11/12/17-In Christ: Thinking Like a Christian

Below are the 4 major points of Christianity and all can be summed up in these categories

Creation

Fall

Redemption

Restoration

 

Creation (Genesis 1, 2)–God created all things, from all the stars, suns, and galaxies all the way down to the molecules, atoms, and quarks that consist them.

He made creation in peace and harmony-God simply spoke it into existence, and creation was ordered and tranquil.

God made man “in His image”-Both Adam and Eve were created to reflect God, to bear His image to the world, and to take responsibility to care for the creation God made.

What does it mean to be made in the Image of God?

Note: God had just made the animals.  Now he wanted to make an animal that was different.  One with a capacity to interact with the creation, and commune with Himself.

The Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)-all involved in the act of creation. This is important to remember. Because the three persons of the One Godhead were in a perfect loving relationship with one another, the gospel to mankind is the invitation to experience that loving relationship.

 

Fall–Long before John 3:16 was penned, God always loved the world

He created it

He was pleased with it.

Gen 1: 31-God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

It was holy, pure, clean and beautiful, so much so, He could walk in it, and be visible

What happened to change all that, is what some theologians call “The Fall”.

Now when we look at the creation of Man, it’s important to understand what authority God gave him, and what exactly God said concerning him, and it’s important too to note the context-Genesis 1:25

The problem of Choice.

 .. Love, Loyalty, Obedience

This is where the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil comes in-Gen 2:15

Temptation – Satan Deceives Eve

Satan’s empty promise-Gen 3:1

Result – Separation-Gen. 3:6-11; Jude 12; Eph. 1:1-2

Something else happened at the Fall.  The transfer of the Kingdom–Adam lost his crown-Romans 6:16

Genesis 3; Rom. 5:12-21-Evil-A wrong relationship or a non-conformity between our will and God’s will, (what we want does not match up with what God wants), and we end up in a kingdom of death

–The good things and desires that God gave us end up becoming ultimate things-where we get our value, our sense of self, our morals, everything.

–Once our wills are alienated from God our bodies are sure to follow, this is why we suffer pain and death-These are the results of the Fall

The Fall cannot be a moral parable or fiction and here is why-If so, then its effects-suffering and death are not historical either because a non-historical first cause can’t lead to historical effects. (i.e. no Fall then there shouldn’t be any evil in the world but there is)

–If the Fall didn’t happen, Christ’s atoning death on the cross isn’t necessary and is pointless!!

–If Sin is non-historical (mythical/fiction) then it does not need a historical cure (cross) and the crucifixion of Jesus DID happen in history.

 

Solution-Redemption-

How do we re-align the will and have forgiveness? Grace through Jesus Christ who purifies us from sin and sanctifies our minds and wills.

–The cross stands at the center of history-Grace is the Heart of the Gospel-Forgiveness is the Heart of Grace

Nothing we can do to merit it; Nothing we can do can save ourselves-Eph. 2:8-10.

Every other faith and religion had a leader. A leader who would commonly say, “I am not divine, but I can point you to God and give you the rules He wants you to live by.” We have to earn our salvation through good works.

Jesus says otherwise. He is God and says “if you want to know what God is like, look at Me”. He lives the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died and saves us by sheer grace.

All we do after salvation is settled.  We no longer have to work to gain God’s favor.  Our work now is to obey Him, and to do His will, and His will is to reflect Christ to others-Romans 4:4-5

 

Result-Restoration–

Jesus’ death on the cross was the final death blow to sin and the kingdom of Satan, giving us a chance to have life in the Kingdom of God. It is this freedom and joy that ought to motivate us to live this kingdom out “on earth as it is in heaven”.

This event is not only a one-time historical occurrence, it is also our pattern for living. We too take part in Christ’s death every time we “die to self”, meaning we live like Jesus rather than conforming to the “old pattern” of how we used to live.

We also take part in His resurrection because we too have “new life” given to us to obey God. We don’t have to do it on our own strength.

All of creation itself is slowly being redeemed because Christ started His great work and continues it through us.

One of the most probing and thought-provoking ideas is to ask “what does the gospel say about…..” If our faith touches every aspect of our lives (and it does) and we believe it covers everything, both private and public (it certainly does), then we ought to always live our lives asking “what does the gospel say about….”

So what does the gospel say about the big national issues, like the recent tragic shootings or potential war with hostile countries? What does it say about politics? Our economy? Etc.

–What does it say about issues closer to home? Like how we spend our money and time? How do we raise our children? How do we interact with the world around us?