.

Approximately 4000 years after God had created Adam and Eve the population had grown from 2 people; from Adam and Eve to 200 to 300 million people and all were sinners because every person was related to Adam and Eve and had inherited their sinful nature.  And this is why  those 4000 years are filled with stories of horrific violence, prideful people, murder, people killing just for power over others and doing anything to get it and complete debauchery; fulfilling a person’s carnal desires. This violence is not God’s doing but humans allowing their sinful nature to rule their ego’s and pride and violence was the result. The people did not obey God’s laws which were quite simple:

Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously. Micah 6:8

The Lord doesn’t like anyone who is conceited—you can be sure they will be punished. Proverbs 16:5   Pride comes before being destroyed and a proud spirit comes before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; Be assured he will not go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5

God seemingly had turned his back on humanity because in God’s eyes every single person was a sinner.

God is Holy which means that He is utterly pure, righteous, and morally perfect, completely separate from sin and evil and worthy of worship and deep respect.

God hates sin because it is contrary to his holy nature and disrupts the relationship between humanity and God. While he hates sin, he loves sinners more and desires their repentance so he gave everyone a way  to get back into relationship with him, transform their hearts to love others and live forever.

During those years God used a sacrificial system  as a ritualistic act of worship and atonement and

used blood as a payment for sin because the shedding of blood from an innocent animal, a lamb represented the sacrifice of an innocent life in exchange for the guilty life.

This symbolizes that actual death is the consequence of sin but instead of you having to die, an innocent lamb is killed in place of you. 

Remember that the first animal sacrificed/killed by God it’s blood was shed to symbolically  cover the guilty sin of Adam and Eve.

“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins”.  Hebrews 9:22

As hard as it is to understand now, this verse emphasizes the universal principle in God’s law that the shedding of blood is a necessary condition for sin to be forgiven, blood sacrifice is essential for purification and to receive His forgiveness.   

Animal sacrifices were mandated to be performed at the designated place of worship, either in the Tabernacle or at the Temple in Jerusalem. Gods payment for sin is shedding of blood so for thousands of years innocent animals were killed and sacrificed and their blood was shed to temporarily get God to forgive them.  To receive  God’s atonement  blood must be shed.

Over the years one can assume that it was painful and emotional  to sacrifice innocent lambs and animals because they found  it impossible to not sin. God made sure you acknowledged and were accountable for your sins and so there were consequences for sinners.

Sin was generally understood as violating God’s laws, failing to fulfill one’s obligations to God,  failing to love God and others and doing specific acts considered sins such as idolatry, murder, adultery, stealing, lying, blasphemy, and failing to keep the Sabbath. 

There were many respected innocent animal sacrificial system rituals through out the years for people to receive atonement and forgiveness from God. There was a lot of sin and a lot of blood shed from lambs and other animals. Animal sacrifices for atonement were primarily offered by priests but ordinary individuals could offer animal sacrifices as well.

The Old Testament’s system of animal sacrifice was a complex and exact one, with the specific details tailored to the individual, the nature of their sin, and their social standing.

The specific types of animals and procedures depended on the nature of the offense and the social status of the individual. For example, the high priest performed special sacrifices on the Day of Atonement, while ordinary individuals could offer various sin offerings for atonement  as a way to seek forgiveness from God for breaking His laws. and to receive forgiveness from God for their sins. The ritual involved the offering of a specific animal (like a sheep, goat, or bull, depending on the sin and the person’s status), often with the blood being sprinkled on the altar and/or in the sacred space. 

The act of sacrifice symbolized the transfer of the sinner’s guilt to the animal, which then became a substitute for the punishment the person deserved. 

These sacrifices symbolized the consequences of sin and acted as a substitute, with the animals death and it’s shed blood  represented a payment to God for when they broke God’s laws or codes of conduct allowing the individual to be reconciled with God after confessing their sins. Leviticus 4 and and 6

In order to receive  atonement and forgiveness from you needed to:

1. Repent with a sincere heart, acknowledge wrongdoing and resolving to do better and a heartfelt desire to get back into relationship with God.
2. Demonstrate your remorse and commitment to following God’s laws. seek forgiveness and express gratitude to God.
3. In the Tabernacle or at the Temple sacrifice (kill) an innocent animal so it’s blood was shed to cover their guilty sins.

(Many interpret this sacrificial system as a foreshadowing providing hints of what happens in the future with Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and his blood was shed on the cross for all people)

For thousands of years God’s people continued shedding the blood of lambs/animals as a temporary atonement for sin in order to be in relationship with God to not see your sins and this was the law that God’s people were commanded to follow.

It was emotional and bloody but God needed people to understand that sin has emotional and bloody consequences.

And because God had a plan before people had a problem he changed this law to continue with His plan…

And God’s plan was to move beyond sacrificing innocent animals for a temporary atonement for sinners (all people)  to a single, perfect and permanent sacrifice of his Son named Jesus. Because of the people’s unrelenting sinning due to their sinful nature, thanks to Adam and Eve year after year animals were continuously being sacrificed for God’s temporary forgiveness until they sinned again and another  innocent animal was murdered/sacrificed and it’s blood was shed. All people are naturally inherently sinful and cannot avoid sinning. 

In order for all people to have the opportunity re establish a relationship with God he knew we needed a savior to receive permanent atonement from him.  The need for animal sacrifices were no longer needed because they offer only temporary atonement. God wants his children to feel his love once again which is what he had intended to have with each one of us before Adam and Eve disobeyed him back in the Garden,

So God sent his Son named Jesus to be every person’s Savior and to give us all the opportunity to re establish a relationship with God. Having faith in Jesus and believing that he that came here with this specific purpose is the most important steps. Believing and having faith that Jesus is God wrapped in flesh.

Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross and his shed blood is the ultimate and complete atonement for sin making animal sacrifices in the Old Testament no longer needed.

His sacrifice, not animal sacrifice offers permanent and complete forgiveness and reconciliation with God to those with sincere hearts of repentance and who believe in Jesus. This forgiveness is seen as a final removal of sin’s penalty, restoring a broken relationship with God that had been broken by sin and offering eternal life to those who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus to be the truth.

Jesus, God’s Son was sinless and was the perfect sacrifice that fulfilled the need for atonement with God.

Jesus’s purpose was to reconcile humanity with God, bridging the gap created by sin and restoring the broken relationship. Jesus’s primary purpose in his life and then death on the cross and then resurrection served as the sacrifice for the sins of everyone, no one is excluded.

By believing in Jesus and accepting his sacrifice as the means to receive atonement from God, individuals are offered eternal life, a relationship with God, and a hope for the future.

And yes, Jesus knew this was His purpose.  Read Isaiah 53 in the Old Testament.  Jesus knew that in the future he would be horrifically and horrendously murdered and knew that his death was the sacrifice needed and  the necessary part of God’s plan to reconcile humanity with himself. And because Jesus’s one and only life and death and then resurrection  would replace the continuous incomplete and repeated sacrificing of animals people would now be given the opportunity through their faith in Jesus to receive God’s forgiveness.

Again, God had said that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” Hebrews 9:22

This understanding is reflected in 1 John 2:2 because it states that Jesus Christ is the atonement for our sins, not just for our own, but for those of the whole world.  

This verse emphasizes that Jesus’ sacrifice covers all sins, both past and present, and extends to anyone and everyone, you and me, no one is excluded. This is a gift from Jesus. And this is why you hear faithful Christians thanking Jesus ALL the time. THANK YOU Jesus! If he did not offer his life to us humanity would still be full of sin and separated from God and would spend eternity with Satan and not in Heaven.

Jesus came to earth to offer a perfect sacrifice that fully atones for the sins of humanity, unlike the incomplete and repeated sacrifices of the old covenant. 

He also stated that his purpose was to preach and spread God’s words (his words which implies he is spreading his own teachings and commands which can be considered God’s word as it comes from God’s Son, Jesus) to seek and save the lost, poor and the sick. At the core Jesus’ mission was to offer deliverance from death and sin and it’s consequences leading to a state of freedom and security providing a path back to a relationship with God, escaping a destructive sin nature, escaping physical death and offered eternal life. Jesus fulfilled God’s will for his life (John 6:38),

“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46) including the hope of everlasting life and how to find real happiness. Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

Jesus had quite the purpose and job description and he knew it!

Jesus knew what his purpose was….the Bible consistently portrays Jesus’ awareness of his divine nature but doesn’t explicitly state when Jesus realized he was God “wrapped in flesh”. It suggests he was aware of his divine nature from a young age possessing a unique understanding of his relationship with God and his role in the world but doesn’t offer a specific moment of realization. It indicates that Jesus was fully aware of his identity and mission as the Son of God by the time he was baptized at the age of 30. (Luke 2:41-52)

A woman named Mary was living in Nazareth with her parents and engaged to a man named Joseph who was a carpenter. She is described as a virgin in the Gospels, who was chosen by God to conceive Jesus through the Holy Spirit; her conception of Jesus was not a natural biological process involving a man making it a supernatural event.

God chose Mary to fulfill what people in the Old Testament were waiting for. She was not randomly selected. Even though she was an ordinary small town girl, a commoner and not rich in stature,  have God chose her. She must have been obedient, courageous, a woman of faith, be of moral purity she must be a virgin and willing to miraculously demonstrate in humility the nature of the Lord’s birth.

Jesus  was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary and therefore did not inherit a sinful nature from a human father. Read Isaiah 7:14 and know that Isaiah who was a highly respected prophet wrote these words 700 years before Jesus was born. Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy. After Adam and Eve sinned against God every person born had a sinful nature except Jesus. God can do ANYTHING. 

The passages in the Gospel of Luke 1:35 and Matthew 1:35 describe Jesus’ conception as a miraculous event through the Holy Spirit, without sexual union between Mary and Joseph. Once again these verses highlight that Jesus was divinely conceived in Mary’s womb by the power of God and this divine conception is understood as the means by which Jesus did not inherit the sinful nature passed down from Adam, ensuring his perfect holiness and ability to atone for humanity’s sin. Foundational Christian belief. Jesus would not inherit a sinful nature because he was and always would be sinless, free of any sin. This is central to Christian beliefs about the virgin birth of Jesus. Christianity 101.

Matthew was one of Jesus’s Apostles and knew him well.  Luke was another author in The Bible and both Luke and Matthew knew Jesus’s mother Mary.

In Matthew 1:20-23 says, ” The Angel of the Lord said to Joseph (Mary’s husband) do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS. The virgin (Mary) will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means “GOD WITH US.”

Joseph was instructed to call him Jesus, while the prophecy indicated that he would also be known as Immanuel.

The name “Immanuel” is characterized by Christ’s essence meaning chosen by divine authority. He was called Jesus which means “God Saves” because it expresses both his identity and his mission.

In The Bible John (John 1:14) wrote Jesus is “God wrapped in flesh”.

Essentially meaning that God took on human form by becoming physically embodied in Jesus; signifying that Jesus was fully God while also being fully human. According to the Bible, Jesus is both God and the Son of God, and is referred to as “God in the flesh.” (Christianity 101. Open your mind and believe, why not?)

After working with his earthly Father as a carpenter  (his Heavenly Father is God, yes we all have both an Earthly Father and Heavenly Father) and living in Nazareth for approximately 30 years, Jesus then began his purpose, his public ministry. which is detailed in the New Testament. He was baptized by his cousin John who called him

“The lamb of God”.

^{To be called a Lamb of God means that God gave Jesus to be killed like a lamb for our sins so we could receive forgiveness for the sins of the world, offering a path to redemption and forgiveness for all.}

The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said: Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

No more lambs/animals will need to be sacrificed for atonement and forgiveness because at his age of 33 Jesus will be sacrificed for all of our sins….

Jesus had a relatively normal childhood.  He likely lived a simple life in Nazareth, developing like any other child. He would have participated in family life, learned a trade like his Father did in carpentry and interacted with his community.  Like other Jewish boys of his time, he likely began formal education around age six and would have attended synagogue school and studied Hebrew to understand the Old Testament. The stories in the Tanakh were seen as vital for understanding Jewish history and passing on the faith. He would have been taught to read, memorize, and study the scriptures which include the book of Isaiah describing how he would die.

Isaiah 53 describes a suffering servant who would be despised, rejected and die for the sins of all people. Jesus knew they had written about him.

(Can you imagine reading a book telling you how you will be murdered? Jesus did.)

Then at the age of 30 Jesus began his ministry to preach and teach, healing the sick and diseased, casting out demons all while demonstrating God’s power and love.

Jesus primarily preached of the “Kingdom of Heaven” and the “Kingdom of God”. He spoke about a future paradise where believers would dwell with God and be free from suffering. His message centered around the arrival of God’s rule and the need for people to repent and believe in him so they can re-establish their relationship with God. And to live a life of discipleship and service in God’s Kingdom. Ethical conduct, humility, and a heart-felt devotion to God and others. And the blessings of those who are humble, merciful, and pursue righteousness. Also practical advice on prayer and dealing with anger and injustice. Jesus instructs his followers to be a positive influence in the world.  Jesus challenges his followers to consider the intentions and motivations behind their actions, rather than to just respond to outdated ceremonies. Jesus teaches his followers to pray sincerely and with humility, not for outward show. Jesus emphasizes the importance of giving but warns against doing so for public recognition. Jesus teaches that true treasure is found in heaven and not in material possessions. He warns against judging others without first examining your own self. Jesus encourages his followers to treat others as they would like to be treated.

Jesus warns his followers to be discerning and not be deceived by false prophets.

And to have the ability to understand and distinguish between truth and falsehood, right and wrong, good and evil, and spiritual realities

It involves seeking Gods guidance, applying wisdom and sound judgment to life’s situations and decisions, allowing individuals to make choices aligned with God’s will and applying knowledge to make wise choices. 

Jesus emphasizes the importance of putting his teachings into practice and building one’s life on the rock of faith. to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Over  40  miracles were documented and witnessed by thousands of people including his own Apostles who wrote and recorded them  in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) but it is to be believed that there  were  many more that were not written about but witnessed by thousands.  The verse in John 21:25 suggests that if every miracle and event in Jesus’ life were to be written down, it would be an impossible task, implying an infinite number of books. 

After a period of three and a half years of ministry, Jesus was crucified, which was witnessed by thousands if not tens of thousands and then resurrected three days later.

Many people believe in many Gods but only ONE God was resurrected; died and became alive again 3 days later.

Isaiah who was one of the most widely respected prophets and authors in the Bible wrote over 100 prophecies about Jesus 700 years before Jesus was born. Read Isaiah 53 as it describes Jesus as the lamb to be sacrificed and uses imagery associated with the traditional sacrificial system to portray Jesus’ death as a substitute for all of our sins, not just one person or priest. It essentially means acting as a replacement or substitute. substitutionary atonement for sin.

For atonement to God  for being a sinner you no longer needed to sacrifice an animals to receive forgiveness from him as this was only temporary. God’s plan was to use his animal sacrificial system only temporarily for all to understand what is necessary for people to get back into relationship with him.

^{john 1:29} The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said:

Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

To get “saved” from being eternally separated from God is now your own choice. You can use  YOUR OWN free will to believe that Jesus is the son of God. Because if you do you will not be separated from him anymore.

This is why Jesus came to earth. Thank you Jesus!

Jesus came to put an end to our past, our sinful nature that we inherited from Adam and Eve and give us a new future with our Father God, NO MATTER OUR SIN.

 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

Jesus said that if you belief that He is the Son of God, accept that you are a sinner because you inherited a sinful nature and have sinned on your own,  ask God for forgiveness with honesty and sincerity in your heart, this gives you the opportunity to have a intimate and direct relationship with Father God no matter your sins;  murderer, adulterer, liar, women who have had an abortion, etc.

It is up to you and only you. God knows your heart.  Remember He created you, knows everything about you and knew of all sins you would commit and is willing to forgive and not remember your sins as if they never happened because His never ending love for you surpasses his immeasurable hatred of sin.

God is the God of second, third and fourth and unlimited chances for His children who confess their sins, repent and come to Him for help.

Here is proof:

• Psalm 25:7: “Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O LORD”
• Isaiah 43:25: “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins”
• Hebrews 8:12: “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more”
• Jeremiah 31:34: “For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        If you believe the words written below your belief and faith in Jesus begins right now:

“Dear Father God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.
I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died
for my sin and that you raised Him to life.
I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will.  

I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

If you believe in the above words not only are you back in relationship with God you are also being given eternal life and will live forever in heaven with God.

Paul writes in The Bible, “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
John writes, “My sheep (people of God) hear My voice and I know them. They follow me. I give them life that lasts forever.” (John 10:27-28)

Thank you Jesus for going through that horror when you were crucified and murdered.  3 days later our Father God raised you from the dead and with your own commandment you were made alive again. And by doing so you have forgiven us and give us all the opportunity to spend eternity with you through your unmerited grace and mercy no matter our sin and no matter what we wrongfully did. And thank you for giving all of us access to our Father God so we may have a relationship with him and no longer be separated from him because of our faith in you.

Because of Jesus and our chosen faith in him we now have a new nature, no longer a sinful nature and our relationship with God can be restored because Jesus removed our sins from the record so God is oblivious and looks the other way and does not see them. And because of this, we receive forgiveness from God for our sins we have committed and we can, once again receive eternal life and live for eternity with you in Heaven. Thank you Jesus.

Choose to believe in Jesus and be curious about this. As they say “This Is The Greatest Story Ever Told.”

Once a believer in Jesus you are no longer separated from God. Thank you Jesus, In your name, Amen.

THE VOICE, THE HOLY SPIRIT’S VOICE

Before Jesus left to go back where he had come from 33 years previously he said to his friends/disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. You have heard me say to you, “I am going away and coming back to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice because I said, “I am going to the Father,” for My Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.”
Jesus continued to say: “If you love me, you will do as I command, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. When the Spirit of truth comes, The Holy Spirit, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears (from God) he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, “The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.”
(John 14:15-17 & 27-29, John 16:13-15)
Begin to pay attention to the Holy Spirit’s voice, the voice that you hear in your mind because He will guide you and will correctly interpret the word of God to you so you can reach new levels of understanding. Since He knows you perfectly and knows that everyone thinks differently He then transfers information to you in ways that you will comprehend it.

Words to think about: An egg has 3 parts: the shell, the yolk, the white each having their own purpose and is still considered an egg. God also has 3 “parts”: God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit each having their own purpose and is still considered God. You pray to God and he then informs Jesus who then translates what God told him directly to the Holy Spirit who then interprets it directly and specifically to you. These are known as “aha” moments or coincidences in your life but they are actually revelations sent to you from God. Pay attention and open your mind (why not?) because through your faith in Jesus you are being guided and directed by your Father God. (read Proverbs 3:5&6)

Jesus said: “When the Spirit of truth comes, *The Holy Spirit, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears (from God)  he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13)

*One definition of the Holy Spirit: “In Christianity the Holy Spirit is the One who guides a person to correctly interpret the word of God and he helps each person reach new levels of understanding. Since he knows each person perfectly and it is understood that people think differently, he can transfer information to people in ways that they would comprehend it.”

God says: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” (Isaiah 48:17)

FYI: Before Jesus left and ascended back to Heaven to be with his Father he gave us 2 commandments, not suggestions.

Jesus was asked, “Sir, which is the most important commandment in the laws of Moses?”

1) Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.

2)The second most important is similar:
‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’

All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Bottom line:

On the last day I worked on this project, I looked up, grabbed my camera as I saw an angel with praying hands.