In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we are told of how GOD created man in his image. I believe that GOD, who does not love but is love, wanted us to have fellowship with HIM. He gave us free will so that we would be able to choose to love HIM back. When we love someone, as I do my daughter, we want them to love us back of their own free will. If we forced them to love us, it just wouldn't be the same.



Unfortunately Adam chose to turn his back on GOD's love and defy HIM, thus unleashing sin and evil and death into the world. When Adam sinned, he opened the Pandora's box that engulfs us today. 



At that point, GOD could have easily wiped the slate clean and started over, however he still loved Adam so HE banished him from paradise but immediately came up with a plan to offer a means for reconciliation for all mankind.



Up to the point of Adam and Eve's sin, you have to understand that no sin existed in the world. No one had ever defied GOD till then. GOD is love but HE is also law and justice. Since the sin was committed, a price had to be paid. GOD had to adhere to HIS own law. But HE so loves us that he found a loophole to circumvent the law by making the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live and regain entry into paradise.



One man's sin condemned us all to living a life of sin, temptation and death. GOD, in HIS infinite and unconditional love, decided to offer up another man's life and blood in order that we may regain the gifts that Adam and Eve originally had in the Garden of Eden. That one man suffered unimaginably for us, for me. I need to do all I can to show my appreciation for HIS sacrifice and to return that love to the best of my ability.