In the beginning God Created the heavens and the earth. God created all of the vegetation on the earth, the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky and every living thing that moves on the earth. Lastly, God created man in his own image, male and female he created them to multiply and rule the earth. Man was to rule the creatures on the earth but man was to be ruled by God.
God gave man and the creatures on the earth all the vegetation as food, but command man not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The serpent deceived the woman by using the desire of her heart. She ate and gave to her husband and he ate. They became ashamed and hid themselves from God.
When God came walking in the garden and found the man and woman hiding from him, he asked the man, “Have you eaten from the tree of which I told you not to eat?” The man blamed the woman for his sin, the woman blamed the serpent, God cursed the serpent and made a promise; the serpent would be defeated through the seed of the woman. The woman was told that her labor would be difficult, but she would continue to bring forth children because her desire would be for her husband and he would rule over her. To the man who had been given all the vegetation as food to eat was told by God that he would now eat by the sweat of his brow, labor would be the days of his life until he returned to the ground from whence he came.
The man and woman were naked and ashamed; therefore, God had compassion on them and clothed them with skins before banishing them from the garden. God set up two cherubim and a flaming sword at the entrance to block the way to the tree of life.[1]
Truly, truly, I say to you, the promise that God made concerning the defeat of the serpent has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God; all authority has been given to him in heaven and on earth.[2]
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”[3] The way to the tree life is now open to men, Jesus said, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”[4] Jesus is the only way, he said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”[5]
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and he was buried, and he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.[6] Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead.[7] All have sinned[8] and the wages for sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.[9] Therefore, confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved.[10]
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.[11]
[1]Gn 1-3.
[2]Cf. Mt. 28:18.
[3]Mk 1:15, NASB95.
[4]Jn 10:9, NASB95.
[5]Jn 14:6-7, NASB95.
[6]1 Cor 15:3-4.
[7]2 Tm 4:1.
[8]Rm 3:23
[9]Rm 6:23.
[10]Rm 10:9.
[11]Rv 22:12-15, NASB95.
