SIN:
Placed in Eden by God, Adam and Eve were exiled when they disobeyed and lost
access to the tree of life. Rebellion and rejection of God's message is sin.
Adam and Eve listened to Satan and rejected God's instructions. Sin brings
separation from God and spiritual death. Genesis chap. 3; Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians
2:1-5.
PROMISE:
In the presence of the serpent, God foretold that a descendant of woman would
one day crush the serpent's head. Later God promises Abraham that through his
descendants all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Genesis 3:15; 22:18.
A SAVIOR:
The theme of scripture is that through the family of Abraham would come a
Savior - the annointed One. This 'good news' was preached to Abraham and
fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Note that the law of Moses did not annul the promise
to Abraham, but served as a tutor until the coming of Christ the savior.
Galatians 3:13-25.
A NEW CREATION: During another period of miracles, God created a new spiritual kingdom propagated by eternal seed, one that can only be entered by a new birth. By obedience to the truth we are born anew, by the living seed of the kingdom, His eternal word. Those 'born again from above' are under a new covenant, are part of a new creation, form a nation of priests, are built into a spiritual house or temple, and are the new Israel of God!!
Baptized into Christ, we put on Christ and become children of Abraham, heirs of
the promise, and are raised to walk in newness of life. "Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed way, behold, the
new has come." 1 Peter 1:22-2:10; Revelation 1:5,6; 2 Corinthians 5:17;
Galatians 3:27-29; 6:14-16.
ACCESS AGAIN:
Mankind lost access to the tree of life by disobedience to God's message, but
by His marvelous grace all people now have access to it and life as we respond
in loving faith to the message of the Cross. Ephesians 2:13-22; Revelation
1:4-6; 2:7; 22:14.