A NEW INHERITANCE

From the very beginning of man, Satan began his campaignto deceive the human race. He began his rebellion in heavenand has desired to bring all the inhabitants of the earth tounite with him in his warfare against the government of God. Ourfirst parent lived in perfect happiness, walking in obedience to thelaw of God. There obedience stood as a constant testimony againstSatan and his claim that the law of God is oppressive and opposedto His creatures. The beautiful home of Adam and Eve excited theenvy of Satan and he determined to cause their fall. Having separatedthem from God, they were brought under his power and he gainedpossession of the earth. Satan thus established his kingdom inopposition to the kingdom of God.

Some four thousand years after the fall of man, Paul the apostlewrote as recorded in Romans 3: 23—For all have sinned, and comeshort of the glory of God. This says literally, "all sinned." The sin ofour father Adam marred the divine image of God in man. All, of hisdescendants continued to fall short and be deprived of the image andglory of God. Sin and death—a principle and power—have passed onto all who participated in the sin of Adam. The participation in Adam'ssin is universal, for it spans man in all ages and in all lands. There is noexception—all have sinned. Sin is personified by Paul, he says:

• Sin has reigned in death. Rom. 5: 21

• Sin works death. Rom. 7: 13

• Sin has dominion over us. Rom. 6: 14

• Sin aroused and stimulated all kind of forbidden desires.Rom. 7:8

• Sin deceives, en-trapped, cheated and kills us. Rom. 7: 11

So we see that by the offence of Adam the principle of sin enteredour world. Sin then because the source of all offences. By violatingthe law of God sin was introduced to man. Adam heard the warningof God—"for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Gen.2: 17) Now after sin the sentence of God was "for dust you are and todust you shall return." Gen. 3:19 Amp

A study of the Bible will show that there are three kinds of death:

1. Spiritual death

And you [He made alive], who were dead (slain)by [your] trespasses and sins. (Eph. 2: 1)

We know that we have passed over out of deathinto life by the fact that we love the brethren (ourfellow Christians) 1 Jn. 3: 14a

A life that is lived without a knowledge or arelationship with God is a life that is dead spiritually.All men are dead because of the inheritance of sin. Ouronly hope is in Jesus who has the power to quicken usand inject His life into us.

2. First or Temporal death

He said these things, and then added, our friendLazarus is at rest and sleeping; but I am going therethat I may awaken him out of his sleep. The disciplesanswered, Lord, if he is sleeping, he will recover.However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but theythought that He referred to falling into a refreshingand natural sleep. So then Jesus told them plainly,Lazarus is dead. Jn. 11: 11-14 Amp.

This is the physical death that all men willexperience for the Bible says "the living know that theyshall die but the dead knows nothing." Eccl. 9:5 Amp.

3. Second or Eternal death

"... but rather be afraid of Him who can destroyboth soul and body in hell" (Gehenna). Matt. 10: 28b

"He who overcomes (is victorious) shall in no waybe injured by the second death". Rev. 2: 11b

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the firstresurrection on such the second death hath no power,but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shallreign with him a thousand years." Rev. 20: 6 KJV

The sentence of death pronounced upon Adam has passed uponall men. Adam's sentence, however, did not refer to the second death.For the second death cannot be passed on to anyone, it comes as aresult of the judgment when every man will be judged according totheir works. (Rev. 20: 12-13) In the final judgment of God, the finalsentence will be based on individual responsibility, "for He will renderto every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve]."(Rom. 2: 6) Amp.

The Bible points out clearly that all men go down to the grave.It is in this that all men share in the penalty of Adam's transgression.By rebelling against God the right to the tree of life was lost to them.This resulted in their death and in passing on this death to theirdescendants.

"After their sin Adam and Eve were no longer to dwell in Eden.They earnestly entreated that they might remain in the home oftheir innocence and joy. They confessed that they had forfeited allright to that happy abode, but pledged themselves for the future toyield strict obedience to God. But they were told that their naturehad become depraved by sin; they had lessened their strength to resistevil and had opened the way for Satan to gain more ready access tothem. In their innocence they had yielded to temptation and now, ina state of conscious guilt, they would have less power to maintain theirintegrity." Patriarchs and Prophets p. 306

"Thus Adam and Eve passed on to their posterity a tendency tosin and a liability to its punishment, death. By their transgression, sinwas introduced as an infectious power in human nature antagonisticto God, and this infection has continued ever since. It is because ofthis infection of nature, traceable to Adam's sin that men must be bornagain." SDA Bible Commentary vol. 6 p. 531

On the passing down of a sinful nature from father to son thefollowing should be noted:

"It is inevitable that children should suffer fromthe consequences of parental wrongdoing, but theyare not punished for the parent's guilt, except as theyparticipate in their sins. It is usually the case, however,that children walk in the steps of their parents. Byinheritance and example the sons become partakers ofthe father's sin. Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites,and debased morals, as well as physical disease anddegeneracy, are transmitted as a legacy from father toson, to the third and fourth generation. This fearfultruth should have a solemn power to restrain men fromfollowing a course of sin." Patriarchs and Prophets p.306

In Romans 5, Paul emphasizes the fact that just as sin and death—aprinciple and power—came through Adam to the whole human family,so righteousness and life as a counteracting and conquering principleand power, come through Jesus Christ to the whole human race. Just asdeath has been handed down to all men who took part in Adam's sin,so life is passed on to all who take part in the righteousness of Christ.

Adam gave death but Jesus Christ gives life. By His life and deathHe achieved for the human race more than recovery from the ruin thatcame through sin. It was the purpose of Satan to bring about the "eternalseparation between God and man; but in Christ we...