YOUNG CREATION AND THE NEW YOU

May 15, 2013May 15, 2013 / thesouldoctor / Leave a comment

“The Creator of Heaven and Earth”

Before I move on in this series on the Apostles Creed, I want to point out that a true understanding of creation will give a clear focus on biblical salvation. Salvation is by grace. It is not a process it is a miracle. It happens as an event by grace not a progressive evolution of works. Scripture also uses Earth’s birthday as an analogy for salvation and calls it “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). I do not think that is a coincidence. It is the new creation of the world of our hearts, souls and minds in which old things pass away and all things become new. This is only a work God can do by grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ.

It is uncanny how the New Testament alludes to the old Creation in teaching a New Creation theology. Matthew 1:1 speaks of what is translated “the genealogy of Jesus Christ” or the record of his human ancestors. That is the context of that passage. But the KJV uses “the generation of Jesus Christ” and the word used in Greek for generation is “genesis.” The Holy Spirit is showing us that new thing promised in the scriptures (Isa. 42:9; 43:19) was happening in the confusion and emptiness of human hearts (Gen 1:2; Eph. 2:1-3) by the coming of grace and truth in Jesus We also see the comparison of Adam with Christ (Rom 5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15: 45-49).

John starts out his gospel referencing God’s speaking the world into existence saying, “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1) and then ends it with, “It is finished” (John 19:30) looking back on how God completed the Creation (Gen 2:1). It is not a stretch, that there are seven signs in John’s Gospel looking at the days of creation and when God “rested” and the eighth day or miracle is the resurrection of Christ which number signifies newness or the new creation. Many a preacher has spoken on how Jesus breathed on the disciples, saying “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22) which sounds exactly like when God breathed into Adam, “the breath of life” in Genesis 2:7. I thought it profound when I read in one place how that when Adam and Eve fell, “their eyes were opened” (Gen 3:7) to the knowledge of good and evil and that was paralleled with the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and how “their eyes were opened” to the wonderful revelation of Jesus (Luke 24:31) .

As Creation was entirely the work of God, solely by the power of God-so is salvation. He is the one who creates a new heart and a new spirit by gospel preaching. Paul declares the very first words of God used in narrative, “Let there be light” (Gen 1:3). God spoke with sublime power and authority and it happened. He says, “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6NLT). God acts in power. He speaks his Word. In the beginning God. In the beginning was the Word with God. The Word was God. He called into existence something that did not exist before-not something that developed on its own. The universe owes its existence to the Word of God.

This Word that is spoken to-day is THE GOSPEL.

“It is the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:3NIV).

It brings light where there is only darkness.

The gospel says, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Eph. 5:14NIV).

Let there be LIGHT. Christ is that light that dispels heavy darkness (Isa. 60:1-2).

You do not earn salvation, it is not something that will happen in the future. You will not evolve into a Christian. “I tell you, NOW is the time of God’s favor, NOW is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2NIV).

In closing, Matthew Henry says, “Oh, the power of the word of God! And in the new creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and affections by enlightening the understanding. Those who by sin were darkness, by grace become light in the Lord.”

ALL POWERFUL

April 26, 2013April 30, 2013 / thesouldoctor / Leave a comment

“Almighty”

When we come such words we can only worship God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. John says, “Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the LORD! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” (Rev. 19:6).

God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost is ultimate uniqueness and there is none like Him. He is the A to Z, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending of totality. He is the Trinity three in One. One God, not three. He has control of everything natural and supernatural. He is absolutely invincible. He cannot be cannot be stopped or reversed.

Yahweh, God is invincible, in every sense and aspect such as strength, speed and intellect. He is beyond cause and effect, logic and reason, and can make anything happen without limits and imagination.

El Shaddai, rules all things. He handles any situation. He has all-incredible skill and wisdom. He creates anything and everything from nothing. He is self existent and self sufficient.

The one God the Bible declares, exists outside of everything and yet is concerned with even the smallest thing. He knows no bounds. He is immutable and immune to change. He is everywhere, at once, at all times. He knows everything and anything and has full comprehension of the the smallest quark to the immense universe and eternity.

He manipulates and creates concepts, shapes and destroy all forces. He can create or erase life all at once. He is beyond life and death. He is immortal. He brings everything back to its original state. He renews all things. He controls the extent of existence itself. He is totally unstoppable. It is amazing how there is a certain sense in the Apostles Creed of not only defense of the faith but holy defiance in these words against those who would attempt to make the Christian God less than He is or compare him to false gods of pagan religions.

Arthur Pink says, It is very beautiful to link together the following passages: “He walketh upon the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8), which expresses God’s uncontrollable power. “He walketh in the circuit of Heaven” (Job 22:14), which tells of the immensity of His presence. “He walketh upon the wings of the wind” (Ps. 104:3), which signifies the amazing swiftness of His operations. This last expression is very remarkable. It is not that “He flieth,” or “runneth,” but that He “walketh” and that, on the very “wings of the wind”—on the most impetuous of the elements, tossed into utmost rage, and sweeping along with almost inconceivable rapidity, yet they are under His feet, beneath His perfect control!”

I BELIEVE

April 24, 2013April 25, 2013 / thesouldoctor / Leave a comment

“I BELIEVE” is more like a stated opinion than an admission of what a person considers to be truth these days.

Pluralism teaches that there can be more than two kinds of ultimate realities. Christianity takes an exclusive position on truth not such a silly outlook on life.

There is only one God and one truth.

We live in a day where it seems everyone is entitled to their opinion but where no one knows what is right from wrong.

On the other hand we have entire groups who base their fellowship on what that group believes-but they are usually side issues-they are marginal not cardinal. Groups for years have taken sections of the Bible where they attempt to make a distinctive of one doctrine: prophecy, worship styles, dress codes, baptism in water or the baptism in the Spirit and even diet. I do not mean to be uncharitable, but in most of those instances they make other Christians either sub-Christian or refuse to call them Christians at all.

That is why I espouse to the apostles creed. It helps me avoidsconfusion and produces a unity based on scripture rather than just warm, cuddly feelings.

“The oldest usage of the term “Rule of Faith” (regula fidei), now commonly given to the Scriptures, has reference to this creed.” (James Orr).

I base my fellowship with other Christians on the Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed teaches what Christians everywhere no matter their denomination should believe or accept as true. These are truths at the heart of the Christian faith. This way I do not compromise the scriptures and do not fellowship at the lowest common denominator. Dodd comments,

“The Apostles’ Creed is a declaration of things which are most surely believed among us, and its several parts or articles are founded upon the contents of Scripture, which is our one rule of faith. It does not begin with the words I think or I know, but with the statement “I believe.” “Belief” is used in various senses, but here it means the assent of the mind and heart to the doctrines expressed in the Creed. When we repeat the form we declare that we accept and adopt all the statements which it covers.”

What do you believe?

You say, I believe in God.”

I believe in “The Bible.

Or you say, ” In Jesus.”

But which God are you referring to? What is the Bible and what does it teach and what does it say about Jesus?

The Apostles Creed has the basic summary for all Christians to accept as truth.

© 2013 Soul Health Care Ministries. If you use this article tell people about us and where you found it. Don’t plagiarize.