January 5: Punishment for Sin

"God never lets sin go unpunished. He punished Adam and Eve severely for their disobedience. However, God promised that one day Someone will come to undo the work of Satan and to bring people back to God again."

Bible Reading: Genesis 3:12-17, 19, 22-23

For today's reading I will focus on Genesis 3:15. This is where we see the first promise of redemption. Praise God! Romans 3:23-25 states, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood--to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished." Man sinned in the Garden of Eden. The wage for sin was death. Because of one man, sin entered the world which included separation between man and God. Because of sin we were destined for eternal condemnation (death). But, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). I don't know about you, but I rejoice in the fact that we not only have life but eternal life through Christ Jesus. We were the sinners. Only Jesus, the son of God, the only perfect one without blemish or sin could pay the price. He took our place on the cross. For the first time we see that promise of redemption in Genesis 3:15. "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." In the midst of this curse we see hope. Even though Adam and Eve had sinned, God promises to redeem them. It's like He was telling Satan, "I won't let you take them from me. They are mine. I am claiming them. You will be her enemy and she will be yours. You will have nothing to do with my children." How awesome is that?! We sinned but God didn't leave us in that state. He had a plan. And that plan was Jesus!  It is true that Satan temporarily bruised Jesus. He was only able to bruise his heel. Isaiah 53:5 tell us that "he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." Jesus had to suffer and pay that price on the cross. Satan thought that it was over. He thought that he had won. However, Jesus makes the greatest comeback ever! Jesus was the one who crushed Satan on the head. He gave him the final blow on the cross! Jesus conquered sin and death! Hallelujah! "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Thank you Jesus for shedding your precious blood on that cross. You have set us free!