Recapping The First Two Pivotal Events In Biblical History

Thus far we have examined the first pivotal event in the biblical perspective of man’s history. The Fall of man where Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were put out of the paradise-like existence of Eden and entered into the realm of time whereby their years would become numbered and there would be a beginning and end to all of their offspring which includes every human being that followed. The condition was known as sin, it had become an innate part of everyone’s life from that point on, to think and do things that are inherently evil in God’s sight. Man asked for some rules to live by saying “All this we can do” but they couldn’t and we still can’t because of an inherited fault in our nature. The entire Old Testament speaks of mankind’s continual failures and inability to measure up. We see it in the news every day, nothing has changed about the nature of mankind since Eden it’s only become more cunning and sophisticated in creating chaos in individual lives and throughout the world. 

The appearing of Jesus Christ on the world scene, his death and resurrection three days later was the second pivotal event. God in His infinite wisdom having provided the ten commandments, the rules for living a clean and upright life has also provided the punishment for failure to keep those rules perfectly which is death. Not just a physical death but an eternal death in the form of separation from God and His people for eternity. 
(Habakkuk 1:13) says that God is of purer eyes than to look on unrighteousness, which means that He isn’t about to wink at even the smallest sin. Let’s go over these important points again; James points out that “whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” and Paul said, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!” Although God will not go back on His word He is a loving and compassionate Creator as John points out, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

So the first pivotal event was man’s failure, the second event was God’s offering of salvation and redemption. Isn’t it interesting that all of the religions of the world are built on the idea that somehow man can do certain good works and eventually reach up to and be accepted by God? I find it refreshing that God has rejected that plan completely and has instead reached down to mankind and set the standards for our redemption in His own terms which was pointed out by Paul, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Which simply says that by being a good person isn’t God’s criteria, faith in what Christ has done on the cross in our behalf is what God expects from us, failure to acknowledge Christ’s sacrifice as being sufficient cover for our sins is an affront to the Father and is the only sin which is truly mortal. We as believers then do good works out of a thankful heart and as an amen for what God has done for us and not as a means to work our way into God’s good graces or His Heaven, that’s been secured for us already. No other religion’s central figure has died and been resurrected for it's followers. 
Next we will look ahead at the evidence of a third pivotal event which is yet to come!