This is according to my understanding. There is no scripture which explains this topic that can be understood by the "world." The practice of "sacrifice" to atone for sin is not clearly understood by many people who would have you believe they do understand. I, for one, have had a "struggle" coming to understand. After years of prayer and asking for understanding, I have come to understand this explanation, given me through prayer.

I have heard the religious leaders, teachers and preachers tell us that Jesus died for our sins. I accept that! But my question was "WHY?" I knew that He suffered and died on the cross for our sins... a price that had to be paid in order for you and me to be able to pass the cup of punishment for the sins committed by God's creation... the first human inhabitants (of God) on Planet Earth... or... Adam and Eve as we know them. The sin of Adam and Eve is on our head from the moment we are born! I don't understand all of that! As long as I am mere mortal I will never understand these things.

If the history of creation were taught 24/7 in all universities I'm sure it would not be adequate to produce (even) a teacher/instructor on the subject. The author of the book of Genesis does a brilliant job presenting the lesson in a way that many of us can have a little understanding. He does it in short order and God's input is obvious! Brilliant! Try summarizing the history of creation and the reasons for our lack of perfection, in as few words!

We only have a few books that deal with these scientific accounts and historical masterpieces. I expect that many records are lost or destroyed that would shed more understanding... Could be that is why we need the help of the "Comforter" that Jesus sent... aka The Holy Spirit. I know that some folks who are endowed with the Holy Spirit get more knowledge from the scriptures than those without the anointing.

I never understood "why" God, the Creator of the universe had to allow His Son to pay that horrible price. Those teachers that would simply skirt the highlights and the buzz phrases which had been taught them were just not enough for me... I kept asking "WHY?"

If you are already happy with your understanding then there is no need to proceed any further! For those who, like me, were not satisfied, perhaps this will help.

I will answer it with a very short explanation. I may come back later and go into greater detail but I don't believe I will need to do that!

My notes and understanding based on Genesis, Chapters 2 & 3: The tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was a tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden from which God directly forbade Adam and Eve to eat. A serpent tempted Eve who was aware of the prohibition. Eve convinced Adam to eat the fruit... and they became aware of their nakedness. After this, in order to deny them access to the tree of life (and immortality), they were banished from the garden and forced to survive by the sweat of their brow.

In other words, they sold their dominant position in the Garden to Satan. THEY SOLD OUT! In order for God to reclaim their position a price had to be paid according to the rules laid down by Satan who now owned the world! We are constantly reminded that passing through this world, by one of God's children, is a test and much persecution is to be expected. I won't bore you with my inability to make all things interesting, such as asking you to read a lot of scripture but we are told MANY times that this passage through earth and this realm must be overcome by those of us who are to transcend into the Kingdom of God.

NOTE: After Jesus was baptized by John The Baptist, HE was led into the wilderness where HE was tempted by Satan. Satan offered Jesus "THE WORLD," if HE would bow and worship him. I find it extremely interesting that Jesus did not question the fact that it all belonged to Satan to offer. God created "it" and all within "it" but Satan acquired ownership of the "world system" with the fall of Adam and Eve... UNTIL JESUS PAID THE RANSOM ON THE CROSS! The world is still ruled by Satan aka "Prince of Air." We must return to The Kingdom the same way as Jesus did but because we are incapable of living by the requirements, we can coast in on Jesus' robe. Just believe on HIM and trust HIM. HE paid our ransom. HE IS THE ONLY WAY INTO THE KINGDOM. It does require that we believe on Jesus, accept HIM as our Savior AND live HIS doctrine that HE left us. You learn that doctrine by reading the Gospel of Jesus the Christ in any one of the four gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

I received the following reminder/correction: "remember, it is the WORLD SYSTEM (i.e. GOVERNMENT) that he "owns," not the planet itself." ... I will continue with that in mind.

Continuing...

Before Adam and Eve fell, they were not subjected to the evils that we have come to expect as "normal." They walked with God. He visited them and spoke with them. They lived in a paradise! It appears that the animals had dialogue with Adam and Eve! The scriptures tell us that the serpent spoke to Eve. The scriptures also tell us that the serpent was the craftiest of all animals. Gen 3:1 "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ² And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: ³ But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  ⁴ And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ⁵ For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

I am the first to say that there is far more to this story than we read here in the bible. However, this is all we have. I wonder if there was... or is... more that has been withheld from us? I wonder what is in the basement and vaults of the Vatican or still buried in caves? Yeah... I believe there is more!

It was after the expulsion from the garden that God described the curses that had been placed over them or more accurately what life would be like out there in the world... out of the Garden. These were conditions that all living beings had to endure in this imperfect world that Adam and Eve had chosen by their fall. The Creator explained that Eve would suffer the pains of childbirth and Adam was told he would now struggle against the earth for a livelihood. These were a few of the new hardships that were not imposed until Adam and Eve fell, or as I say, "sold out." After Adam and Eve sold their rights and were cast from the garden, man came under the rule of law according to Satan, who owned the world. Therefore, the "deal" for repurchasing man's soul had to be established through the perfect sacrifice... Jesus. Jesus called Himself "The Son of Man." Therefore, the "man" had to be the perfect example, abiding by all laws, committing no sin, no errors and be sacrificed for the salvation of mankind. Jesus became the Perfect Lamb of God. The perfect, sacrificial Lamb of God. Jesus defeated Satan through His innocence, perfect life and sacrifice. Now it is made available to all who accept Jesus and live the doctrine that Jesus established for us. Jesus made it simple... He told us that if we could live up to two conditions we would automatically satisfy the laws given mankind, before Jesus.

The two rules: (paraphrasing in progress as usual)

1) Love God with all your heart, mind and spirit.

2) Love your neighbor as yourself.

In another parable, Jesus was asked to define, "Your Neighbor" and He gave this explanation... "If you need help and the first person walks on by and does not help and the second person, stops and renders help and cares for you" ... He asks; who is your neighbor? The answer? The one who took care of you, helped you and showed compassion. (Based on Luke, chapter 10 vs 30) Here it is... I think it is in context. Luke, 10:30 "And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³²And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. ³³But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, ³⁴And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. ³⁶Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? ³⁷And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

As I see it: These curses were not (supposed) to be in the original plan. However, since their fall, the curses have remained, to this day... I do not believe that God ever made a mistake, therefore I believe this entire account was designed by God to happen exactly as it did but because of circumstances we are not aware of, or could not understand, it is explained in this manner... though it is presented to us, as though God's original, perfect plan failed and He had to change the game plan. I believe that our perfect God has never made the first mistake, therefore, I believe that God designed and engineered it to happen exactly as it did. It is only explained to us in this manner... for "whatever" reason. I base that on the fact that God is perfect and He does not make mistakes.

Since the curses remain, AND, the fact that "good" comes from God... and, the fact that God allows Satan to send "evil" to the followers of God, I would say that the "system" and evil acts of mankind are not of God. Satan is known as the "Prince of Air" and the Earth belongs to him. Children of God are only passing through, being tested. We are the descendants of the original occupants of God's "Garden" ... Our ancestors were booted out for disobedience... in other words we were kicked out of the Godly Community and now lived in the "world" which was owned by Satan... Now Satan's "ground-rules" became a factor. God warned Adam and Eve when he explained in Genesis, chapter 3:16 Then he said to the woman,  “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” 17 And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree  whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. 19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”

The Earth And All Within: I can see that the animal kingdom and nature "sing along" with the Creator's plan but the fruit of man is of Satan. Therefore Jesus had to pay the ransom for mankind to escape the clutches of the "system" and gain entry into the Kingdom... which takes place upon our transition into the next realm... At least for those who are "saved" ... by acceptance and trust in Jesus, The Savior... That's another page.

Stay with me, you'll soon know more and what to do! Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us. "Understanding" is coming!

Because Satan was the legal owner of this "earth's system," the terms for salvation and reentry carried with it a price. Many years later, a price that God paid with the Perfect Lamb of God, His Son Jesus. Jesus came to this earth as a man, like Adam but unlike Adam, remained faithful, and sinless, to God, overcoming the sins to which Adam had succumbed. Therefore, paying the price for salvation and reentry into God's Kingdom. The human who wants to return to God may do so by accepting Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God and living the doctrine that Jesus left us. For those who choose this decision and life, they are able to become a "New Creature" (a new creation) a Godly creature and are accepted into the Kingdom. All made possible by the supreme sacrifice of the innocent and pure, Jesus! Jesus, the Son of God, Jesus the Son of Man. Jesus, the innocent MAN who became perfect upon His resurrection. Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father, God.

That's "WHY!"

JESUS, OUR SAVIOR. THANKS!

I hope that helps!

Your Friend,

John

P.S. Here's a page that I highly recommend you read after this page:
http://buysellfind.net/john33/one-way-jesus/

P.P.S. Just touching onto a point that will be covered on another page... The world outside the "GARDEN" consisted of the world's system as we know it today. Adam and Eve were simply cast out of God's perfect environment and into the "system" ... Another way of looking at it: Adam and Eve sold out their right to the perfect Garden and had to take up residence in the world of the Prince of Air and his system. The same we live in today. Nothing has changed and won't til we get out of here. "Look up, your redemption is nigh." (paraphrasing in progress)

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