9/15/20

Understanding "Why" is the essence of divine revelation (Gen 1-3)

 Human beings are the pinnacle of creation. We are created in his image, his ambassadors with all creation. We are his witnesses. 

God plans all creation for his glory (Psalm 19:1). God gives us general-purpose, "be stewards over creation. rule and subdue."

God knows us perfectly (Psalm 139). God gives each of us personal work (Eph 2:10). God gives logical, helpful instruction that we would obey and live well (Psalm 119) but mankind believed a lie and under deception disobeyed God bringing curses into the world (Genisis 3).

Sin frustrates but does not thwart the purposes of God. We were not designed to die we were designed for eternal life. The promise of redemption is giving in the judgment. He set in motion a plan; "The seed of the woman would crush Satan's head." - this occurred in history with Jesus, who has defeated death at his resurrection. The authority Adam forfeited to Satan was taken back by God and given to us now. 

MATTHEW 28:18-20 (KJV and NRSV) And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

All obedience is based on faith, we see heroes of faith found in Hebrews 11. Through faith in Jesus, we are made new (2 Cor 5:17). 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:19-21)

God's plan is total restoration, heaven and earth will be made new. Rev 21

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