The sin of Adam (disobedience of God) separated all of God’s creation from fellowship with God. Adam and Eve immediately recognized that they were naked. They were no longer covered by the glory from God. So, they covered themselves with fig leaves. Man cannot appease God’s wrath by his own actions. God corrected this attempt at rectification by making coats of skins and covering Adam and Eve (see Genesis 3:21). This death helped reveal there was a cost for their disobedience (sin). From that day forward, man was born into sin.
There is a simple way to understand and explain the separation of man from God, and the only way of redemption. It is simplified by colors. This incorporates the plan God has for anyone to believe in Jesus.
Black – Sin: Romans 3:23
Red – Jesus’ Blood: Romans 5:8
White – Clean: Acts 3:19
Blue– Faith: Acts 2:41
Green –Growth: 2 Peter 3:18
How can we understand this?
Black: Man’s Sin: Everyone has sinned. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God examines man’s heart and our deeds. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). He says that not one of us have met sinless perfection. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10).
Red: Jesus’ shed blood: The good news is that Jesus paid the price for man’s sin. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Moreover, He paid the price with his own blood. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
White: Man is now clean: The Good News is that if we ask, Jesus will forgive us for sin and cleanse us of that black, sinful heart. If we repent. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out …” (Acts 3:19). He gives us a brand new clean, white heart and when He looks at us, God sees Jesus Christ. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). We now have the ability to live a life pleasing to the Lord.
Blue: Faith: The first act of obedience is baptism. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized …” (Acts 2:41). Baptism is a picture of dying to one’s old live and living a new life “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
Green: Spiritual Growth: We then live a life that pleases Him “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). “4b. … even so we also should walk in newness of life. 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:4b, 11). The more we learn about this new life, the more we will live like Jesus, which will cause other people to want this new life, too.
All of this can be simply understood, and the invitation is available to anyone who will believe in Jesus. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). We just need to tell others about this wonderfully Good News!
Have you told anyone the Good News of Jesus’ Salvation?