God's will is that we would be sanctified. Was this His will initially? Why would it need to be? Why would we need by sanctified, or "set apart" if mankind was originally in perfect relationship with God? What would we need to be set apart from? What would we need to be set apart to, if in the beginning God's creation, mankind, was in perfect stride with God's purposes? There was no need to be set apart. Mankind was with God and for God.
The first recorded question in mankind's existence was, "Where are you?". God was walking through the Garden of Eden in search of Adam and Eve. God is all-knowing. He knew exactly where they were. His question, "Where are you?" could be understood also as the statement, "You are no longer near Me".
God's will for humankind, as He created our race, was that we would be near to Him, in His presence. His will remains the same today.
"Where are you?"
"Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." Ephesians 2:12
"Where are you?" connotes a separation. Sin was introduced into the world. It became imbedded into our makeup, spreading a vicious, inescapable death sentence throughout our entire race for all time.
"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned." Romans 5:12
God is life. Apart from Him there is only death. "Where are you?" Separation. Death.However, we must remember that God's will is that we would be near to Him, in His presence. He would make an escape from this damnation. He would cure our infectious disease of sin.
He would give us a gift. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not die but have eternal life." John 3:16
"But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one (Adam) the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many." Romans 5:15
God freely gave us a gift--eternal life with Him, through His Son Jesus Christ! Jesus' hands were pierced through with nails as He was hung upon a cross. He was crucified, although He was blameless. He took our blame--every person for all time. All of our sins were cast upon Him, as He was punished in our place, that we may be spared. He experienced physical death, and even a brief separation from God, so that we would never have to experience eternal death and eternal separation from God.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
We need not strive to earn this salvation. All attempts to earn it would be futile, for it is a gift. All that needs to take place is a reception.
"For if by the transgression of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17
We are delivered out of our death sentence into full, complete, abundant life in Christ! If only we will receive the free gift He has given--Himself.
Jesus promised: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes in Him Who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgement, but has passed out of death into life." John 5:24
"But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13
"Where are you?"
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