Alive in Christ
Key Bible Passage:
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
Reflect:
What does this somber verse have to do with Christmas, especially a “Merry” Christmas?!
Appreciating the Good News involves acknowledging the bad news that came beforehand.
When God placed Adam and Eve, the first people, in the Garden of Eden, he originally walked and talked with them in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). The garden was literally paradise with just one protective rule–just like protective rules in the military or in our homes. Don’t eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because you’ll die (Genesis 2:17).
But Adam and Eve, tempted by Satan, did eat. Sin and death entered the world and fellowship with God was broken. To close this breach, God instituted a system of animal sacrifice–blood shed for the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). The Old Testament priests would take your lamb and sacrifice it for you (on an altar, like a big BBQ), over and over again.
Jesus was and is the Lamb of God whose birth we celebrate on Christmas. He satisfies the payment for sin once and for all with his death on the cross and then resurrection from the dead, which we celebrate at Easter.
But before Easter comes Christmas. Knowing “in Adam all sinned but in Christ all are made alive” helps me see God’s heart is for my good. God sent Jesus to redeem my losses, repair my brokenness and give me eternal life instead of death. Good News triumphs over bad news!
Respond:
- Read 1 Corinthians 15 to see how the resurrection validated ALL of Christ’s promises.
