THE TRUE STORY OF GOD'S REDEEMING LOVE

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). From the very first page, the Bible makes it clear that there is a Creator of all things (Psalm 24:1; John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16). Scripture describes a creation living and moving in perfect harmony, where everything God made was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). In this time there was no pain or sorrow (Genesis 1–2). Humanity lived in perfect relationship with God and with one another.

In His creation of man, God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8) and gave them dominion over all creation, charging them to care for it as image-bearers of God (Genesis 1:26–28; 2:15). The Creator of all things walked in fellowship with His prized creation (Genesis 3:8).

In creating humanity, God gave man the freedom to make decisions (Genesis 2:16–17). God established one command for man to remain in the garden and in perfect relationship with Him: he was not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

An enemy of God—a fallen angel known as Satan—sought to oppose God’s authority and bring destruction to His creation (Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:12–17; Revelation 12:9). Taking the form of a serpent, he introduced doubt into the minds of Adam and Eve, questioning God’s goodness and truth (Genesis 3:1–5).

Adam and Eve believed the lie and ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6). Immediately, the consequences followed. What was once harmonious was thrown into chaos. Their relationship with God was broken (Genesis 3:8–10), sin entered the world, and death became part of the human experience (Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12). All creation was affected by the fall (Romans 8:20–22).

Now what? Where was man to go from here?

Even in the midst of judgment, God made a promise. The seed of the woman would one day crush the enemy (Genesis 3:15). Over the centuries, God revealed His redemptive plan through covenants, prophets, and promises (Genesis 12:1–3; Isaiah 9:6–7; Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2).

Scripture teaches that the payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). This leaves humanity without hope on its own, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). How, then, can a broken relationship be restored? Only through a substitute—one who would die in man’s place.

Jesus Christ fulfilled this plan. He lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), died on the cross for our sins (Isaiah 53:5–6; 1 Peter 2:24), and bore the wrath of God on our behalf (Romans 5:8–9; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

From the moment Adam and Eve fell, God had a plan to restore His creation. Through Christ, God is making all things new (2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 1:19–20).

There is coming a day when God will gather His people to Himself forever (John 14:1–3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). God will create a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1–4). This will be the eternal dwelling place of God with His redeemed people, just as He intended from the beginning.

Salvation is offered to all, but only those who place their faith in Christ will receive it (John 3:16–18; Ephesians 2:8–9). We must believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). By trusting in Christ, we are given new life—both now and for eternity (John 10:10; Romans 6:4; John 17:3).

Salvation requires a response:

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 
(Romans 10:9–10)