First, the Bad News...
Before sharing the Good News, let's review the bad news, though it shouldn't come as a
surprise to anyone.
Although our world is filled with wonder, beauty, and goodness (Psalm 33: 5 ), it is severely
marred. All around us we see groaning, pain, decay and death. We
ourselves are in the process of dying. (Romans
8: 18-23)
Why is the world like this? Is there a cure for the illness that pervades our
planet?
The Good News!
1. There is an All-Wise, All-Powerful Creator
First, we must acknowledge that we and our world are here by the deliberate act of a
divine Creator. (Hebrews 11:6) By
observing and studying the real world in the present (science), the most reasonable
conclusion is that nature could not have created itself and must be the result of a
supernatural, all-wise, all-powerful Creator. (Psalm 19: 1-4) This universal truth is
so self-evident that those who deny it will have no logical defense before the Creator. (Romans 1: 19-20)
2. The Creation is in a Fallen State
Many people wonder, "Why did the Creator make a world full of death and
pain?" The answer is, "He didn't!". We know this because the
Creator is a God of Revelation who communicated His Word to us (the Bible). This
provides us an accurate, eye-witness account of earth's history. He also tells us
other truths which we are not capable of discerning naturally.
The original creation was very good. (Genesis
1: 31) There was no carnivorous behavior. (Genesis 1: 29, 30) God
considers death an enemy. (I
Corinthians 15: 26) Sorrow, crying and pain are excluded from His perfect world.
(Revelation 21: 4, Isaiah 65: 25)
Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were uniquely created in God's image and given
dominion over all Creation. (Genesis 1:
28) They rebelled (sinned) against the Creator's clear commandment and brought
the just punishment of death and decay upon themselves, their heirs, and their dominion
(nature). (Genesis 3, Romans 8: 18-23) As
Adam's offspring, all of mankind has inherited his sin nature. (Romans 5: 12) This is universally
demonstrated by our own personal acts of sin.
(I John 1:10)
3. God's Solution - Another Adam
God loves us so much that he sent His perfect, sinless Son into the world to take
mankind's punishment and satisfy divine justice. (John 3: 16, I Peter 3: 18)
When we were born, we inherited from Adam our sin nature and its consequences (death,
sorrow, pain, etc). In the same way, by being born again in Jesus Christ, we inherit
His resurrected, eternal life and its associated blessings! (I Corinthians 15: 20-22, 45)
Just as our natural birth was a gift which we did not earn, to be born-again is
also a free gift. (Ephesians 2: 8,9,
Romans 6: 23)
3. Receive God's Solution Today!
To possess God's gift of eternal life, one must receive it. (John 1:12)
The gift of God is received by believing on Jesus Christ for salvation and confessing
Him as Lord. (Romans 10: 9)
Suggested prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner by nature and practice and deserve
God's righteous judgement. Thank you for coming to earth as a perfect, sinless Man
to suffer my punishment and make me fit for eternal life. By faith, I receive you as
my Lord and Savior. Regenerate me by the Holy Spirit and help me to live for you
both now and forever. Amen."
