"Just as He (God) chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him" (Ephesians 1:4 - Bible)
Did you know that God is REAL? You can have relationship with God, you can commune with Him, and His presence be so evident in your life.
However, because God is a Holy God, he cannot be with sin. When sin entered the world, we were born with sin.
What is sin? Sin represents an offense against God, a rebellion towards Him.
"For ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23 - Bible)
"For the wages (results/effects) of sin is death (spiritual separation from God).." (Romans 6:23 - Bible)
As a Result of sin = Eternal separation from God (spiritual death). His presence is not evident in our lives.
Who is Jesus?
Jesus is 100% God, and also 100% human.
He is part of the Trinity: One God but in 3 persons - God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Spirit.
"Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8 - Bible)
Sin is a barrier. God is so Holy, he cannot be in the presence of sin. "For the wages (result) of sin is death".
God offered a solution to this problem. He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins.
Before Jesus came, whenever the people sinned against God, the priests would have to offer sacrifices (the blood of animals) to atone for their sins.
This my sound gross, what? Animal sacrifice? This is because blood symbolises life.
In those days, the priest would have to slaughter a lamb, and the blood of the lamb would "pay" for the people's sins.
However "It is NOT POSSIBLE that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins" (Hebrews 9:4). This was insufficient.
So JESUS Himself, had to bear the sins of the world, and Die on the Cross on our behalf. Jesus' own Blood became the payment for the sins of mankind.
"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree (the Cross), that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by His (Jesus' blood) you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24 - Bible)
"How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14 - Bible)
After Jesus died on the Cross, on the 3rd Day , He rose again from the dead. Historical evidence showed the birth, life and existence of Jesus. This is what Easter is all about!
"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that HE was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15: 3-4 - Bible)
Jesus is physically in Heaven, but his Holy Spirit can enter our hearts and lives. This is when we are no longer separated from God's Presence.
We can have a living, thriving, and real personal relationship with God. There is real freedom, peace and a meaningful life in Christ Jesus.
