Adam and Eve were originally created in innocence and enjoyed a healthy and open relationship with their Creator. Their life in the Garden was idyllic and not afflicted with any of the results of the sin that would eventually cost them paradise. Hunger, sorrow, pain, sickness, disease, and even death were never a part of the original design, but were the consequences of their decision to cross the one boundary that God had erected, "Do not eat of the fruit . . . "

With that transgression, Adam and Eve, and humankind as their offspring, were separated from their Creator. Because God "is not a god who has pleasure in wickedness, neither can sin dwell with" Him, the original relationship was severed. To God, however, this was not an acceptable situation, so He implemented a plan to reconcile us back to himself and to restore the relationship as it was originally intended. This plan is what we call the Gospel.

Because the penalty for sin is death, no less of a payment could be substituted. Throughout our history, humanity has attempted to devise systems of good works and other human merit to bridge the chasm created by sin. Only God was able to devise and execute an acceptable solution. He became a man and suffered the penalty of death in our place. Because He was untainted by sin, Jesus Christ was an acceptable substitute when He gave his life as the payment for our sin. His resurrection demonstrated both that He was God, and that he had gained the victory over death and sin.

Our eternal life with God is provided by Jesus, made possible by His death and resurrection. It is offered to us freely, as a gift, and it is promised that when we come to believe that this is indeed true, we receive that gift. Jesus Himself said, "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

We were created to be in a right relationship with God. Sin derailed that for a time, but we have been reconciled to God and our relationship has been restored through the Gospel.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.