Romans 3 : 25 Our last expedition into the Garden brought us to the dual nature of the alienation that resulted between God and man following the ingesting of sin and death into the human race. Throughout Old Testament history, the knowledge of good and evil was at work making mankind ever aware of his guilt before a Holy God. Isaiah 59:12 reflected that sad reality, “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions [are] with us; and [as for] our iniquities, we know them.�?

We discovered our attempts to obtain righteousness by keeping the law are doomed from the start.

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.�?(Hebrews 7:19) That better hope is Jesus Christ.

We learned God lifted from us the curse of the law by Jesus�?voluntary, sacrificial death and resurrection (II Corinthians 5:21) (John 10:18). Hebrews 2:9 states, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.�?/I> Jesus did taste death in our place, spent three days separated from His Heavenly Father, and, in return, invited us to sample only His goodness (Psalm 34:8), a gift-wrapped fruit package, freshly plucked from the tree of life. Through this lopsided spiritual exchange, God’s righteousness was satisfied and His anger removed, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.�?(Hosea 14:4) God did it.

Now, only one problem remains, which must be resolved within each human heart. This is man’s tendency to run from God whenever we eat from that “death tree�?and become aware of our sins. This response is universal. It compelled Adam to grope for an herbal wardrobe. It prompted the prophet Isaiah to describe himself as a “man of unclean lips.�?(Isaiah 6:5) It led the Apostle Peter to tell Jesus, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.�?(Luke 5:8b) Our only hope is being reconciled to God. (II Corinthians 5:20)

If this describes you, come back to God. He is not seeking perfect people. Remember, before they sinned, Adam and Eve were clearly imperfect but totally acceptable to God (righteous). Unlike the US Marines, God is not seeking “a few good men.�?(Romans 3:23). Jesus described His mission, differently. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.�?(Luke 5:32) Repentance means a “change of mind,�?believing God’s assessment of our spiritual condition; agreeing with Him that we are forgiven. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.�?(Luke 19:10) Through this message, He may well be seeking you and speaking to you. (Hebrews 4:7)

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for loving us enough to permit the sacrificial death of your Son in our place, that we might taste of Him and find life eternal, in Jesus�?name, Amen.