In God's Word: Light of the World

December 20, 2017 - When God made the first two people, Adam and Eve, he placed them in the Garden of Eden with only one rule. 

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying; “you may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) 

Now we know that Adam and Eve did indeed eat from the tree, committing the very first sin on earth. As punishment for this original sin God drove them from the garden, never to return.

God spoke to Adam telling him; “cursed is the ground because of you, in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

From this one man’s sin, all men were judged guilty and are born into the world with the sin nature. All must be saved from their own selves by a savior, just as all men are guilty due to the sin of one man, also are all men found not guilty by the sacrifice of one man, the man, Jesus Christ.

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) The words of the Lord Jesus Christ when asked by the Pharisees why he had healed a man.

When Jesus was preparing the apostles for his death and resurrection he told them that he was going away to prepare a place for them where they could be with him also. Thomas, always doubting, told the Lord that they could not know the way, Jesus answered him saying; “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) 

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

So by one man’s sin all men are judged guilty and sentenced to spiritual death from birth, so also by one man’s sacrifice are all men judged free from guilt and are able to receive eternal life. 

The apostle Peter said this about the Lord Jesus; “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) 

We see by the words of Jesus himself and by his apostles that in order to be saved one must first call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and upon him alone. Peter testifies again on the day of Pentecost when he says in his sermon.

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) 

Jesus made all men this promise before he ascended back to the Heavenly Father.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper (The Holy Spirit), to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor hears him. You know him, for he dwells in you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) 

Have you asked him today for salvation? Have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your sole Lord and Master? If not the time is right now for you to accept him and start walking in the light of the world. May the light shine upon you from this day forth...