Have
you ever wondered about the meaning of life? Most likely yes; yet, if not, one
day, you certainly will.
Have
you ever considered what the Bible or Jesus has to say about a meaningful life?
Perhaps you have not.
So,
listen to what Jesus has to say: “You search the
Scriptures (Bible) because you think in them you have eternal life; and it is
they that bear witness about me” (The Gospel of John 5.39).
You
will not only find beautiful, sweet and joyful accounts in the Bible. Even
though it realistically portrays our troubled world, the aim of the Bible is to
help us find a meaningful life, in God, through Jesus Christ; for “this is eternal life,
By taking a look at the three first chapters
of the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, you will already see that
Jesus is vital to a meaningful life. If you don’t have a Bible, go to:
Genesis
1-3 is a very proper and comprehensive entrance to the Bible; in some sense, the
whole Bible is within these three chapters.
Consider
the following perspective of this enlightening portion of the Bible.
Both in Creation and Redemption, God
Manifests His Meaningful Purpose in Granting Man Everlasting Life (Genesis 1-3)
God’s Creation
God
created the heavens and the earth
(Genesis
1.1), and everything within them; and everything was very good
(Genesis 1.31); He created man and woman according to His own image (Genesis
1.27).
God’s Purpose for Man and Woman
Using
the meaningful symbol of a fruit, God also has shown his purpose in making man
and woman his children, by giving them eternal life – the everlasting life
which is the unbreakable fellowship with God (Genesis 2.9; John 17.3).
Sin and Death
Using
the symbol of a fruit again, God then commanded man to keep away from the
knowledge of evil in order to prevent sin and death (Genesis 2.16-17):
§ Sin is any contradiction
or opposition to God’s perfect Creation and design (Genesis 1.31);
§ Sin is transgression
against God’s Law (1 John 3.4);
§ Sin is the ultimate cause
of all human misery (Mathew 15.19; Romans 8.18-22), especially death (Romans
6.23a; James 1.13-15).
Unfortunately,
man sinned (Genesis 3.6). Consequently man, woman and their generations have
lost the access to eternal life (Genesis 3.22-24), and the prospect to become
God’s children.
Redemption
Nevertheless,
God has given man a life span, and established a merciful agreement, a saving
Covenant of Grace with Adam and the generations to follow, by:
§ Promising a Redeemer or
Savior (Genesis 3.15; Revelation 12.9-11);
§ Indicating by the
sacrifice of animals that redemption of sinners demands a substitutive death
(Genesis 3.21; 4.4; Hebrews 9.22).
The
Redeemer is Jesus Christ; he, in his redemptive work – bringing eternal life to
the sinner (Mathew 1.21; John 1.29; 3.16; Romans 3.23-24; 4.25-5.1; 6.23), is
the theme or focus of the Bible, the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures (John
5.39).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (The Gospel of John 3.16)
If
you want to learn more, and go deeper, exploring the Bible in the perspective
of its main purpose which is “revealing the meaning of life in the fellowship
with God, through Jesus Christ”, go to the website www.findlifemeaning.com
(The
Genesis 1-3 outline provided in this flyer is just the first Unit of a more
complete guide, also found in the website)
