You see, God is a God of relationships. It was He that came looking for man, not vice versa. The Bible tells us that it was love that motivated God to reach out to man. It was God who first made the gesture of trying to fix our broken relationship.

But what happened to our relationship with God? Why did it need fixing? If He created us, why can't we all just be with Him? The way I understand it, it all comes down to God's nature. For example, God is light, so darkness cannot be where He is. God is truth, so all untruth is away from Him. God is life, so death is banished from His presence. And God is holy, God is pure, God is untouched by evil. Therefore everyone who has sinned cannot live with God. And because we all have sinned, we are disqualified from being in God's family.

Humans, imperfect as we are, can come to be included in God's family.

The stains that sin leaves last a lifetime ... and beyond. Only someone who has never sinned can possibly take them away. That's why God sent His son Jesus. Jesus came to earth and lived a life without sin. His unjust death opened the way for us to receive the forgiveness of our sins. We can let His death be the payment for our sins. His innocent blood is able to wash away the stains of sin, allowing us to be holy like God, allowing us to be adopted into God's family. This is the good news that God has for mankind: through Jesus Christ and His death, God has provided the way in which we can have a complete relationship with Him.

Humans, imperfect as we are, can come to be included in God's family. The apostle John wrote about Jesus: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13)

You've been invited into the family. It's a special invitation, just for you. Invited to be part of the family of God. If you'd like to know more, write to me at tim@hopeforlife.org. If you've got a comment or question about what I've written here, share it with us at our blog at http://www.hopeforlife.org/blog .

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org)

Are you presently experiencing a new life? God's word says, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" This new life is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you want to know more about this life that only Jesus can give you, sign up for one of our Bible courses. Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. You may also contact us at info@hopeforlife.org if you have questions about becoming a new creation.

 

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© 2007 Herald of Truth

Title: "Invited into the Family"
Author: Tim Archer
Publication Date: October 24, 2007

The Man God Uses by Henry and Tom Blackaby Will show you how an ordinary man can be transformed into an extraordinary servant of God.

Tim works for Herald of Truth and writes for HopeForLife. He is the co-author of Letters From The Lamb. You can reach him by writing to tim@hopeforlife.org.

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