SIN & SALVATION

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made...All things have been created through him and for him 

- Genesis 1:1, John 1:3, Colossians 1:16

The earth, humanity -- all that we see around us -- had a beginning. 

God declared each phase of creation "good" -- until he created the first man, Adam, and said that it was "not good" for him to be alone.

So Eve, the first woman, was created, and the original couple was given everything to enjoy. They were only forbidden to eat the fruit of one tree: the "tree of knowledge of good and evil."

The fatal decision that followed and its tragic results have affected all of human history. Humanity would pass down this fatal flaw, this inner corruption, from generation to generation. The power of evil and darkness would have prevailed -- except for God's intervention. His plan of salvation, deliverance from evil's power, began to unfold in that very Garden of Eden. This is the primary story of the entire Bible.

The Original Story

1. What was creation like in the beginning? Genesis 1

    v. 10 - Land & Seas
    v. 12 - Seed-bearing plants & trees
    v. 18 - Lights (to separate day/night)
    v. 21 - Sea creatures & Birds
    v. 25 - Wild animals & livestock, to reproduce

2. How many commands did God give Adam and Eve? Genesis 2:17 -- one
3. What was God's command to the first human beings? Genesis 2:16-17 -- Do not eat from the tree of knowledge
4. How did Adam and Eve respond to God's command? Genesis 3:6-7 -- They disobeyed
5. In light of this, do you think you would have responded differently? -- My curiosity may have provoked the thought to do it but I normally follow the rules regardless of who's telling them so I don't think I would have done it.

Think about what God attempted to shield Adam and Eve from: the knowledge of evil. What loving parents today don't do everything possible to protect their children from dangerous material -- on TV, on the internet or anywhere else?

6. Who tempted Eve? Genesis 3:1 -- The serpent

Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit -- in essence saying to God, "We don't need you or your rules." They disobeyed God. They sinned.

7. How did Adam and Eve react after their eyes were opened and they realized they were naked? Genesis 3
    v. 7 - They covered their nakedness
    v. 8 - They hid from the Lord
    v. 10 - They were naked and hid because of that and since they were afraid

8. Why do you think they reacted this way? -- Their eyes were uncovered and now they were ashamed.
9. How did God respond to Adam and Eve's sin? Genesis 3:8-9 -- God went looking for them to ask what they've done and why they're hiding

Notice the two very different responses to humanity's sin:
    1 - Humanity covered up and hid from God
    2 - God sought humanity
Things have not changed much since the beginning. After thousands of years and billions of people, human beings still hide from God -- and God still seeks.

This is the starting point for understanding salvation.

(The Purple Book by Rice Broocks and Steve Murrell - Chapter 1 - Lesson 1 - P.11)

TO GO TO CHURCH OR NOT

Do you have to go to church to go to heaven? No.

Have I liked every church that I've went to? Not really.
Is it okay to try different churches until you find something you love? Of course!

When I lived in WI (back in 2000), I attended an "Assemblies of God" church which was fine and I went for a few years but it wasn't something I really loved. People there were great, Pastor was great...I just didn't really get what I needed out of it. I went to several churches in WI and then just stopped going.

Once I moved to Orlando (in 2008) and discovered "Northwest Community Church"...I simply fell. in. love. The pastors were great, the people were great, the structure of the church was awesome, the band was excellent...it was awesome all around. I went there for 3 years but then I moved to WI (temporarily) and I was really sad that I'd be missing NWC. Luckily they started airing service on Ustream so I'd watch it on there when I was in WI. Then I moved to NV and luckily found "All People Christian Church" and fell in love all over again.

Anyways, the point of church (in my opinion) is about gathering each week to basically get reenergized/encouraged/motivated by fellow Christians. I will tell you that every single time I began to stray away from God and get caught up in sin, I had stopped going to church. Not for any reason aside from my work schedule, I was busy or I was tired. You open doors and you're more prone to give in to temptation when you're not held accountable and not being around fellow Christians.

This world has done a terrible thing and made "church" or "religion" WAY more complicated than it is. It's not about religion, it's not about going to church...it's simply your own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That's all. It's SO simple.

My friends kept asking me what I'm doing for New Years and I said, "Just staying home, making a pizza and reading then going to church in the morning to start the new year off thanking God for all the blessings he's given to me." The response I got was, "I'm thankful to but I don't have to go to church." You see how this person got defensive when I didn't say they should go, I simply was answering the question as to what I'm doing. Church isn't there to make you feel guilty about not going either! It's a place to gather and praise God and thank him with your fellow spiritual brothers and sisters and hear what God's doing in everyone's life.

Church is really not that complicated.
It's a place to thank God and praise him and make friendships.

Do I ALWAYS go to church? No. If I work, I have to work but if I don't go, I do watch NWC online just to get a message for myself. Do you have to do that? No.
Each person's walk with God is at its own pace.

Point is, IF YOU feel guilty by not going to church then go and try some out. See what it's all about and decide from there. As long as you're growing, reading God's word, have some Christian encouragement throughout your life, you're good.
Church is a good thing.
It's an open door and there to HELP you not judge you.

Step out in faith and dare to love God fully.

SILENCE

If we've truly reached salvation, do we keep quiet about it and go on living a "good life"?
We should want to share the great news, wouldn't we?
We'd want to invite others to let them know that they have the opportunity to receive blessings and the greatest gift of all, eternal life...right?

Many Christians (including myself throughout my teenage years until this year - 2011) are hesitant to speak out what God has done in their life and then continue to spread the word. I'm only speaking for myself when I say that I was hesitant and/or afraid of what people would say or react. I was afraid that I didn't know enough of the word in order to back myself up if I were questioned. Really, we don't know ALL the answers on the spot. But that's why we have the Bible to learn from as well as fellow Christians to teach each other.

Do we also try to still live one foot in the world and one foot following God? That's a big reason as to why I have kept quiet so that I wasn't being a hypocrite. But wasn't I then being a hypocrite to God? Shouldn't I care more about being a hypocrite to him as opposed to people? So here I am, partying (not just having a drink but several until my lips go numb), swearing...really just acting a hot mess yet I roll into church on Sunday morning. You can do it and you can get away with it for a minute but inevitably, it all catches up to you. (And when I say "get away with it" it's really when you finally feel convicted) If you've truly repented for your sins, you'd be disgusted at the former things you've done. You wouldn't want or be able to listen to music with cursing and messages that are literally opposite what you believe.

People who don't believe or have an understanding of God...still say "pray for me" because people feel comforted when they know someone is praying for them. We are made to need more than man to rely on in life. I don't like when people haven't taken the time to research my beliefs or the type of church I go to (non-denominational) before making remarks. Same as I haven't looked into Scientology at all so I don't sit there and call it a "cult" or "weird" because until I take the time to read into it and make my valid points, I've got nothin.

People so badly want to know their purpose in life and that goes for everyone, regardless if you believe or not. It's human nature. So why be quiet about this great news that God sacrificed his only son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins? People are interested enough and especially when they've lived a pointless life (which they say to me) full of drinking, sex, drugs...and whatever else they tried filling that void they feel.

It's important we spread the good word.