I have recently heard several sermons at @TheLifeChurchDC about sin and the Garden.  Adam and Eve had everything they could ever want – complete freedom!  They were created in God’s image and were given dominion over all that God created.  There was only one rule – not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  A couple things are interesting in this story in Genesis.  There is miscommunication between Adam and Eve – when she is tempted by the serpent, she said that they were not to eat from the tree or touch it.  God gave the command to Adam before creating Eve and He never said they could not touch it.  The enemy was shrewd and used isolation when tempting Eve.  Knowledge about the tree was not enough to keep Adam and Eve from sin.  Knowledge isn’t enough for us either.  Through the sin of Adam, sin came to all of mankind.

Sin doesn’t make you bad, IT MAKES YOU DEAD!  Some things to think about…
Dead people can’t worship.
Dead people can’t experience life.
Dead people have no freedom.
Dead people can’t bring themselves back to life.
Dead people are just plain dead!

Romans 5:12, 17 (NIV) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—  For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Jesus’ sacrifice doesn’t just make you righteous, IT MAKES YOU ALIVE!
Because we are now ALIVE, we can fulfill our purpose to worship our Creator!
Because we are now ALIVE, we can experience abundant life!
Because we are now ALIVE, we are FREE in Jesus!

Are you walking as a living DEAD person or a person fully ALIVE in Jesus today?