BIBLE TOPICS

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path". Ps 119:105

Subjects

GOD'S PLAN AND PURPOSE

THE PLAN OF GOD - FULFILLED IN JESUS.

The first question we need to consider is - Why did God create everything in the first place? We read:

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power. For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created". Rev 4v11

Man was created on the 6th day, so we read Gen 1v27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them." God said to Adam:

"Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves over the ground"......"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it". Gen 2v15

So man was created for a purpose, to give God pleasure, not slavishly, for it would not have been to God's honour to have beings having no choice but to serve him. No, man was given free will to choose to honour, or not honour and obey his Creator. Adam was created from the dust of the ground, in the image of God. That is in physical form and moral potential. Adam was intended to grow to be like God, reflecting his glorious character. It cannot of been image in the sense of the perfect nature of God, for had this been so, then man would not have sinned. Sin means disobedience to Gods Law. Man was given work to do - guardianship over all God had created.

Now God provided all that man needed, truly an idyllic situation in Eden. Yet God tested man to see if he would fulfill the purpose of his creation. Adam was given everything, only one thing was denied to him, a tree bearing fruit, described as the tree of the knowledge of good & evil. That it most certainly was, for man did disobey his Creator by taking the fruit. Adam and Eve then knew the difference between good and evil in God's sight. They had been forewarned "When you eat of it you will surly die". A very clear statement, and so the sentence was carried out. God said as we read Genesis 3v17-19:

"To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, `You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

Thus man was alienated from his Creator, yet God's purpose still stood as Isaiah records- Isaiah 46v10 "My purpose will stand and I will do all I please". That purpose is that - "All the Earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord". [Num 14v21] Our Creator is merciful and a way had to be found that man could be reconciled to God, but without compromising God's authority, his integrity, his righteousness and his justice.

God's Promises to Adam and Eve.

"The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the 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." Gen 3v14-15. NIV

A blow to the heal of course is not a fatal wound, whereas a crushing blow to the head is. This promise referred of course to Jesus. Christ was "struck" in the heel [a non fatal blow] by sin when he was crucified, but he recovered being raised after three days. By a life of perfect obedience. By his death and subsequent resurrection, Christ dealt a fatal blow to sin. [A blow to the head]

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity, so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is the devil". Hebrews 2v14

Points to note

DEATH MEANS DEATH. There is no immortal soul, as we read Psalm 6v5 "No one remembers you when he is dead, who praises you from the grave"

Why? Ecclesiastes provides the answer....

"For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun" Ecclesiastes 9v5-6 [NIV]

The idea of an immortal soul goes back to the original lie of the serpent "You will not surely die"

There is no literal evil being called the devil. God is the Creator of everything, God will not look upon evil, let alone create an evil being. How could God justly condemn Adam and Eve if a devil was responsible. Further we must consider that Angels cannot sin, therefore the devil cannot be a fallen angel. James clearly shows that like Adam and Eve we are responsible for our own sin:

"Each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full-grown gives birth to death". James 1v14

There was only one way to take away sin, something that could only be done by a perfectly sinless man:

"For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will be made righteous". Romans 5v19.

God provided a perfect saviour, reversing the sentence of death for disobedience, providing a way by which man could be justified by faith. But at the same time justifying God's condemnation of sin and the sentence of death for disobedience, by the sacrifice and destruction of the nature that sinned.

The Bible teaches that Christ died because he was of our nature. Jesus had free will. He chose to lay down his life willingly in obedience to his Father. Because Adam disobeyed (sinned) he was condemned to die, he became mortal. We are of his nature and sooner or later we die. Paul wrote Romans 6 "The wages of sin is death". So we die:

because we are of the same nature as Adam

because of our own sin.

Jesus was exactly of the same nature as Adam, and thus mortal, yet he did not sin. He obeyed God and therefore did not deserve to die. For this reason although the law of sin and death said he had to die because he was of human nature, Jesus did not deserve death, he was innocent, therefore God could justly raise him to life. Jesus willingly laid down his life, both for himself: because as we read "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God"; secondly as a perfect representative of man:

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 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. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men." - Romans 5v12-18. [NIV]

So from the time of Adam and Eve we see an account unfold of two kingdoms. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of men. Man has always desired to please himself, not God his Creator. Yet Man is not fit to rule himself:

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" Jeremiah 17v9

"I know O Lord, that a mans life is not his own, it is not for man to direct his steps". Jeremiah10v23

The state of the world around us is the result of mankind's mismanagement of both himself and his environment. Man is not able to decide right from wrong for himself, or to rule himself. He must conform to God's purpose, for that is the very reason for his existence. God has promised a time when he will set up his Kingdom. Daniel chapter 2 records a dream of a great statue, dreamt of by King Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet Daniel interpreted the dream. The statue represented various stages of the Kingdom of man throughout history, it was struck on the feet by a stone that toppled it, grinding it to powder. The final stages of the Kingdoms of man was represented by feet and toes of iron and clay, representing nations some weak some strong, but as iron and clay do not mix neither would they. Daniel records:

"In the time of those kings the God of heaven shall set up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed". Daniel 2v44

So then with that foundation laid, lets look at what a kingdom needs. First a land, then people to populate it, just laws and a King to rule. So lets look at these things in order.

A KINGDOM NEEDS A LAND!

" And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered." GEN 13v14-16

"That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." GEN 22v16-17

In these promises we see:

 

	The land of Canaan (Israel) was to be for an everlasting possession to both his seed and himself.
	His seed would possess the gate of, that is rule over his enemies.
	In his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
	God would make his descendants so numerous that they would be unable to be counted, a very great nation.

Back to making points again...

	Abraham never possessed the land during his lifetime, but Gods word cannot fail. Abraham must therefore be raised from the dead in order for the promise to be fulfilled.
	Jesus Christ is the identified promised seed of Abraham. Gal 3v16 "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his 'seed'. The scripture does not say "and to seed's", meaning many people, but "and to your seed", meaning one person, who is Christ". It is Christ who is the "seed" through whom all nations will be blessed.
	Jesus must then return to the earth to establish God's kingdom, before the promises can be completely fulfilled.

When Jesus returns he will have rule over all his enemies, and will bring all into subjection. 1Corinthians 15v25 "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death".

A KINGDOM NEEDS A KING!

"And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son" 2 SAM 7v11-16

So David was promised:

 

	He would have a son who would sit upon his throne forever.
	That Son would build a house for God's name.
	This Son would reign "before" i.e. in the presence of David. Thus David as with Abraham must be raised from the dead at the return of Jesus.

Further points to note!.....

	This son who was to sit upon David's throne was not Solomon, for he died and yet the promises clearly state the Kingdom would last forever.
	Jesus Christ at his conception was identified as that promised descendant of David:

"But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1v30-33. N.I.V.

A KINGDOM NEEDS LAWS.

Israel the natural descendants of Abraham were given laws by God, known as the Law of Moses. They were just laws to govern the people and covered all aspects of their daily lives, relationships and responsibilities to each other. These laws will be re-established when Christ returns. [see www page on 'What will the Kingdom be like?' ] However one important aspect of our considerations now, was the law's requirements for animal sacrifices.

"In fact the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness". Hebrews 9v22

The animal sacrifices under the Law of Moses could however not take away sin, for the sacrifice was not of the same nature. They only served as types or patterns.

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the realities themselves". ...."But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins". Heb 10v1& 3-4

The animal sacrifices pointed forward to what Adam and Eve were promised and to what Abraham was promised, to the true and perfect sacrifice - a sinless man. Christ unlike any animal, was a perfect representative of the human race. John records:

"Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". John 1v29 NKJ

Now in Genesis [3v21] we read that God provided a covering for Adam and Eve with coats of skins, pointing forward to the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Jesus provided a covering for man's sins. Christ by his death made 'atonement' for man's sins, providing the way through which man might again be acceptable to his Creator.

Provision was made under the Law of Moses, for the priest to offer sacrifice on behalf of the people, that their sins might be forgiven. Such sacrifices pointing forward to the great High Priest, Jesus Christ, who acts as a mediator between God and man. Because of a man's disobedience he deserves to die. The slaying of an animal and the shedding of its blood represented this fact. Blood representing life. Yet the blood of animals cannot take away sin, only the death of human nature could do that. When we are dead we are beyond doing anything good or bad! That is what the law of sin and death required. As we read Romans 6v23 "The wages of sin is death". However we must realise that Christ was not a substitute nor a replacement. This would mean his death replaced every man's death, so no man would ever have to die again. Not only this, if Christ was our substitute, it would mean he should still be dead, for he would have died in our place. But Christ was raised from the dead, and man still does die, thus ruling out the idea of substitution.

Jesus was not just similar to us, he exactly represented us for he was exactly like us. However only those was are 'in Christ as Paul puts it, benefit from his salvation. We have to take positive action to be "in Christ". The fact Christ died, does not mean all human beings are automatically justified.

SUMMARY.

Adam and Eve

One who would come who would overcome sin and death.

Abraham

	The land of Canaan (Israel) was to be for an everlasting possession to both his seed and himself.
	His seed would possess the gate of, that is rule over his enemies.
	In his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
	God would make his descendants so numerous that they would be unable to be counted, a very great nation.

David

	He would have a son who would sit upon his throne forever.
	That Son would build a house for God's name.
	This Son would reign "before" ie in the presence of David.

So far we see fulfilled

	The promise to Adam and Eve fulfilled, of one who come would overcome power sin.
	The promise to Abraham fulfilled of one through whom all nations would be blessed.
	One born to be King, not just of Israel but of the whole world.
	One who is now building God's house comprised of those who believe God's promises.

But many of the promises briefly looked at have yet to be fulfilled. But they will be! Christ will return as foretold. The angels told Apostles:

"Men of Galilee they said why do you stand here looking into the sky. This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven". Acts 1v11

Jesus Christ is the future King of all the world. He will sit upon David's throne, and build that promised house for God's name. Paul writes:

"For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet". Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all." 1Corinthians 15v25-28.

So Jesus shall reign as we read in Revelation for a period of 1000 yrs after which death will finally be destroyed:

"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection." Revelation 20v4-5

Then:

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21v3-4

At last then once again harmony between man and his Creator will be restored. All once again will give God pleasure and be 'good' in his sight. 

WHAT CAN THESE PROMISES MEAN TO ME?

"Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." Galatians 3v6-9.NIV

So we see we must have belief and Faith. The exact opposite of Adam and Eve. We still sin, but our faith is acceptable to God and he will count our faith as righteousness. The principle is laid out by Paul :

" What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." ..... "And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised." Romans 4v1-3 & 12. NIV

So Abraham was accepted because of his faith. He believed God's word and acted upon it. But as Paul goes on, this principle does not apply to Abraham only:

"The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness-- for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." Romans 4v23-25.

Israel were, and still are, God's chosen people, being the decedents of Abraham. But through faith we can become heirs those promises. As Jesus said:

"He that believes and is baptised shall be saved". Mark 16v16

Baptism is essential for salvation. It is an act of obedience, the putting of FAITH into action. As James writes:

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" faith without works is dead" James 2v20-22 KJ

So what does Baptism represent?

"don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." Romans 6v3-8. NIV

Point to Note....

"put off the old man (old nature) with his deeds, and put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him (God) that created him (Christ)." Colossians 3v9 KJ

Jesus Christ, "the new man", succeeding where Adam failed. Through him we can be adopted as sons of God:

"When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons". Galatians 4v4-5 KJ

The House of God that Christ is to build, to God's glory, just as promised to David, is both a spiritual and a literal house. Now 'House' can refer to a dynasty, as we might refer to the "House of Windsor" speaking of the royal family. That Spiritual house of God is in the making now, built upon:

"The foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone". Ephesians 2v20

Peter also say's:

"You also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ". 1Peter 2v3-6

God's Kingdom will come. His promises are certain. The only thing in doubt is will you be there, part of God's house. All have the opportunity, the decision is yours, but time grows short, for the return of Jesus is very near.

Abraham, Moses, David and all the faithful of old will rise, as promised, to take their places with Christ in his Kingdom. Will you also serve him willingly? Or like Adam and Eve, and so many others of mankind will you choose to go your own way. You have freedom of choice but God, your Creator, means exactly what he say's - "The wages of sin, is death".

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