God created the heavens and the earth as well as mankind (Gen 1). He gave us dominion over the earth and its animals and permission to multiply and replenish the earth (Gen 1:26-28). God placed upon mankind a solemn duty (Ecc 12:13)but does not actually force us to fulfill that duty. However, the New Testament is filled with warnings of failing to take seriously our duty to God(2 Thess 1:8). This life is a test to be followed by a judgment (Heb 9:27). We will be judged by the words written in the books, Old Testament for the Jews up until Jesus died, then the New Testament for everyone since then. We will be judged according to our works ( Rev 20:12). The outcome of this judgment will send us to either eternal life with God (1 Joh 5:11)or to a second death which is eternal separation from God (Rev 21:8). In times past, God spoke to us through the prophets but in these last days He has spoken to us through His son Jesus Christ (Heb1:1-2).

Man’s problem is the transgression of God’s law called sin (Rom 3:23). Since we have all sinned, we all need a way to find forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38)or we will be lost to the second death in the judgment. God has graciously made a way by which we can have remission (forgiveness)of our sins (Acts 2:47). God put His plan into action by sending His Son Jesus to the earth to fulfill the law of Moses (Mat 5:17) and bring the Old Testament to an end there by ending the Jewish age (Heb 10:9;Col 2:14)and establishing the Christian age, uniting both Jew and Gentile (Eph 2)under one new covenant, the New Testament.

Under God’s plan of redemption, God would have a part and man would have a part. God’s part (John 3:16)would be to send His Son as a sacrificial lamb to be offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He would be born of a virgin; know every temptation of man yet live a sinless life.

He would suffer and shed His blood on a cross paying the price for the sins of the world, die and be raised the third day to show His power over death and ascend back into heaven.

Man’s part (Acts 2:37) is a proper response to God’s call to us (2 Thess 2:14). Our response begins when we hear the good news (gospel)of Jesus Christ. A proper response produces faith (Rom 10:17). Proper faith produces repentance (Acts 17:30). God requires confession of faith that Jesus is His Son (Acts 8:37;Rom 10:9-10). Finally, to become a Christian and to receive remission of sins, a person must submit to water baptism which according to Romans chapter six is a symbolic death, burial, and resurrection which unites us with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection and accomplishes the following things. Keep in mind these things take place in the mind of God and are therefore spiritual, nonetheless, are of the utmost importance to our eternal destiny. First, as we approach the watery grave of baptism we are spiritually dead, separated from God, we are about to crucify the old man of sin (Rom 6:6). Christ shed His blood in His death, therefore as we sink into the watery grave we contact the cleansing power of His blood (Rev 1:5) and our sins are forgiven (Matt 26:28). Then just as Jesus was raised to live again, we too are raised a new creation (Rom 6:11). We are now made alive spiritually unto God and this is how and why He adds us to the church. God views us completely differently and we should see ourselves differently also. We should see ourselves dead to sin but alive to God. I hope this has simplified to some degree this process for you.

Send comments or questions to the Clintwood Church of Christ, POB 746, Clintwood, Va. 24228 or E-mail me at bryanwa@ntelos.net Come visit us online at clintwoodchurchofchrist.com You will find past articles,audio sermons,radio archives, and more.