Inleiding
Wil je naar de hemel? Gaan alle mensen daarheen? Weet je de weg? Wat moet je doen? Dit zijn vragen die we uit de Bijbel willen beantwoorden als we kijken naar beelden uit 'De levende Christus'. Je hebt de foto's 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 &9, 15, 82, 107, 108, 110, 114 en 118 nodig. Hoe is de wereld begonnen?

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Kijk naar foto 2. Genesis 2:4-22

God schiep alle dingen. Hij schiep de aarde, de hemelen, de zon, de maan en de sterren. Hij maakte de planten en dieren. Toen schiep Hij de mens in Zijn eigen gelijkenis. De eerste man heette Adam en de eerste vrouw Eva. Mensen en dieren leefden in vrede samen. Adam en Eva hadden alles wat ze nodig hadden in de prachtige tuin van Eden. Ze konden tot God spreken als vrienden. God zei tegen hen: "Jullie mogen van alle bomen eten, behalve één. Je mag niet eten van de boom van de kennis van goed en kwaad. Als je ervan eet, zul je sterven. Wat brak de vrede en gemeenschap?

Kijk naar foto 3. Genesis 3:1-7

De slang was zeer sluw. Hij liet Adam en Eva twijfelen aan Gods woord. Hij zei: "Als je van het fruit eet, zul je niet sterven. Je zult als God worden. Wat doen Adam en Eva op de foto? Ze luisteren naar de woorden van de slang die Satan wordt genoemd. Ze eten het verboden fruit. Ze zijn ongehoorzaam aan God. Wat was het resultaat van hun ongehoorzaamheid?

Kijk naar foto 4. Genesis 3:8-19

Adam en Eva schaamden zich en probeerden zich voor God te verbergen. Hun gemeenschap met God was verbroken. God vond hen en zij moesten belijden wat zij gedaan hadden. God zond hen uit de tuin. Ze moesten hard werken om hun eten te krijgen. God had hen gezegd dat ze zouden sterven als ze ongehoorzaam waren. Het loon van de zonde is de dood. Hun lichamen stierven niet onmiddellijk, maar ze stierven later wel. Ze stierven echter spritually. Dit betekent scheiding van God. De ergste dood is geestelijke dood. We zijn allemaal afstammelingen van Adam en Eva. Het oordeel over de dood is aan ons allemaal. Hoe kunnen we gered worden van de eeuwige dood? Hoe kunnen we weer gemeenschap met God hebben? God beloofde dat het zaad van de vrouw de macht van Satan zou vernietigen. (Genesis 3:15).

Look at picture 5. Genesis 12:1-3, 15:5-6
God chose a man named Abraham. He promised Abraham that his children would be as many as the stars of heaven. He also told him that through his offspring all the people would be blessed. Abraham believed God and he obeyed Him. How could all the people be blessed through Abraham?

Look at picture 7. Luke 2:26-38
We see the angel Gabriel talking to a woman of the seed of Abraham. Her name is Mary. She was a pure virgin, and had never slept with a man. The angel Gabriel told her she would have a son. Mary asked, "How can this be because I am a virgin?" Gabriel said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you. The Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Nothing is impossible with God." He said that the son should be called Jesus, for He will save the people from their sins. 'Jesus' means Saviour. Through Mary He was the seed of Abraham. God had promised that through Abraham all people would be blessed.
Now look at Picture 9.
This promise was fulfilled in Jesus. When the baby was born in Bethlehem, Mary called his name Jesus, just as the angel said. We see the baby Jesus with Mary. When Jesus grew up He taught the people and did many miracles. How do you think we can be saved from our sins? Do you think doing good works, praying, fasting, and giving to the poor can take away your sins?

Look at picture 82. Luke 18:9-14
This is the story of two men. They went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, a very religious man. The other was a tax collector, probably a thief. The Pharisee said, "I thank God that I am not a sinner like other people. I give a tenth of all I have, I fast twice a week. "Do you think God forgave his sins because of his fasting and giving? Let us listen to the other man's prayer. He was hunble and beat his breast in sorrow. He prayed, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." He didn't boast about anything he had done. He knew he was a sinner and prayed for God's mercy. Which of these two men do you think God forgave? The Bible says God forgave the tax collector, not the Pharisee. Why? Our good works do not save us. We cannot be proiud and boast about them. The tax collector knew he was a sinner and asked God for mercy. When we are sorry for our sins and ask God to forgive us, He will hear our prayers. We need to be humble, not proud. But praying is not enough. God is a holy God. There must be some way for our sins to be taken away. Then God can forgive us. Let us see how God made a way to take away our sins.

Look at picture 15. John 1:29-34
John the Baptist taught the people that they should repent of their sins. He said, "There is one coming ater me who is greater than I am." When he saw Jesus coming, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world." How can Jesus take away our sins? God says the wages of sin is death. Our good works cannot take away our sin. Only death can pay the price for sin.

Look at picture 107. John 19:16-17
In the picture we see Jesus beaten and carrying the cross. Why was He crucified? He did not sin. He was pure. He died in our place. God put all your sins and mine on Jesus. He paid the penalty for our sin. By dying He took away our sins. That is what John the Baptist had said. We cannot pay for our own sin. Jesus died for us and took away our sin. What must we do? Just as the tax collector did. We must admit we are sinners. We must believe that Jesus died for us. We must ask for mercy. Then God will forgive us. After we have been foriven we will want to do good works. We will fast, pray and give money to the poor.

Look at picture 108. Luke 23:39-43
Two thieves were crucified with Jesus. One thief mocked Jesus. The other thief admitted he deserved to die but that Jesus had done nothing wrong. He then asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. The thief could not give money to the poor nor do any other good works. Jesus knew that the thief trusted in Him and was sorry for his sin. Jesus siad,"This day you will be with me in Paradise." The thief's faith in Jesus saved him. Jesus died and was buried. Can a dead Jesus save us? No. He had to die to pay the price for our sin. But He didn't remain dead. Look at picture 110. (Matthew 28:1-7). On the third day Jesus rose from the dead. The guards were frightened to see Him alive. The women who came to the tomb were surprised but very glad. They went and told others that Jesus was alive.

Look at picture 114. John 20:19-21
That same evening, the first day of the week, Jesus was seen by the disciples. After that, many other people saw Jesus alive. Jesus had power to rise from the dead. This shows us that He is God. He is the resurrection and the life. He is able to give us life too. No one else is able to do that.

Look at picture 118. Acts 1:6-12
After Jesus rose from the dead He walked and talked with people on the earth for 40 days. He told His disciples to be witnesses for Him to all people. Then He went up to heaven and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Two angels told the disciples that Jesus would come back again some day. That will be a wonderful day. Are you ready for Him? Have you accepted Him as your Saviour? Are you telling other people about Him? Are you living a life that is pleasing to Him?