There are certain things that I have inherited from my family. Because of my genetics I am a certain height, have a specific eye and hair color, and have “the look” of a Robinson. I did not earn these things . . . I simply received them when I was born.
Since we come from different families, my combination of the aforementioned items looks different from yours. You have inherited a different set of traits from your family. This is part of what it means to be a part of the human race.
If you follow our family trees back far enough, though, they merge. I know, I know. Try not to be too grossed out. In most cases you have to go back VERY FAR to find common ancestry, but if we go far enough back, we will all find it. In fact, if you go far-FAR enough back, you will find that we all share the same mom and dad. At the beginning of this earth, God tells us in Genesis 1-2 that human life began with just one person – Adam.
Romans 5 tells us that all of us have inherited something from our Great-great-great-great . . . Grandpa Adam – and it is not good. Because of Adam, we have inherited a sinful nature. Because of Adam, we have inherited death. All of us. This explains a lot of what has happened in a world filled with Adam’s kids (you and me . . . and all our “brothers and sisters.”)
But, if you go back to the time of our forefather Adam, you will find that there is one who already existed — our Heavenly Father God. Our Heavenly Father cannot fellowship with sinful people, yet He loves us, so He devised a way for us to be reconciled to Himself. He provided that Way through His Son, Jesus Christ.
By faith in Christ, we can be born again (John 3:1-14). If we are born again in Christ, we then inherit something entirely different . . . and entirely wonderful. This Sunday morning at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:15, 9:30, and 11:00 worship services we will be looking at Romans 5:12-21 and celebrating communion together. In these 9 verses (the conclusion to our “ABC’s of Faith” series) we will see what God has done for us who are connected to Christ and how it differs from those who have only been born “of Adam.” I hope to see you (my brothers and sisters) Sunday morning, February 28!