Page 153 - Apologetics Student Textbook

The Bible says that Jesus Christ created all things and specifically the world we call nature (John 1:3).
Jesus Christ existed OUTSIDE of the world and was eternally pre-existent before the creation. The
creation was a work of His creative mind. When it was created, and it was declared “very good”
(Genesis 1:31). That’s another way of saying it was perfect in every way. Adam and Eve rejected God’s
authority and disobeyed, bringing sin into the world along with death. Along with the curse of death to
man and animals came a curse on the creation. According to Romans 8:19-23,

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of
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God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him
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who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage
to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we
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know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth
until now.

When man sinned, death and pain and corruption entered the world and every man and woman since

then have felt the consequences of sin. The Bible says in romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as sin came into
the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all
sinned.”

The verse above describes it as a “bondage to corruption” in which there is only one escape. God had to
provide a way for man’s sin to be dealt with. Before the creation, He had already determined to send
His only Son, Jesus Christ, to offer himself up as a perfect sacrifice, shedding His blood for the sins of all
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men. Romans 5:19 says, For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the
one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

The way back to God is through Jesus Christ. John 1:12 says, But to all who did receive him, who
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believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” Jesus said, “I am the way, and the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

So, how do we get to be one with God? One simple word explains it all: faith. Other words the help us
understand what faith is are “believe, trust, or accept.” Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been
saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” The word, saved, means
salvation or reconciliation with God. We are brought back to God as we respond to the offer of Jesus
Christ to save us. We must understand that Jesus paid the price for our sin by dying in our place. As the
verse above, He offers every person a free gift, eternal life and forgiveness, if we will but receive this gift
in faith. That is how a person can be unified in oneness to God.

According to Ephesians 2:8, salvation is a special gift from God received as a person exercises faith not in
your own works, but in the works of Christ on your behalf.

Some people say God elected some people to go to Heaven and others to go to Hell. How can
I know if God elected me?

This questions concerns itself with the doctrine of election which is taught in Scripture. Election means
that God chose us to become his adopted sons. It is taught in Ephesians 1: 4-5

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