- Joined
- May 27, 2023
- Messages
- 8,216
- Reaction score
- 7,821
- Points
- 175
- Faith
- Christian/Reformed
- Country
- US
- Politics
- conservative
It is quite natural for a person when they first come to Christ in faith, to see redemption solely from a human perspective, and in a narrow sense. By narrow and human, I mean the joy is at first limited to "I am saved and will go to heaven when I die." or "I now won't go to hell".
That is so glorious and fills our hearts with love and gratitude for the One who suffered and died on the cross in order to make this so, that it is easy to get stuck there, thinking that is all there is to the great drama of redemption that flows through every page of the Bible and begins in Genesis. It is enough (and it truly is). But there is so much more. A much bigger picture, that when looked at, pondered, grasped, let's us begin to see the glory of God, and God himself, in a way that can knock our socks off. Other things in the scriptures become clearer. It is as though a curtain were pulled back, or a door opened, a "I had heard of you, but now I see you--" moment, that prods us eagerly forward to see and know more of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
It is not heaven that is our home. It is earth.
In Gen 1-2:24 God creates earth and all that is in it. Preparing a place for what he does on the sixth day Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
This is our identity (made in his image and likeness) and our mandate to rule and care for the earth according to that image. God as King of the earth and our King. Mankind his subjects and servants.
Gen 2 is not a separate creation account. Gen 1 records the sequence of creation. Gen 2 focuses on the sixth day, the creation of man as the high point of creation.
Gen 3 relates the fall of Adam and Eve and its result, not only of humanity becoming sinners, alienated from God and at enmity with him (Isa 59:2; Romans 3:11-19) but to all of creation. They are cast out of the Garden of Eden, have no access to the Tree of Life. All of creation bears the curse of God on sin.
But is Gen 3:14-15 there is a promise made. So, the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly, and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
From that point forward we see the plan of redemption through this offspring (seed)unfold. With that in mind, let's jump ahead to the middle of the drama.
The angel Gabriel comes to speak with a virgin betrothed to Joseph, by the name of Mary. He tells her she will conceive and bare a son and call his name Jesus. When Mary asked how that could be as she was a virgin he answers, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called holy- the Son of God." (Luke 1:35).
Luke 2:8-11 And it the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The seed of the woman who would crush the serpents head was born.
In all four Gospels the crucifixion of Jesus is given in fulfillment of Isa, 53. His heel was bruised but his victory was in is death. He crushed the serpents head in his resurrection and secured the future resurrection to eternal life of all believers.
Now we will jump ahead to the end of the drama.
Isa 11:1-5 speaks of Jesus and the historical account of redemption that is spoken of and typified in all the OT. In 6-9 we are given the end result.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall like down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Rev 21:1-6 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also, he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment."
Let's solidify this with verses from Romans 8:19-25 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for the adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope, we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Earth and God dwelling with us is our home. Our home is being restored. The astonishing thing is, that Christ does this by redeeming mankind, and in doing that, defeating the serpent who deceives and destroys and brings death, and destroying him forever. All for the glory of God.
That is so glorious and fills our hearts with love and gratitude for the One who suffered and died on the cross in order to make this so, that it is easy to get stuck there, thinking that is all there is to the great drama of redemption that flows through every page of the Bible and begins in Genesis. It is enough (and it truly is). But there is so much more. A much bigger picture, that when looked at, pondered, grasped, let's us begin to see the glory of God, and God himself, in a way that can knock our socks off. Other things in the scriptures become clearer. It is as though a curtain were pulled back, or a door opened, a "I had heard of you, but now I see you--" moment, that prods us eagerly forward to see and know more of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
It is not heaven that is our home. It is earth.
In Gen 1-2:24 God creates earth and all that is in it. Preparing a place for what he does on the sixth day Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
This is our identity (made in his image and likeness) and our mandate to rule and care for the earth according to that image. God as King of the earth and our King. Mankind his subjects and servants.
Gen 2 is not a separate creation account. Gen 1 records the sequence of creation. Gen 2 focuses on the sixth day, the creation of man as the high point of creation.
Gen 3 relates the fall of Adam and Eve and its result, not only of humanity becoming sinners, alienated from God and at enmity with him (Isa 59:2; Romans 3:11-19) but to all of creation. They are cast out of the Garden of Eden, have no access to the Tree of Life. All of creation bears the curse of God on sin.
But is Gen 3:14-15 there is a promise made. So, the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly, and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
From that point forward we see the plan of redemption through this offspring (seed)unfold. With that in mind, let's jump ahead to the middle of the drama.
The angel Gabriel comes to speak with a virgin betrothed to Joseph, by the name of Mary. He tells her she will conceive and bare a son and call his name Jesus. When Mary asked how that could be as she was a virgin he answers, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called holy- the Son of God." (Luke 1:35).
Luke 2:8-11 And it the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The seed of the woman who would crush the serpents head was born.
In all four Gospels the crucifixion of Jesus is given in fulfillment of Isa, 53. His heel was bruised but his victory was in is death. He crushed the serpents head in his resurrection and secured the future resurrection to eternal life of all believers.
Now we will jump ahead to the end of the drama.
Isa 11:1-5 speaks of Jesus and the historical account of redemption that is spoken of and typified in all the OT. In 6-9 we are given the end result.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall like down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Rev 21:1-6 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also, he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment."
Let's solidify this with verses from Romans 8:19-25 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for the adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope, we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Earth and God dwelling with us is our home. Our home is being restored. The astonishing thing is, that Christ does this by redeeming mankind, and in doing that, defeating the serpent who deceives and destroys and brings death, and destroying him forever. All for the glory of God.
