It was totally and completely "the Grace of God" which brought about the salvation of man through the Death of Christ. it certainly wasn't any goodness on the part of man which brought this about, as should be obvious. In fact, man has no argument at all.
He may claim that he's not responsible for someone who did something thousands of years ago, whom he is not even sure actually existed. Of course, the argument in that capacity doesn't hold water.
While it is true that man is in the condition that he's in because of what Adam did, still, there are two other factors which must be brought to bear as well. They are:
1. Unredeemed man will not stand before God someday to answer for what Adam did, but for what he personally has done. The idea is, the guilt of man is beyond question. So we're not speaking here of something that happened thousands of years ago, but something that's happening right now in the hearts and lives of unbelievers. They are rebelling against God, with Paul aptly describing them in Romans Chapter 3. So, every person who doesn't know Christ will answer to God "according to their works" (Rev. 20:13).
2. It is true that man cannot help what Adam so long ago did, or the horrible dilemma in which this has placed man. However, God has provided a solution for man's dilemma, and that solution is "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2).
In the final analysis, man will be lost because he rejects that Solution. The Lord Himself said, "that the Holy Spirit has come to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."
Then He said, "Of sin, because they believe not on Me," or as one might say, "The Holy Spirit will convict men of the sin of not believing on Christ" (Jn. 16:8-9).
Therefore, considering who man is (a child of Satan one might say), and what man is (totally depraved with no righteousness whatsoever), we certainly can understand that it had to be the Grace of God extended to undeserving man, in order for this great plan of Redemption to be brought about.
Taken from Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary/ Hebrews, page 69
He may claim that he's not responsible for someone who did something thousands of years ago, whom he is not even sure actually existed. Of course, the argument in that capacity doesn't hold water.
While it is true that man is in the condition that he's in because of what Adam did, still, there are two other factors which must be brought to bear as well. They are:
1. Unredeemed man will not stand before God someday to answer for what Adam did, but for what he personally has done. The idea is, the guilt of man is beyond question. So we're not speaking here of something that happened thousands of years ago, but something that's happening right now in the hearts and lives of unbelievers. They are rebelling against God, with Paul aptly describing them in Romans Chapter 3. So, every person who doesn't know Christ will answer to God "according to their works" (Rev. 20:13).
2. It is true that man cannot help what Adam so long ago did, or the horrible dilemma in which this has placed man. However, God has provided a solution for man's dilemma, and that solution is "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2).
In the final analysis, man will be lost because he rejects that Solution. The Lord Himself said, "that the Holy Spirit has come to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."
Then He said, "Of sin, because they believe not on Me," or as one might say, "The Holy Spirit will convict men of the sin of not believing on Christ" (Jn. 16:8-9).
Therefore, considering who man is (a child of Satan one might say), and what man is (totally depraved with no righteousness whatsoever), we certainly can understand that it had to be the Grace of God extended to undeserving man, in order for this great plan of Redemption to be brought about.
Taken from Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary/ Hebrews, page 69
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