Humanity was created in the image of God as sinless, but not naturally immortal. Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve yielded to the temptation of God’s adversary, Satan. The Devil, capable of transforming himself into an angel of light to deceive and destroy humanity, will finally be destroyed in the lake of fire. As a result of Adam’s fall, all humanity became sinners by nature and choice. The result is spiritual separation from God, physical death in an unconscious state, and eternal death for those who do not receive salvation in Christ.
c.6,000 years ago God created man in His own image(Gen. 1:26), perfect in every way. Sinless, innocent and totally unaware of anything but good. Adam and Eve lived a life in the Garden of Eden that was simple and just. The only commands given to them by God were to “be fruitful and multiply” and take care of the garden (Gen. 1:28). Note: God’s very first command to Adam and Eve was to procreate (See the article CSCOG7 Staff Love, for further details). Being made in the image and likeness of God is why man is unique among all biological creatures: Mankind can communicate with God and animals cannot. We are a special creation by God to become adopted members of His divine family (Rom: 8:14-18).
So, “What is man that thou are mindful of him?” (Pslm.8:4). Created in God’s image (Gen.1:26) to be adopted into and become a part of the family of God (Rom. 8:14-18), to live and reign on earth with Jesus Christ (Rev.20:4) and to live forever with God (Rev. 21:3-4) in a perfect sinless state as death will no longer have any sway over mankind (Rev. 20:6) as long as we have God’s Spirit in us (Rom. 8:14).
Who then is Satan? The lying deceiving former arch angel of God who fell from heaven in the first attempted coup (Isa. 14:12-15, Ezek.28:13-19). We find Satan is more subtle (Gen. 3:1) in his deception of mankind then any beast of the field. He is the deceiver of all mankind and the terror of the earth who brings death and destruction to everything he touches (Rev. 12:9). He is a killer. He deceives mankind into the attitude of having a carnal sinful mind (Rom. 8:6-8). Satan can deceive mankind as a lamb or as a roaring lion (I Pet. 5:8). He is the “Prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). He is the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4). Jesus has qualified to replace him and Jesus will return and take over the throne of this world (Zech. 14).
Sin is the “transgression of the law” (I John 3:4) and sin separates us from God (Isa.59:2) and always leads to death. We sin against God (Num. 32:23) and sin and death entered this world when Adam and Eve first sinned in the garden (Rom. 5:12). Their sin was akin to the opening of Pandora’s Box, once out it could not be put back except by the physical life, death and resurrection of God (Jesus) Himself (Heb. 9:15-28).
Death is the result of sin. Sin always leads to death. All of mankind sins and has come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23; 5:12). Because of sin every human who has ever lived will die (Heb. 9:27 and I Cor. 15:22). Note: God does not tell us how long we will live only that we will all die. Death comes from the “carnal mind” of Satan (Rom. 8:5-8) and as human biological beings we will all end up as dust (Gen. 3:19). Dead for all eternity unless we have God.
We have seen that sin leads to death but be not worried, Christ has overcome sin and will make us a part of His adopted family (Rom. 8:14-18).
