The Plan

THE PLAN

God's original plan in creating people was to make beings similar to Himself who could rule the earth.1 He gave them a pristine environment with perfect bodies and minds, meaningful work to do and the pleasure of both God's company and of one another. 2 But the first man and woman were unwilling to depend upon their loving Creator. Instead they sinned by disobeying the only thing that they were told not to do. 3 As a result the original perfection was ruined, the moral disease of sin was introduced into the world and the kingdom was forfeited to Satan. 4

All of us inherited and were enslaved to sin, producing disobedience and rebellion, preferring independence from God rather than dependence on Him.. 5 Sin is the root cause of all the evil and death that we see in the world. 6 But God did not give up on His plan. He still wanted to have beings similar to Himself who would be a kingdom. 7 Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God, based on love, which He showed decisively by sacrificing Himself- someone who had never sinned, rebelled or disobeyed- to death on a cross, taking upon Himself the punishment for our sin. 8 This decisive demonstration of God's love and Jesus' resurrection from the dead proved that He was both King and Savior. 9

Now humanity has to face reality. Do they attempt to retain their independence by remaining in the devil's kingdom, or do they surrender to King Jesus, receive the salvation offered only through Him, and allow Him to take His rightful place on the throne of their lives? 10 Do they depend upon God the Holy Spirit to make them more like Jesus or do they go their own way into eternal conscious punishment? 11

1. Genesis 1:26-28
2. Genesis 2:8-9, 15,18, 24-25
3. Genesis 3:6, 2:16-17
4.  Romans 5:12, Luke 11:18,  Ephesians 2:1-3,
5. Romans 3:23, 5:19. 6:16
6. Romans 6:23
7.  Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18,Mark 1:15, Luke 4:43, Rev. 1:5-6, 5:10
8. John 3:16, 2 Cor. 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, Phil 2:8, 1 John 4:10
9. Romans 5:8, Acts 2:36, 2 Peter 3:2
10. Philippians 2:10, Acts 26:18, 4:12
11. 1 Peter 1:2, John 17:17, Matthew 25:46, 2 Thess 1:8-9