Adam and Eve, living in the perfect original creation, rebelled. Their descendants were so wicked God had to destroy the world with a global flood. Now only righteous Noah and his family survived. But even his descendants had to be forced to obey God’s command to spread around the world. Abraham’s children, the Israelites, disobeyed time and time again and eventually were judged by Assyria and Babylon.

One major message of the Old Testament is we can’t save ourselves! We need Jesus. Only the God-man could fully keep God’s law and be the perfect substitute for our sins. Praise God Jesus came to save us from our sin!

Dig Deeper

• The “Harsh” God of the Old Testament
• What Does It Mean to Be “Saved”?

All this week we’ve seen how the Old Testament is foundational to why Jesus came. You see, when Adam sinned, he brought the penalty for sin—death—into God’s perfect creation. The Bible makes it clear that we sin and die today because of Adam’s actions.

Now, many Christians believe that Adam was just a mythological figure or a metaphor. But without a historical Adam, the gospel falls apart.

If death existed before sin or if there was no Adam who sinned, why did Jesus have to come and die a physical death on the cross? And how did that death pay for sin?

You can’t separate the Bible’s history from the gospel!

Dig Deeper

• The Importance of an Historical Adam
• In Defense of the Historical Adam

Did you know that Jesus believed the Old Testament was literal history? He often quoted from it to support what he was saying, such as by referring to Genesis and creation to answer a question about marriage. And the apostle Paul tells us that the Old Testament was written for our instruction. We shouldn’t neglect reading it!

Why are we talking about this on Christmas? Well, the Old Testament provides the foundation for Christ’s work. Jesus was the promised Messiah who would come to redeem fallen humanity. Today take time to look back at the Old Testament and see how God’s redemptive plan is seen all throughout history.

Dig Deeper

• Fulfilled Prophecies at the Birth of Christ
• Did Isaiah Prophesy a Virgin Birth?

Many Christians have a hard time understanding the Old Testament. Often they only know a few isolated “Bible stories.” They don’t understand how biblical history unfolds.

Well, yesterday we learned that in Genesis God promised a Savior when Adam and Eve sinned. The rest of the Old Testament is a historical account about this promise! And in the New Testament, with Jesus’ birth, we see this promise fulfilled.

The Old Testament isn’t just a collection of random accounts. It shows God’s redemptive plan throughout all of history. Without this history, there wouldn’t be anything for us to celebrate at Christmas!

Dig Deeper

• Jesus Christ: The Last Adam
• What’s Wrong with the Word Story?

During the Christmas season, many people focus on the events of Matthew and Luke. But the road to Bethlehem started four thousand years earlier.

You see, Adam, the first man, was commanded not to eat from a certain tree or he would die. Adam’s wife was deceived by the serpent, Adam listened to his wife, rebelled against God, and ate the fruit. His actions brought death into creation. And we all die because of our sin in Adam and our continued sin.

But in the midst of this we see the hope of a Savior. God promised a Seed was coming from the woman who would crush the serpent’s head. This coming Savior was Jesus!

Dig Deeper

• What Was the “Forbidden Fruit” in Genesis?
• The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil: Evil or Good?

It’s a big question— “if there’s a good God, why is there so much death and suffering in creation?”

Well, in Genesis we read that God created everything “very good.” There was no pain, suffering, death, or disease. But the penalty for sin is death. The first people, Adam and Eve, chose to disobey and death and suffering entered into God’s perfect creation. Because of their sin, and our sin since then, the world groans.

But the good news is we have hope in Jesus. He took our penalty, death, upon himself when he died on the cross. Then he rose from the dead, conquering death, and offers eternal life to all who believe.

Dig Deeper

• Why Does God’s Creation Include Death and Suffering?
• Our Suffering Savior

People around the world look different from one another. Where did these differences come from? Well, the Bible gives us the answer!

Both Scripture and observational science make it clear there’s only one race—the human race. We’re all descended from Adam and Eve. After the global flood of Noah’s day, the Bible tells us that Noah’s descendants were divided by language at the Tower of Babel. People spread around the world, isolating themselves from each other. Soon certain characteristics, for example, skin shade or eye shape, became dominant in different people groups.

You see, it’s Genesis explains our differences!

Dig Deeper

• Adam + Eve = All Skin Tones?
• We’re Not “Black and White”—Everyone Is Brown

Creationists are often accused of being “anti-science” because we reject the worldview-based ideas of evolution and millions of years. Because we start with God’s Word, we also reject the idea of intelligent extraterrestrial life.

So, while we think searching for aliens is fruitless since they don’t exist, we aren’t against space exploration. After all, God created an amazing universe that declares his glory and creativity and points us to him. The more we learn about the intricacies of space, the more we’re in awe of what he’s done. Space exploration is a good thing because it reveals more of our Creator’s handiwork!

Dig Deeper

• Should Christians Support Space Exploration?
• Does the Bible Prohibit Space Travel?

Yesterday we learned that kids are often exposed to evolution very early. So, how should parents counter the indoctrination that seems to come from everywhere?

Well, make sure kids know the evidence doesn’t speak for itself. It must be interpreted through a worldview. Whether you accept God’s Word or man’s word about the past determines how you view the evidence.

We can show them that the evidence confirms God’s Word, not evolution. And we can contrast the biblical worldview with an evolutionary one to show them that these worldviews aren’t compatible—they’re opposites!

Don’t wait for your kids to ask questions—be proactive!

Dig Deeper

• When to Introduce Your Kids to Evolution
• Be On Guard Against Unbiblical Ideas Creeping into Your Homeschool Material

While you might not have talked with your preschooler about evolution, she’s probably heard of it. Kids’ books, TV shows, and schools introduce evolution very early. So, when should parents address it?

Well, start by teaching the truth from a very young age. This allows kids to see through the lies. Then take advantage of the times when they do hear the lies of the world to point them to God’s unchanging truth. Teach them to always start their thinking with God’s Word.

Finally, be faithful in answering their questions—always starting with Scripture. Kids are curious and they need solid, biblical answers.

Dig Deeper

• When to Introduce Your Kids to Evolution
• Mothers Always Ready to Give an Answer

The Bible tells us Jesus was “slain before the foundations of the world.” In other words, before Adam and Eve chose to disobey, God had a plan of redemption.

After they rebelled, God revealed the first hint of that plan. He told them that the Seed of woman was coming who would crush the serpent’s head. God then killed an animal—the very first death—and clothed Adam and Eve. You know, it’s in Genesis we find the origin of clothing and it’s a picture of the gospel.

You see, God covered their sin with an animal’s death, but it couldn’t take away their sin. Only the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ, could take away all our sin.

Dig Deeper

• Did Humans Invent Clothes 120,000 Years Ago?
• How Clothing in Scripture Paints a Picture of the Gospel