In the previous post I said God had a purpose for the creation.  I should have said He has a purpose because He hasn’t changed His mind.  He will achieve His original intent which was revealed in Genesis 1:26. 
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  

Genesis 1:28 records God’s actual commission to Adam and Eve.  Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  This is the first description of God’s intention to create a Kingdom in which He would delegate some authority to rule with Him to mankind.  Initially, it was limited to having dominion over this planet.  However, I assume that when the fill the earth part was completed the Lord would have expanded the scope of our management to include other worlds.  The massive size of the universe He created suggests He planned for us to move out into it someday.  

We’re actually taking the first baby steps in doing just that.  My guess is we would be a lot further along on space exploration if Adam had not chosen to listen to Satan’s lie and broke faith with God.  His disobedience changed something in his fundamental make up.  Adam was created with something of God’s likeness in him.  God never explained exactly what “in Our image” was, but something of what it was did die when Adam sinned. 

We have this in Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.  I believe it is significant that it says Seth was born in the likeness of Adam after his (Adam’s) image. The human race was no longer what God had originally created, something in us had changed.  The conflict between Cain and Abel points to a weakness in our sense of morality.  And it was accompanied by aging and physical death.  Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. 

That verse implies God had intended Adam and Eve to live forever.  He had put the tree of life in the Garden to sustain them.  It also indicates the capacity for everlasting life was lost to the whole creation.  We humans would die, but death had permeated the entire creation.  That is why God speaks of one day creating a New Heaven and Earth, a new universe free of the death curse we live under.  He does not; however, intend to create a new human race.  God said this to Satan in Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.  Her Seed being a descendent of Eve and your seed being the entity behind the serpent – Satan.   
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That was the first Messianic prophecy.  God would send us a Redeemer who would open the way to recover what was lost when Adam sinned.  Everlasting life and a future fulfilling the Kingdom heritage given us through Adam in Genesis 1:28. It is open to all who will believe Jesus Christ for it.  

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God, John 1:1-2 (Most Scripture references are from NKJV, Thomas Nelson, 1982 ed.)

That is how the Apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, decided to open his account of Jesus Christ’s incarnation.  It all started with the Word.  Word, the means by which communication takes place.  But John had more in mind than a verbal expression because the Word is both with God and was God.  And John knew the Word is more than an idea He is a person. 

In John 1:14 he went on to say: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  We just celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ a few weeks ago.  Grace and Truth are what we need.  John 1:16-18 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

God is not some mindless force or gestalt; He is a person.  In fact, He is 3 persons sharing the same essence of being or existence.  We know God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  John told us that in the beginning of creation God had a purpose which has been communicated to us by Jesus Christ, the Word.  That purpose is the future eternal kingdom the Lord calls the new heaven and earth, Isaiah 65:17 & Revelation 21:1. It will replace this one which has been tainted by our bad choices.  Those bad choices are what has separated so many of us from God.  The reason Jesus Christ became a man and dwelt among us was to do away with what has held us apart. 

The new heaven and earth are briefly described in the Bible.  Isaiah 9:6 & 7 tell us it will be an ever-expanding reality of untold possibilities.  Revelation 21 & 22 gives us a snap shot of what it will be like which should excite every sci-fi fan who takes the time to read it.  That is where the story of Nicodemus comes in to play.  You must have everlasting life to live in the Kingdom.  And to receive everlasting life requires you believe in Jesus Christ.  He became a man in order to die for your bad choices, you sin.  Sin is the bringer of death to God.  Jesus Christ brings life.   
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John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  

The understanding I have from Scripture is believing is simply being convinced or persuaded a proposition is true.  You either believe it or you don’t.  Consider James 1:5-7 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

Faith and doubt are opposites.  If one has doubt then we can say he doesn’t have faith, he doesn’t believe.  There are not degrees of faith nor can one almost believe something.  Again, you either believe something or you don’t.  I have looked up every use of the word believe in the New Testament and not once does it appear with a modifying adverb.  Jesus Christ never spoke of truly believing or really believing, He only said believe.  The concept of a saving belief vs. a non-saving faith is not Biblical. 

Is it possible to believe something for a period of time and then change your mind and not believe it?  Absolutely, believe does not rule out a change of mind.   That is the beauty of God’s promise of everlasting life.  I point you again to what Jesus Christ said in John 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.  The person who believes in Jesus Christ for everlasting life receives it immediately.  The moment they believe they pass from death to life.  They will never come under judgement for their sin.  So, what happens if the next day they have doubt?  Well, they no longer believe but since everlasting life is everlasting, they still have it.  This is what we call assurance of salvation.  Once you have it you can’t get rid of it. 

God knew what He was doing in providing salvation.  He knows our weaknesses.  Afterall, he made us.  Look at what He said in Psalms 103:12-14 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

He knows us and would never entrust the guarantee of His gift of everlasting life to us alone.  So, He removed our sin.  It is also why the covenant He made with Abraham was an unconditional or unilateral one.  He secured that in the immutable nature of His promise.   Hebrews 6:17-18 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
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When God wants something done, He takes the responsibility to make happen.  Israel’s exodus from Egypt to the promised land is a good example.  He kept His promise even though He had to drag Israel kicking and screaming across the Sinai Wilderness.  And He will do the same for everyone who will believe in Jesus Christ for the gift of everlasting life.    

Since everlasting life is given to all who believe in Jesus Christ’s offer of life, I suppose we should discuss what it means to believe.  Which I admit seems like a simple concept until you hear how people talk about belief, believe and faith.   Just to be clear on the terms we have two nouns, belief and faith, and one verb believe.  Pistis is the Greek noun translated as faith as in Ephesians 2:8 and belief in 2 Thessalonians 2:13.    Pisteuo is the Greek verb translated as believe as in John 3:16 and 1 Thessalonians 2:13. 

Nouns are used to identify classes of people, places or things.  So, pistis and its English translations of faith and belief deal with what is believed.  A verb expresses an action, mode of being or an occurrence.  Therefore, the Greek word pisteuo and its English translation of believe refer to being in a state or mode of belief.   I don’t apologize for the grammar lesson for 3 reasons.  I’m not sure everyone knows what nouns and verbs are.  Secondly is that God is who invented language and He uses it with precision.  And thirdly, correctly understanding the word of God is too important to risk any misunderstandings.   

Let me give you an example of how big a difference confusing these words can make.  Matthew 8 recounts Jesus and the disciples crossing the sea of Galilee in a boat.  V. 18 says Jesus commanded that they cross to the other side of the lake.  While in transit the Lord took a nap and a wind storm blew up.  The disciples were fearful the boat would sink so they woke Jesus up saying “Lord save us. We are perishing!”  To which Christ replied “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”  The question is what did Jesus Christ mean by “O you of little faith.”

One view I’ve heard is that their faith was weak.  It lacked the intensity of genuine faith.  I have two issues with that view.  1) that makes a successful crossing dependent on the disciple’s faith and 2) it doesn’t fit the context or the grammar.  Context because they obviously believed Jesus Christ could protect them since that is why they woke Him up.  Grammatically because little is an adjective which described what they believed not how hard they believed it.  The better view of what Jesus said here is that the content of their belief was small.  It was deficient in that they had not believed everything Jesus Christ had said to them.

In V. 18 Jesus had commanded they were to cross the lake.  God means what He says.  They were going to cross the Lake.  So, no matter what the condition of the sea, if they were not yet to the other side that boat was not going to sink.  They needed to learn the same lesson Israel failed to grasp in the wilderness wanderings.  We are to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4).   

As I said above God is precise in His use of language.  Therefore, we should read and interpret what the Bible says with equal precision.   The stakes are too high if we get it wrong. 
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2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I believe most of us know the story of the first Christmas.  We just need to cut through all the mythical additions that have been attached over the centuries.  The Angel’s message to the Shepherds still holds the core message.    
Luke 2:10 - Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

The Joy the angel announced that night was about more than the birth of this child. It was ultimately for what He would accomplish. For this baby was the promised Messiah, the Savior who would bring about reconciliation to God. His birth was just the first step on the road to Calvary.  The joy which would reach to all people was the magnificent future Jesus Christ purchased for us. But it started with the one born that day in Bethlehem

Luke 2:11-14 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Sticking to the text of what Luke wrote we can dispose of some myths that have been tacked onto the Christmas story.  Myths that actually diminish the wonder of that night.  Mary and Joseph were not alone in a stable somewhere on the outskirts of Bethlehem.  They were likely staying at someone’s home, possibly in an attached shelter.  The stone manger (not wood) was a convenient crib.  The Shepherds were able to find them because the town’s people knew where they were staying.  It is highly improbable that the women of Bethlehem would stand by and let a pregnant stranger give birth alone in a cow pen.  Luke lets us know there were other people in attendance.       

Luke 2:17-20 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

The shepherds told the people who had gather what the Angels had announced – this Baby Boy was the promised savior, the Messiah.  The people did not discount what the shepherds said but wondered if it could be true.  And what would this mean for them.  Luke used the same word to describe the reaction Joseph and Mary had to Simeon’s words a month later in at the Temple.    

Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-33

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Simeon had more to say to Mary “Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35

The joy of her Baby’s birth would become a cause of division in Israel as well as the world.  She would live to see the ministry of Jesus Christ bring the blessing of everlasting life to many, but also the fall of those who would speak against Him.  Mary would herself suffer pain because she would see the true mindset of the Jewish leaders.  

But in the end God’s Mercy does triumph over judgement.  Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Him, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Him shall never die. Do you believe this?”  John 11:25-26

​As the story goes, Bertrand Russell is reported to have said something along the lines of "God, you gave us insufficient evidence," or "Not enough evidence, God, not enough evidence" as his defense if he ever did meet God.  I’m sure there are other atheists who might say that is a reasonable position to take.  But, after creating the entire universe what more would He need to do to convince them?  You really only have 3 options for explaining our existence.  1) We live within the improbability of an infinite regression.  2) There was nothing and then universe sprang into existence.  Or there's #3) the universe was created by an all-powerful omniscient God. 
 
I suppose you could modify the 3rd option to be a pre-existent impersonal force that is not subject to time, doesn’t occupy space and is information based and orderly.  But then you still have to determine from where a decision to create came.  So, we’re back to the need for a decision maker and a personal God fits the bill.  I lean in the direction that most people do believe there has always been something that in turn created the reality in which we live, the uncaused cause.  If Mr. Russell did say the above quotation he basically admitted to his own suspicions of that truth.  You can’t have a conversation with an impersonal force.
 
The Bible says in Romans 1:19 & 20 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.  The universe is a strong argument favoring God. 
 
Christmas is an annual reminder that the Creator God cares about His creation.  The birth of Jesus Christ set in motion the final steps of God’s redemptive plan.  It was the gateway to Easter.  I’ll yield to the words of Charles Westley: 
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Glory to the newborn King!   Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord!  Mild He lays His glory by. Born that we no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth!
 
Jesus Christ offers the gift of everlasting life to all who will believe in Him for that life.  

 John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  Probably the best-known verse in the Bible.  Do you know what it means?  Let’s look at in the context in which Jesus Christ said it. 

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”   Nicodemus started by admitting he believed Jesus Christ was sent by God. The Lord apparently knew his real concern was about his own destiny.  Would he make it into heaven, the Kingdom of God. 

Jesus told him you have to be born anew (lit.) or you will never enter the Kingdom of God.  In V.4 Nicodemus asked how can one be born when he is old?   And Jesus replied “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.”

Physical birth comes first.  But is not enough to get you into the Eternal Kingdom of God.  Nicodemus’ next question in V. 9 “How can these things be?”  Jesus reminded Nicodemus he had already concluded that Jesus had come from God.  Therefore, what Jesus said about the Kingdom of God was something He knew was true.  (READ John 3:9-13) The Lord then drew an analogy from something that happened during Israel’s wandering in the wilderness before entering the promised land. 

You can read it in Number 21:4-9.  Nicodemus knew the story so Jesus only had to cover the key points.  John 3:14 & 15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  Poisonous snakes were in the camp because of the people’s rebellious and accusatory complaints about God and Moses.  That got their attention and they repented, asked God to remove the snakes.  Instead of removing the snakes God gave them a lesson in faith.  He told them for this time only the cure for snake bite was to look at a snake Moses had hung on a pole.  Believe God and look at the snake and you lived.  Don’t look, you died. Look and live was the point.  In John 3:16 says believe and live forever.  Believe who? Jesus Christ.

Nicodemus needed everlasting life to enter the Kingdom of God.  His options?  Believe in Jesus Christ for everlasting life or don’t.  Believe and live, don’t believe Him about everlasting life and die.  John 3:16 extends that offer to everyone.  You want to live forever in Heaven with God, believe in Jesus Christ for everlasting life.  Life that never ends in a kingdom that lasts forever.    Jesus Christ is God incarnate.  He is infinite in all His attributes and therefore His death in our place has infinite value.  He is the one who can give everlasting life and has said He will give it to everyone who will take His word for it.     

Picking up from the previous post, the one variable John Lennon left out in his imagined utopia was human nature.  We all have egos which are driven by self-interest.  Those things are not necessarily bad.  Our self-interest is what leads us to prepare for the future, take care of our health and where we can, avoid dangerous situations.  But it is also the source of envy, greed, jealousy and selfishness.  Those are part of the mental makeup imprinted in our DNA.  It is not the environment. We’re born this way.  It’s something every parent observes in their children.  Babies exhibit those behaviors right from birth.  Thankfully they are cute and lack the language skills that would otherwise make them unbearable. 
 
Before you take offense at that know that I am a parent & grandparent who loves his sons and grandchildren.  I also know they inherited those less desirable character traits from me and their grandmother.  Which is why I pray for them and have told them about Jesus Christ.  God’s intention from the beginning was to create a world that would exceed all that John Lennon had imagined.  He laid out that plan in Genesis 1:26-28.  He will achieve that goal in the New Heaven and Earth mentioned in Isaiah 65:17 ff and Revelation 21 & 22.  Everyone who has the everlasting life Jesus Christ died to provide for us will enter that world.
 
The reason Jesus Christ had to do that is because God created the Human race with the freedom to make choices, a free will.  He knew the risks but realized the benefits were far better than the negatives.  Still, He took responsibility for allowing us to make bad choices by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our wrong choices.  What the Bible calls sin.  From the very beginning He promised a redeemer who would make things right again.  He also warned of the consequences of refusing His offer of everlasting life.  Anyone reading this blog has no excuse for missing out on being in the new world that’s coming. 
 
Here is what Jesus Christ promised in John 11:25 & 26 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
 
He is the resurrection!  People do die physically but those who have believed in Jesus Christ for everlasting life will experience resurrection and live in a new body.  He is the everlasting life so the one who has believed Him never actually ceases to exist.  They will live on fully aware of who and where they are.  It really is in your best interest to check this out.  You can read the Bible for yourself.  I suggest starting with the Gospel of John.  And you can talk to someone like me who has already believed and received everlasting life.  
 
Eternity lasts forever.  Where do you want to spend it? 

In 1971 John Lennon released his greatest hit single Imagine.  The song proposes a world free of religion, nationalism and materialism would usher in a secular Utopia.   A world free of greed and hunger in which the brotherhood of man would all share.  People loved the song.  However, we really don’t need to imagine such a world as it has already been tried.  God gave us such a world in the beginning.  It is described in the Biblical book of Genesis. 
 
Chapters 3-6 of Genesis give us an overview of what it was like back then.  Adam and Eve lived in a world that actually fits what Lennon described.  They lived in a perfect environment of plenty.  They could do almost anything they wished as there was only one restriction, one rule they needed to obey.  They were to never eat the fruit of a single particular tree.  Understand, they had free access to everything and anything else on this planet.  Wrap your Imagination around that!  And even after they blew it and ate the fruit, we could count the restrictions placed on them by God with the fingers of one hand.  They lived truly free.
 
There was only one belief system.  It only governed their enter actions with the creator, so religions weren’t a problem.  No national boundaries to restrict their movement or to compete against.  The world was still a wonder land of plenty that fit Lennon’s imagined Utopia.  So how did that work out?  See Genesis 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
 
You see the real source of our trouble is not the environment it is found within us.  We are driven by self-interest.  We want what we want and only two things restrain us from complete loss of control.  One of them is the very things Lennon wanted to wish away.  The other is the Creator. 
 
History shows that God has intervened in the affairs of mankind from time to time.  The Genesis flood being the first time.   He has also provided redemption and restoration to us as individuals.  The gift of everlasting life purchased by Jesus Christ which is available to every human being opens the way to a future in Heaven.  A true Utopia that will be free of the self-interest that corrupts everything we touch today. 

​John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
 
Jesus Christ is the giver of everlasting life and will give it to everyone who believes Him.  As He said in John 5:24 this everlasting life is given when a person first believes.  They immediately pass from death into life.  When their physical body dies, they will live on in a new one.  And with the new life God offers a renewed mindset through the study of His revealed truth.  John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  
 
That is what we are pursuing at Trego Community Church.  The knowledge of God’s truth that frees us to face a promising future in God’s eternal Kingdom.

I’m sure most everyone who reads this blog has heard someone say something like “if the Bible says it, I believe it.”  I’ve heard more than once.  The fascinating thing is there are certain Biblical doctrines that some of those same people say they don’t believe.  One such doctrine is Rewards.  Jesus Christ taught that God will reward believers for the good works they do.  That presents a problem to those who hold an egalitarian view of Heaven.  The concept of reward means some believers would end up with more than others if the quality and quantity of their works were not equal. 
 
If you believe the Bible is God’s revealed word then you have to embrace the concept of reward for good works because it is clearly stated in the Bible.  The language is plain. 
 
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12 NKJV) The words ‘according to his work’ sounds like a merit-based reward. 
 
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV) This says there is a reward for those who diligently seek God.  Diligence means making earnest or energetic action.  
 
Jesus Christ spoke of reward in the Sermon on the Mount:
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”  (Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV)
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Jesus Christ not only talked about reward but in this passage from Matthew 6 He is actually giving pointers on how to earn them.  Besides charitable giving the Lord also told us how to gain reward for prayer, religious practices like fasting and social functions.  You know, inviting people to dinner and such.  When I read these passages, I come away with the impression that God wants to reward us.  Being a Father, He wants to do good for His children.  He wants them to succeed in the things that matter.  I can identify with that because I’m a father and a grandfather.  I still seek out ways to motivate my sons to excel in what they do.