The Gospel of John is quite expository in its unfolding. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:1-3). What does all of this mean? Quite simply, it says that God the Son was in the beginning with God the Father, when everything was made. The Genesis record bears this out in indisputable terms! “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26).
God looked at what had been made, “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). The question readily arises, “How did such a grand scheme go so badly that God took action to punish it?” God had given the man and woman explicit instructions to not eat of the fruit of the tree the midst of the garden! The Devil beguiled (lured, enticed) Eve, and straightway she gave of the fruit to Adam, and they both ate of it. They both disobeyed God! They, and all of mankind after them, were destined to suffer the consequences of their disobedience (Genesis 3:12-24). From that time forward, the Earth was filled, more and more, with murder, mayhem and madness, to the end that Genesis 6:5 says, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the Earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The flood which God sent, destroyed human life (except eight souls) and purified the Earth (Genesis 6:17).
The advent of the Law of Moses defined God’s will for mankind, and affixed penalties for disobedience to God in every aspect of man’s life, but it offered no forgiveness of sins. Christ fulfilled this Law, and provided forgiveness of sins through obedience in baptism. This is our perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). How do we acquire this freedom from our past sins? Observe God’s plan!
(1) One must hear the Gospel, “for faith cometh by hearing the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
(2) One must believe the Gospel, “for without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
(3) One must repent of sins, “for God commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
(4) One must confess Christ, “for every tongue should confess Christ as Lord” (Philippians 2:1).
(5) One must be baptized “for He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).
(6) Having obeyed these commandments, the Christian must live faithfully until death to receive a crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
Being faithful to do these things, one will thereby fulfill another commandment of Eternal God. “Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:2).
Why should one be concerned about doing such things? Because, “none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth, to himself” (Romans 14:7). Beside this, one should realize that one of man’s simplest obligations is that he must “in all things show thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you” (Titus 2:7-8).
One who lives faithfully, according to God’s will, is setting himself up as a proper example, or pattern, and is thereby showing forth a Godly influence before mankind. “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Loving God, loving one’s fellowman and loving righteousness will ensure that one’s influence is Godly and acceptable!
