亚当和夏娃，人类的始祖，被造时是美好的。如果神创造的一切都甚好，包括人类，那么为什么世界上和我们的生命中还有那么多恶呢？罪从何而来？历世历代的人们都很关注这个问题。
创世记第三章讲述了人类堕落犯罪的悲惨故事。神曾叫亚当和夏娃照管祂的造物，自由、自愿地顺从祂。但他们没有顺从。因着他们的悖逆，也就是我们说的犯罪，如今，这个世界和我们的生命中充满了破碎、痛苦和悲伤。此外，所有人的生命都将以死亡告终（创2:17；来9:27）。
今天，或许你正经历着周遭由罪带来的毁灭性影响：所爱之人逝去，致命性的疾病，饥饿，无家可归，或战争的蹂躏。但感谢神，故事并没有就此结束。
在罗马书5章中，使徒保罗把耶稣和亚当作了对比。亚当是第一个带来悲伤和死亡的人，而我们在耶稣里得到了新的盼望和喜乐。圣诞提醒我们，神差遣祂的儿子来医治这个罪痕累累的世界，来赦免我们的罪，并赐给我们永生！多么棒的礼物啊！更好的消息是：你不需要等到圣诞节才接受这个礼物。何不今天就相信耶稣，作你的主和救主呢？
赐下一切恩典的神，感谢你赐给我们耶稣作为礼物，祂来，使我们从一切罪的影响中回转。我们渴望祂的再来，渴望与你面对面！阿们。
创世记 3:17-19
17又对亚当说：“你既听从妻子的话，吃了我所吩咐你不可吃的那树上的果子，地必为你的缘故受咒诅，你必终身劳苦，才能从地里得吃的。
18地必给你长出荆棘和蒺藜来，你也要吃田间的菜蔬。
19你必汗流满面才得糊口，直到你归了土，因为你是从土而出的。你本是尘土，仍要归于尘土。”
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23
Adam and Eve, the first human beings, were created good. If God created all things good, including humankind, then why is there so much bad in the world and in our lives? Where did sin come from? This question has intrigued people throughout the ages.
Genesis 3 tells us the sad story of the fall into sin. God had called Adam and Eve to obey him freely and willingly as they cared for his creation. But they failed to obey. Because of their disobedience, which we call sin, this world and our lives are now filled with brokenness, pain, and sorrow. Further, the lives of all people will end in death (Genesis 2:17; Hebrews 9:27).
Perhaps today you are experiencing the devastating effects of sin around you: the death of a loved one, a life-threatening disease, hunger, homelessness, or the ravages of war. Thank God that the story does not end there.
In Romans 5, the apostle Paul compares and contrasts Jesus and Adam. While Adam, the first man, brought sorrow and death, in Jesus we receive new hope and joy. Christmas reminds us that God sent his Son to heal this sin-scarred world, to forgive our sins, and to give us eternal life. What an awesome gift! And here’s more good news: you don’t need to wait until Christmas to receive this gift. Why not trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord today?
God of all grace, thank you for the gift of Jesus, who came to restore us from all the effects of sin. We long for that day when he returns and we will see you face to face! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
