Part I. God and Man.
Chapter I. Children of a Greater God.
In the beginning, humanity's connection to God was both a profound reality and a reflection
of God's ultimate intent for us. Adam and Eve's existence was defined by a direct relationship
with their Creator, a personal and deeply intimate communion. Genesis 3.8 tells us that
they walked and talked with God in the cool of the day, an image that paints a picture
of perfect harmony and closeness. They were not merely created beings, they were God's
children, formed in His image and in His likeness, and imbued with His Spirit, designed to reflect
His nature and live in continuous fellowship with Him. This was God's original design.
The connection they shared with God was not just a benefit of their existence, it was
the very essence of who they were. Their identity as individuals and as a couple was
inseparable from the Creator who lovingly formed them. Their purpose, to tend to the
earth, multiply and extend the community of God, was an extension of this intimate relationship.
But when sin entered the picture, everything changed. Sin, at its core, isn't merely about
breaking rules, it's about breaking relationship. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating
from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they rejected their dependence on Him
and chose another path to define good and evil for themselves. This was an act of defiance
that severed their unique spiritual connection with God. The consequences were immediate
and devastating. Before their sin, they'd been naked and unashamed, but fully known
and fully loved in the presence of their Creator. Afterwards, they were overwhelmed by shame,
hiding from God and covering themselves with fig leaves. This act of hiding was symbolic
of their new reality, separation from the God who had been their source of identity,
security, and purpose. It wasn't just a physical exile from Eden,
it was a spiritual fracture that rippled through every aspect of their being. They were no
longer whole. Their communion with God was broken, and this brokenness introduced fear,
disgrace, guilt, and suffering into the human experience. Their relationship with each other
was also affected as blame and mistrust entered their dynamic. The once-perfect unity they
had shared with God and with each other was shattered, but even in their sin, they were
still fully known and fully loved by Him. In this moment of devastation, God's redemptive
plan for them and humanity to follow was already unfolding. While sin brought about separation,
it did not extinguish God's love or His intent to restore the connection that had been lost.
In Genesis 3.15, sometimes referred to as the Proto-Evangelium or the First Gospel,
God promised that Eve's offspring would crush the head of the serpent, foreshadowing the
coming of Christ who would ultimately defeat sin and death.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the seeds of God's redemptive plan woven into
the narrative of His people. Although the direct connection between humanity and God
had been disrupted, God never stopped pursuing His creation. He established covenants with
individuals like Noah, Abraham, and Moses, creating ways for His people to draw near
to Him even in their fallen sinful state. The tabernacle, and later the temple, served
as physical representations of God's presence among His people, tangible reminders of His
willingness to dwell with them despite their sin. Yet Israel's covenants with God were
predicated on works and rituals, laws, and sacrifices that they repeatedly proved incapable
of fully keeping. The sacrificial system, while providing a temporary means of atonement
for sin, highlighted their inability to achieve righteousness on their own and ultimately
pointed toward the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of their
rebellion and failure to uphold their covenant, God's love remained steadfast and His plan
for restoration continued to unfold. Through the prophets, He persistently reminded Israel
of His desire for relationship, calling them to return to Him with their whole hearts,
promising restoration and hope to those who would seek Him.
The death of Christ on the cross marked the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Jesus
paid the price for all men and restored what had been lost. He bridged the gap that sin
had created and made it possible for those who will to have a direct, personal relationship
with God again.
This is the essence of the New Covenant, a covenant not based on external rituals or
sacrifices that we perform, but on what Christ did for us.
the transformative work of the Holy Spirit operating within us.
Whereas the Old Covenant required priests to serve as intermediaries between God and
His people, the New Covenant allows every believer to approach God directly.
As Hebrews 10.19-22 beautifully explains, we can now draw near to God with a sincere
heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.
Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, testifying to our
identity as children of God and enabling us to live in communion with Him.
See Romans 8.15-16.
But even with the restoration of this divine connection, humanity still grapples with the
effects of sin.
The spiritual, emotional, and relational consequences of separation from God are deeply ingrained
in our fallen nature.
Many believers continue to feel distant from God, burdened by guilt, shame, or the weight
of religious expectations.
The question is, why?
And we'll begin to answer that in the next chapter.
For now, the good news is that the longing for connection with God that you have is evidence
of His Spirit at work within you.
As Ecclesiastes 3.11 reminds us, God has set eternity in the human heart.
This innate desire for something beyond yourself points back to the Creator who made you for
relationship with Him.
Living in alignment with God's original design requires you to recognize and embrace the
counterintuitive truth that you are not made whole through your own efforts, but through
the transforming power of the Holy Spirit at work within you.
This means surrendering your brokenness to Him and allowing His love to heal, restore,
and mature you.
It's a matter of trust.
It also means seeking Him not out of obligation, but out of a genuine desire to know and be
known by Him.
The invitation is clear.
As a believer, God is calling you back into the perfect community He intended from the
beginning.
Through Jesus, the way has been made, and through the Holy Spirit, you are empowered.
The question is, will you respond?
Will you allow Him to restore the connection that sin disrupted and lead you into the abundant
life that He created you to live?
God's intent has always been to dwell with His people, to walk and talk with us, just
as He did with Adam and Eve before the Fall.
This is the heart of the gospel—not just salvation from sin, but restoration to relationship.
It is a call to return to your true spiritual identity as His child, to live in the fullness
of His love, and to extend that love to others.
As children of God, we are no longer distant observers on the outside looking in, hoping
for access to His presence.
Through Christ, we've been invited into a direct, intimate relationship with Him, able
to experience His love, hear His voice, and be led by His Spirit.
Under the new covenant, we are offered a life of freedom and closeness, a relationship with
God that allows us to discover and explore our spiritual identity and live out His purpose
for us, without the weight of guilt or religious dogma that so many of us have been exposed
to.
This relationship represents a new and different kind of engagement, not one based on rules
and rituals, but on the Spirit of God abiding within.
Christ's purpose wasn't just to save us, but to restore a vibrant, living connection
between humanity and God.
He opened a path to a relationship built on love, grace, and spiritual intimacy, one that
empowers us to walk in step with Him every day.
If nothing else, it is very important that you understand salvation is the beginning
of your divine journey, not the end goal or reward for any achievement on your part.
From that point, once you've accepted salvation and have been saved, it is the Holy Spirit
who molds you into who you were created to be and shapes you towards perfection.
You're on the potter's wheel, as it were, in the Master's hands.
Your spiritual growth is not about striving to become a better person, it's about surrendering
to the transformation process that the Spirit desires to work within you.
And it is a process.
The journey back to God's original design is not without challenges, but it is one of
unparalleled joy, peace, and purpose.
When you step into a properly restored relationship with God, the process of becoming who and
what you were meant to be, a reflection of His glory, a vessel of His grace, and an empowered
son or daughter of God, that is when the process begins.
process begins. That is how you achieve the fullness of who you were created to be.