In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
There was at one time (yet time did not exist--eternity-everlasting is unfamilar to time--time has no teeth to ravage, decay and destroy--time does not inhabit eternity) time is used in the sense to establish some reference point to our physical reality. There was no beginning until God-- everlasting-eternal, was always and forever will be-Father, Son, Holy Spirit--spoke it into existence. John chapter 1 says "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him. Through the eternal Word creation came to be. Jesus the eternal Son spoke it out, "Then God said, let there be" and thus all that is in the universe was brought forth into existence.
Where once nothingness....now the substance that defines a material creation burst forth into existence as God the Son spoke it into being. Light, oceans, grass, fruit, firmament, planets, stars, solar systems, creatures, and mankind from the dust of the earth. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.
We do know that God created the angels before He created the physical universe. The book of Job describes the angels worshiping God as He was creating the world. We also know that angels existed prior to the garden of Eden, because Satan, who was formerly the angel Lucifer, was already present in the garden in his fallen state. (Job. 38:4-7;1:6; 2:1)
Angels were created to worship God around His throne (Revelation 5:11–14), they may have been in existence millions of years—as we reckon time—before God created the world, worshiping Him and serving Him. We know before this material time functioning physical universe was formed Jesus existed eternally. For "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence....He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (1 Col. 1:15-17;Phil. 2:7-8)
Mankind forfeited his right to everlasting life when He disobeyed God and believed the lie of the serpent (satan, the devil) rather than believe God. "the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2:16-17) They believed the lie of the serpent that they would not die, a contradiction of God's warning to them. Mankind chose to believe the lie and die they did with all their progeny following in their footsteps, (Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— Romans 5:12--for God For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; Rom. 8:20)
The world we inhabit today is tainted (contaminated, polluted), corrupt, sinful (inclined toward doing evil) selfish, vile, perverted, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron; lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.(1 Tim. 4; 2 Tim 3) The human condition is at enmity with God, following the course of this world; the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and boasting of what we have and do; as they run with the prince of the power of the air the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience and are BY NATURE CHILDREN OF GOD'S WRATH!
Everyone is not in the sight of a Holy, Righteous, Perfect God, born basically good. We are all born with a trigger ready to be pulled into the nature of who we are. Born disposed to fulfill the lust of the flesh and of the mind. Sin has corrupted all of mankind, from conception, with a nature inclined to what is evil in the sight of God.
Yet by the gace of God through faith, and not of ourselves, we are brought from darkness to light, from death to life. By grace through faith and not of ourselves--a gift of God. For the unregenerative nature of mankind is loathe of the God of the bible. "Because the carnal mind is enmity (Hostile)against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (Romans 8:7)
But God has provided a way out of this seemly tragic and hopeless situation. A Blessed Hope. (Titus 2:13) The Way, the Truth and the Life has come into time and space taking the very form of a bondservant--a slave. God the Son took on a human nature and tabernacled in a body of flesh, blood and bones. Therefore, we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15) The Word who was in the beginning with God and was God became flesh. Jesus dwelt among the race of fallen mankind. He lived that perfect life God demands. And that no one can obtain on their own.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Matt. 3:13-17; Luke 9:35)
Jesus Christ--the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The only name under heaven that can deliver one from the clutches of eternal damnation. Absent from the presence of God and the glory of His power. Into the promise of being rescued from the dominion of spiritual darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son of His love. In whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. For scripture tells us without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore God made Him (Jesus) to be a sin offering for us, so that in Him we may become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21)
Jesus Christ tells us you must be perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect. (Matt. 5:48) In order to obtain everlasting life. (No one is or could ever be perfect in and of themselves. It is not humanly possible.) There is no one righteous, no not one. (Ps. 14:1-3; Romans 3:10) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (The kingdom of God is not aquired by one's good works. For all our righteous acts are as filthy rags. We all shrivel up like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. (Is. 64:6) The sinful nature taints every sinew of our fleshly being. By our very nature we are at enmity (hatred) with the God of the bible.
Salvation from humanity's sin cursed blindness to this truth comes through God's one and Only Son. Each human being must bow to this truth. God does this through the grace of God by faith and not of ourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. God draws us to His Son (John 6:44;65) and saves us not because of the righteous things we have done but according to His mercy. (Tius 3:5) His is the only name under heaven by which anyone is saved. Those who have the Son have life. (everlasting--a citizenship in heaven) Through Jesus Christ and Him only come God's acceptance; come redemption/forgiveness the rescue from eternal damnation in what Jesus Christ himself says is the lake of fire. Those who believes in the Son have everlasting life; those who do not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)
Jesus beckons with the words “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30) { In Bibical times the yoke ensured that the oxen worked in tandem, sharing the load equally. This agricultural tool became a powerful metaphor in Scripture, symbolizing various forms of submission, servitude, and partnership.Here, the yoke represents the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus, contrasting with the heavy burdens imposed by the Pharisaic interpretation of the Law. Jesus' yoke is characterized by grace, rest, and a personal relationship with Him.}
When you believe, confess, and repent one crosses over from death to life. From darkness to light. Where once one followed the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience and were BY NATURE the children of God's wrath. One is brought from the slavery to sin to being a slave (servant) of God.
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:20-23)
You are either a slave to sin and in rebellion against divine law or a slave of God. Jesus replied, ‘Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.’”Here, the statement underscores that sin is not just a series of bad deeds; it is a condition in which a person is compelled to act against God’s righteousness. This direct teaching of Jesus shows that sin prevents genuine freedom.**
It is a rescue from the guilt and power of sin (Rom. 6::18) from an accusing conscience (Heb. 10:22) from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:1; Heb. 10:27) and the tyranny of satan (2 Tim. 2:26; Heb. 2:14) Freedom from the law: deliverance from the curse which the law pronounces upon the sinner who has been striving--unsuccessfuly, of course--to achieve his own righteousness. But has now, by grace, turned to Christ and salvation in him.***
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Gal. 5:1) Slavery to try in our own flesh to keep God's law. When in reality because of our fallen sinful condition it is utterly impossible. ("there is no one who does good. No not one." Rom. 3:12)
God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin (offering) for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21)
God's plan of salvation seen in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament:
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed. (Is. 53:5OT)
Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. (Ex. 12:13OT) Sacrifices were made to atone for sins and signify the immense price of salvation. However, these sacrifices also point towards a greater act of redemption, showing us the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Heb. 9:22 NT)
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel: Meaning God with us.(Is. 7:14 OT)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.” (Micah 5:2 OT)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Is. 9:6 OT)
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech. 9:9 OT fulfilled Mark 11:1-10)
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (Is. 61:1 fulfilled Luke 43:17-22)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth....
"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." (Ps. 33:6;9) " All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:3) "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things." (Acts 17:24-25)
The Bible clearly requires us to believe that God created the universe out of nothing. (creation ex nihilo) This means that before God began to create the universe nothing else existed except God Himself. (God did not use any previously existing materials when he created the universe) God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; Romans 4:17 Can also be translated as saying that God calls the things which do not exist as existing.****
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
All the mountains, oceans, the stars, the earth itself, all came into existence when God created them. There was a time when they did no exist.
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Ps. 90:2)
The Bible describes God as eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, unchanging, loving, just, merciful, gracious, and sovereign over all creation. God is, was and forever will be. God is everlasting, creates all things in heaven and on earth, and in Him all things hold together. (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17)
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says:“In an acceptable time I have heard you,And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:1-2)
Note: Life is short, you probably heard that said. Scripture tells us:
"For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (James 4:14)
Oh, remember that my life is a breath! (Job 7:7)
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah (Ps. 39:11)
For my days are consumed like smoke, (Ps. 102:3)
Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow. (Ps. 144:4)
Scripture tells us there is life after death. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, which Paul declared is much better. For all God's people who have been born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. One must have His righteousness, His perfection imputed to their account to spend eternity with God. Those who have the Son of God by grace through faith, have confessed and repented of their sins, trust and obey, have been born from above, regenerated by God's grace, and by His mercy have been born again into the kingdom of God. It's the only option. Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.
When Jesus returns at His second coming, raptures up His chosen people and regenerates creation there will be a new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells. All those without the savior will hear "depart from Me, I never knew you." All those who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord by the grace of God and His mercy will spend eternity in the New Heavens and new earth. There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Rev. 22:3-5)
The Apostle Peter writes "God is not wanting that any should perish but that all come to repentance."
If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
** Bible Hub**"What does being a slave to sin mean"
***Galatians 5:1 William Hendriksen commentary
**** Systematic Theology Wayne Grudem
