The Barrier Between God And Mankind

THE BARRIER BETWEEN GOD AND MAN

(Eph. 2:12-16)

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Because of Adam’s original sin, there is a barrier between God and every person at the moment we are born. This barrier consists of a number of “bricks” (problems) that no human being has the power to remove on their own. For salvation to occur (for any person to be reconciled to God), all of the “bricks” in this barrier have to be removed. Any one of them keeps the barrier in place. The “bricks” in the barrier are:

SIN:

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (NIV)

PENALTY OF SIN:

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

PHYSICAL BIRTH:

Eph 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, (NIV)

CHARACTER OF GOD:

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (NIV)

RELATIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS:

Isa 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (NIV)

POSITION IN ADAM:

1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (NIV)

REMOVAL OF THE BARRIER - All accomplished by Jesus Christ on the cross:

1. BARRIER OF SIN IS REMOVED BY:

a) REDEMPTION: The word "redeem" means "to buy, to purchase." In the case of a slave, it means "to purchase his freedom from a slave market." Because of Adam’s original sin in the Garden of Eden, he became a sinner and the entire human race inherits his sin nature (Rom. 5:12). We are born sinners and will remain in the "slave market of sin" as long as we live unless we choose God’s solution, redemption. Jesus Christ’s spiritual death on the cross redeemed us, purchased our freedom from the "slave market of sin." Redemption includes forgiveness of all sin (Heb. 9:22), is available to the entire human race, but is only obtained by those who believe in Jesus Christ. We have been freed from the oppressive bondage of slavery to sin (John 8:34; Rom. 6:18), the law (Gal. 4:3-5; 5:1), and the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15)? "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

John 8:31-36

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

33 They answered him, "We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (NIV)

Psa 34:22 The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. (NIV)

Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." (NIV)

Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (NIV)

1 Pet 1:18-19

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (NIV)

b) UNLIMITED ATONEMENT: Christ was judged on the cross for every sin that everyone in the world ever had committed or ever would commit. This is why sin is not the real issue in presenting the gospel to unbelievers. While it is true that "all have sinned" and that "the wages of sin are death", the word "gospel" means "good news". The good news is that the spiritual death of Christ on the cross atoned for all sins of all people, and so the only real issue in salvation becomes what a person believes about Jesus Christ. The only sin for which a person can go to hell is the unpardonable sin, the rejection of Christ as savior. This is because rejecting Christ is the only sin for which Christ’s death could not atone.

2 Cor 5:14-15

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.