We’re so happy to be sharing the Easter Formula with you on this special day. We pray that this won’t just be another blog post to you. We pray that it would truly transform the way you see the perfect work of Jesus on the cross.
It was in Sunday School I first heard those words… “All of us were born into sin,” my teacher said, as she tried to break down this deep truth in a way that our innocent minds would understand. She didn’t say anything about being born-again into righteousness though, and that incomplete picture left a vacuum in my mind for many years.
She explained that ‘this sin’ was a nature, that anyone born of a woman automatically was a sinner because of Adam’s sin. This seemed difficult to fathom at the time. I mean, how can you say that an innocent baby that was just born this morning is a sinner? The child can’t even talk, see well, talk more of sitting up! I mean he just got here, right? But then, I read these verses in scripture.
“When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. His sin spread death throughout all the world, so everything began to grow old and die, for all sinned. We know that it was Adam’s sin that caused this because although, of course, people were sinning from the time of Adam until Moses, God did not in those days judge them guilty of death for breaking his laws—because he had not yet given his laws to them nor told them what he wanted them to do” (Romans 5:12-14 LB).
As I began to study the Word for myself, the Holy Spirit started to teach me these truths by Himself. So it wasn’t surprising when I stumbled on Romans 5 again a couple of days ago. However, when I read it this time, I stopped, as something interesting caught my attention. I realized that although all these were all true, it was only half of the full story. And that’s when I received what I now call the Easter Formula; the big picture of what Christ did for us in His death, burial and resurrection.
At the end of verse 14 of this same chapter, Paul made a profound statement. He said, “Now, Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come” (Romans 5:14b NLT). So, if Adam was only a symbol, a representation of Christ, then it will be right to say that when Christ (the real deal) came we ought to replace the symbol with the real deal right? See how Paul puts it:
“Yes, Adam’s sin brought punishment to all, but Christ’s righteousness makes men right with God so that they can live. Adam caused many to be sinners because he disobeyed God, and Christ caused many to be made acceptable to God because he obeyed.” (Romans 5:18-19 LB).
So here’s the Easter Formula:
Born into the world (Adam) = Disobedience + Sin + God’s Punishment (Symbol)
Born again (into Christ) = Obedience + Righteousness + Made right with God (Real Deal)
Now, substitute the symbol for the real deal, and there you have it – God’s perfect plan to save mankind.
A lot of people find it easy to accept that they were born into sin (without doing any wrong) because of Adam’s disobedience. But they find it hard to accept that they have been offered righteousness (free of charge) because of Jesus’ obedience. I encourage you to read Romans 5 and let the Holy Spirit do a transforming work in you through the Word.
You can also click this link to contact us right now. We want to show how you can receive this free gift of righteousness today and start enjoying your life through an intimate relationship with the creator of the whole world. He loves you dearly, with an everlasting love.
Happy Easter!
