Consider 1 John 1:7, “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Sin is the Greek word harmatia and Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines it as “a failing to hit the mark”. What mark? The mark of acting in accordance with God’s will, which is perfectly loving, just, and wise.
God gave Adam and Eve a perfect life in the Garden of Eden. They were created in God’s image and His law was written in their hearts. However, God also told the couple not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Sadly, they chose to disobey and that was their first sin. Thus, Adam and Eve became sinners and all of their children, all mankind, inherited sin from them. Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (NIV)
What needed to be done? Adam’s sin needed to be paid for. Adam was created a perfect man and received the death sentence for his sin. Who could take the death penalty for him? Not any of his sinful children; they were already dying. Exact justice demands a perfect life for a perfect life. So, only another perfect man could ransom Adam from death. That ransomer was Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5,6, “…Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” The man Jesus took Adam’s place in the grave and now Adam and his children are guaranteed a release from death. “As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22.
Christians receive forgiveness in this present life. The rest of mankind, billions, will be freed from death at Christ’s second advent. Then the lame will walk; the deaf will hear; the blind shall see; mankind will learn righteousness and rejoice! (Isaiah 35) For the willing, all vestiges of sin and death will be gone and the obedient will be restored to the perfection of life which Adam lost. (Revelation 21:4)
