Jon Allen

It’s relatively easy to tackle this column this week. This is a significant week for our world. While some would say it’s only significant for those who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the reality is that this is an important week of remembrance for our entire world. It is a week that includes both the reminiscence of a very painful and sorrowful day followed three days later by one of the most glorious and joyful days in the history of the world.

And this story starts at the very beginning of time. The Bible tells us that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and everything that is in them. He created a perfect world, a world without blemish with his prized possession created in his image — man.

He loved them and regularly spent time with them. It was a perfect relationship, until it wasn’t. Shortly after their creation, man made a conscious decision to disobey their creator. God graciously gave mankind the run of the world with one stipulation. They had free rein except two trees that were forbidden. But those forbidden trees are just where they found themselves.

It didn’t take long or seemingly very much effort for the tempter to convince them to disobey their loving creator. It was a superficially small decision with world altering consequences. In one significant moment the relationship, the perfect relationship, between loving creator and beloved creation was severed. The perfect and holy cannot be in the presence of the imperfect and unholy.

Romans 5:12 tells us, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone.” When Adam broke God’s law, man’s relationship with their creator was instantly destroyed. This death is not a physical death but a spiritual death. It was a separation that was anything but permanent.

From the very time of this dreadful separation, God put in place a rescue plan to restore this broken relationship. But it would require a perfect sacrifice. It would require a payment beyond the ability of mankind.

As we read further in Romans chapter five, we come to that rescue mission. In verses seventeen and eighteen we read, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.”

Jesus came like one of his created, yet sinless so he could take our sins to the cross. He died bearing our sins in a rescue mission to make our relationship with God right again. What a horrible and sad day that Friday was, but so necessary. Joy came three days later when his tomb was found empty as he conquered death and gave us the right to be his children and with him eternally.

Did you pick up on that phrase in Romans 5:17 that says, “For all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” Through his sacrifice the offer was made to have this life, but we as his created must say yes. We must receive this amazing sacrifice. We must say no to our sinful ways and say yes to his atoning sacrifice. As we celebrate this Easter season, I wonder, have you said yes to the gift given? 

(Jon Allen is the associate pastor at Grace Point.)