The Adversary, Adam & Almighty Salvation

Genesis 3:1 "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

Introduction:
In a blog written on September 28, 2013 (http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2013/09/satans-disastrous-fall-christs-decisive.html) we had explored the disastrous fall of Satan as recorded in Ezekiel 28:11-19 and noted how despite his massive fall and morbid outcomes, Christ came to win a decisive victory on the cross.  Ezekiel 28, we could say, is a prequel to Genesis 3.  The fall and rebellion of Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12) took place in the white space that exists between Genesis 2-3. In today's blog we will be considering the continuation of Satan's activity following that initial and most dramatic fall in a post I'm entitling: "The Adversary, Adam and Almighty Salvation".

Meet the Adversary
Other than Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22, the remaining 1185 chapters of God's Word occur in a setting where sin and rebellion are active, whether in the invisible or visible realm.  The morbid outcomes of Satan's disastrous fall led to the demonic realm and the fall of man recorded here in Genesis 3.  The villain in Genesis 3 is introduced quite simply as "the serpent" in 3:1.  Elsewhere he is known as "Satan" or "Adversary".  The Adversary's M.O was basically three-fold. 

1. Satan attacked God's character
Note what he says to Eve in Genesis 3:1: "Indeed has God said?" Satan the Adversary loves to take God's periods and turn them into question marks. He loves to plant doubts in people's minds concerning whether or not God has their best interest in mind. God's character is integrally linked to His word, the second step of Satan's attack.

2. Satan attacked God's Word. Genesis 3:1 
God's word has always been and always will be the main object of Satan's attack.  The word used to describe him in Genesis 3:1 as being "more crafty" is the same Hebrew word translated "naked" in Genesis 2:25. It describes the ability to have unhindered communication or having the ability to uncover mysteries and secrets.  Satan had indeed fallen, and undoubtedly had retained some of his angelic nature as a wise, cunning and powerful being.  His nature as an angelic being (albeit a fallen one) remained intact despite his fall from Heaven.  As the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 11:14, Satan has the ability to still transform himself into an angel of light. Satan twisted (Genesis 3:1), then added (3:3) then replaced God's word with his own words (3:4). Eve's resulting confusion and twisting, adding and replacement of God's Word with her own conclusion to eat from the tree pinpoints the first signs of Satan's success. 

3. Satan attacked God's man. Genesis 3:2-7
As the woman gave into Satan's seduction, Adam her husband had to choose between her and God. Adam's great failure was in the fact he did not take dominion over Satan in the garden. The attack on the pinnacle of God's visible creation - man, was Satan's way of trying to exact vengeance on the God who had cast him out of heaven. Satan hated Adam and Eve due to the fact that they were God's co-king and co-queen of creation. (compare Psalm 8) Romans 5:12 describes the outcome: "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned."

Meet Adam
With the Adversary's plan sprung, and the bait being taken, Adam's responses were the total opposite of what God had commanded him to do in Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 2:15-25. God had given man a "covenant of works" which was a probationary arrangement to test whether or not he would heed God's word. The covenant contained a few simple commands: "take dominion over creation" (Gen. 1:26-28); do eat from every tree (2:15-17); don't eat from one tree (2:18) and delight in your wife (2:19-25). God provided abundant grace to carry out the command (a garden, original righteousness, and His own presence with Adam). 

Satan's M.O was set to be sprung, for he know if Adam broke the Covenant of works, there would be no way Adam could redeem himself.  In twisted hatred, Satan wanted Adam to be in the same boat as he - incapable of redemption and thus putting (at least he thought) a severe monkey wrench in God's Sovereign purposes for creation. 

Even though Eve was Satan's immediate target, it was Adam who bore the direct blame for the fall. Why? First he did not take dominion over the serpent by declaring God's word as it had been given to Him. Secondly, when Satan kept focusing on the only negative prohibition in the covenant of works (thou shall not eat), Adam did not chime in and correct him.  Thirdly, Adam obviously chose to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thus ignoring the other tree which God had freely given Him. Then finally, Adam did not delight in his wife but idly stood by while Satan wove his lies.

The Adversary's attack on Adam worked. The fall he had begun in Heaven had spilled over onto earth.  God's covenant of works with Adam was broken.  There was nothing Adam and Eve could do.  Furthermore God was under no obligation to redeem.  Rather there was only one inevitable outcome: death! Had the Adversary won? Were Adam and his wife irretrievably lost for good? Was God Almighty's plans for creation jeopardized? Lets consider the final point in this narrative of Genesis 3, namely....

Meet Almighty Salvation
The Covenant of works laid broken.  Furthermore since a man had broken it, a man would have to come and fulfill it.  What God did next after pronouncing his curse on the Serpent (Genesis 3:14) was undoubtedly a shock to every angel, creation, Adam and his wife and Satan. Genesis 3:15 states - "And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” God issued forth a new Covenant  - a Covenant of grace, wherein He, rather than man, would fulfill the promises and obligations. 

Yes there was the awful curse of Genesis 3:9-24, however the blackened sky of that curse was outshone by that starry constellation of amazing grace in Genesis 3:21. What did God do in Genesis 3:21? He provided a substitute for Adam and Eve. He clothed them in the innocence of substitution (in their case two animals) through the shedding of blood. Based upon His grace that led to Adam confessing his wife as "the mother of all living" - i.e Eve, the pattern for the Covenant of grace was set: By grace alone, through faith alone in the shed blood of God's innocent substitute - alone. 

Now why do I have "alone" after each of those statements? Because the temptation for man to try to get to God by way of performance (covenant of works) is part of the fall-out from the fall of man.  God stationed an angel - a cherubim at the East entryway of the Garden to bar Adam and Eve's access to the tree of life. God knew that if they got to that tree - they would have lived forever in unredeemed separation from him. 

God's act of banishing our original parents was both an act of judgment and grace.  Judgment in the sense that they would lose their place and position of idyllic existence in the Garden.  However the grace God demonstrated was that Adam and Eve would still get to live due to grace, and that the way to eternal life was to be fulfilled by another Adam, the incarnation of God in the Person of the Son - Jesus Christ. 

The accomplished work of Christ that reaches forward into time to every person God sets His affection upon to redeem by His Spirit in saving grace through faith reached back to Adam, Eve and every saint of God in the Old Testament.   Jesus would come and live a perfect life and thus fulfill the otherwise broken covenant of works and by his death and resurrection pay the price to ensure God's covenant of grace. 

Conclusion
In today's post we have considered the Adversary - Satan.  We have also looked at Adam and we have then considered Almighty salvation.  My prayer is that you, dear reader, have by grace through faith received God's precious gift of salvation won by and paid for by Jesus Christ - the mighty victor over the Adversary and the Savior of those of Adam's race who by grace through faith believe on Him. (Romans 5:11-21)

P2 Living Godly Lives in these last days - The 4 B's

1 Peter 1:22 "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart."

Yesterday we considered the importance of living a Godly life on a personal level in these last days.  We noted the commands for such (1 Peter 1:13), followed by noting the "how to's" (1 Peter 1:14-15) with a final section on why it is important to live a Godly life (1 Peter 1:16-21).  In today's post we want to carry forth in Peter's argument in 1 Peter 1 by noting how we can relate to others in Godly living in these last days.  

1. Command to love one another in a Godly manner. 1 Peter 1:22
Much like we saw in yesterday's post, Peter's words here in 1 Peter 1:22-25 follow the same pattern: commands (compare 1:22 to 1:13); "how to's" regarding the commands (compare 1:22 to 1:14-15) and why it is we need to pursue Godly living (compare 1:23-25 to 1:16-21).  

2. How to love one another in these last days
The "how to" is also found in 1:22, namely "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren....".  Obedience means I am walking out in full measure the bit of light God gave me though His Word. (1 John 1:5-7)  The light of course being the grace, and obedience being my stepping into the provision of grace.  Just as we saw in yesterday's post, Godly living, whether on the individual level or in relationship to other people, requires obedience flowing from the root of faith watered by grace.

3. Why be Godly toward one another in these last days
The "why part" is detailed for us in 1 Peter 1:23-25 in terms of our spiritual identity in Jesus Christ and the scripture's authority. Whenever you see that word "for" in the text, that is giving you the reasons as to why you need to be doing whatever God is commanding.  In this instances we see two main reasons:

a. Your spiritual identity as a Christian is why you need to be Godly towards other people
1 Peter 1:23 "for you have been born again"
Peter is reminding these people of who they are and Whose they are.  They have been born again of incorruptible seed.  The Spirit of God Himself indwells and issues instructions from His Word.  Know who I am and Whose I am can make all the difference in how I carry out my daily life for Jesus' sake.  

b. Scripture itself tells you that you must and can be Godly towards other people 
1 Peter 1:24 "for all flesh is grass..."
A second reason as to why we are to live Godly lives towards one another in these last days - the scripture's authority.  My flesh, my willpower is inadequate for the Godly life.  Though God has ordained in your Christian growth to include the participation of your will, nevertheless God's Word is required to supply the necessary strength.  Peter again writes: "But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which was preached to you." The same Book that tells you to live the Godly life is the same source the Spirit of God uses to empower you to live the Godly life.

Conclusion: the 4 "B's" of Godly living in these last days
As we draw this short study of 1 Peter 1:13-25 to a close, I would like us to consider what I term the "4 B's" of Godly living in both the personal (1:13-21) and relational (1:22-25) in these last days.  Whether you are trying to apply 1 Peter 1:13-25 to your own personal walk or in your relationship with others, consider these four closing thoughts as application:

1. "Be" Holy -1 Peter 1:13-16
2. "Be" Knowledgeable - 1 Peter 1:17-21
3. "Be" Loving - 1 Peter 1:22-23
4. "Be" in the Bible - 1 Peter 1:24-25

P1 Living Godly lives in these last days

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

Introduction
The main point of Peter's first epistle is articulated in 1 Peter 5:12b ...."I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!" As Peter rounds out this first chapter in his letter, he is casting this main idea of standing firm in God's grace in the light of the times proceeding Christ's second coming.  Having laid out for us the truths of the Gospel and its revelation through scripture in 1 Peter 1:1-12, Peter is now going to switch the focus for a little bit from Christ's first coming to second coming.
In today's post we will consider a survival guide for living Godly lives for our individual Christian lives in these last days, with tomorrow's post dealing with the same thought in terms of how we relate to one another. 

So are we in the last days?
Often people will ask: "are we living in the last days"? Certainly the sands of God's hourglass on "the last days" began pouring the moment Christ entered from eternity into time. At bare minimum we can say that since the days of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to officially usher in the New Covenant church era, the "last days" had their beginning. (Acts 2:17) The writer in Hebrews 2:2, writing in roughly 75 A.D, speaks of "in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son", signaling the revelation of Jesus Christ communicated through the pens of the divinely inspired scriptures. Clearly we are closer to Christ's coming than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11) 

Peter's instructions for surviving in these last days - 1 Peter 1:13-25
As I said earlier, we will be considering today a more personal survival guide for the end times we are living, found in 1 Peter 1:13-21. The survival guide for us as Godly people relating to other people in these end times is found in 1 Peter 1:13-25, and will be the focus of tomorrow's blog. For our purposes today, we want to understand how we can personally not only survive, but thrive as Christians, making it our aim to live Godly lives in these last days. Note the following thoughts below:

1. Personal commands for Godly living. 1:13
Three commands are given in this verse:
a. "prepare your minds for action"
b. "keep sober in spirit"
c. "fix your hope completely on the grace"

Those commands are then given a proper motivational goal - "to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ".

2. How to live Godly lives in these last days. 1:14-15
Having dealt with the personal exhortations to live Godly lives in these last days, now Peter is going to put some flesh on the skeleton of these commands.  In other words, what does it look like when we are living Godly lives? How does one go about making this their lifestyle? Peter lays it out for us in the following manner:

a. "As obedient children...." Peter then explains this first "how to" of obedience negatively, that is, what "not to do": "do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance". Obedience carries with it both a negative and a positive.  

b. Negatively speaking, I know there are things I ought not to do.  Obedience aims at avoidance.  However if my obedience is going to be consistent, I need to reinforce it with a positive replacement.  In other words, what am I to pattern my obedience after? 

c. Peter writes on in 1 Peter 1:15: "but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior."

So obedience is how I am to measure and carry out the aim of living a Godly life in these last days.  Negatively I am to avoid conformity to this world, and positively I am to conform myself to God's character.  With the "how" defined, the next question to ask is: "why aim to live a Godly life in these lasts days? 

3. Why live Godly lives in these last days. 1:16-21
Peter helps us to understand why we need as Christians to live Godly lives on a personal level:

a. Scripture says so.  1 Peter 1:16-17
b. Spiritual identity of the Christian. 1 Pet 1:18-21

P5 - Ezekiel's vision of the Millennial Kingdom - Conclusion

Ezekiel 48:35 The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘TheLord is there.’”

One final look at the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ in Ezekiel

As we close out Ezekiel's prophecies today, the main point of everything Ezekiel has been writing about in Ezekiel 40-48 is seen clearly: predicting what will be the place of worship in the Millennium - the Temple (47:1-12), the promises of God fulfilled to His people in the allotment of land (47:13-48:35) and the Person of the Messiah ruling from Jerusalem over the earth (48:21-22). 

Main reasons to believe why the Millennium will be a literal, future, 1,000 year reign

God had originally promised or covenanted to Abraham back in Genesis 12 that through Him God would bless all of the families of the earth. God keeps His promises and is ever faithful, even though we at times may be faithless. (2 Timothy 2:13) Israel had never came to full possession of Canaanland in the Old Testament. Undoubtedly her enjoyment of her relationship with God in the land was conditioned upon how well she obeyed His Word as given through Moses at the Covenant at Sinai. (Exodus 19-20) Nevertheless what brought salvation to the Jewish people was not law-keeping, but in believing on the promises of God given initially to Abraham, then repeated to David and then finally reaffirmed in the New Covenant as found in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 26-27. 

The detailed description of the land, the temple and the Messiah Prince in Ezekiel 47-48 cannot be spiritualized or symbolized away. The question is: when will all these things take place? The only answer that can satisfy is what the Bible reveals to be the future 1,000 year reign of Christ on this earth - what Bible teachers call "The Millennium". In the Millennium, earth will be refurbished, Christ will had returned to set up His Kingdom, the nation of Israel will had been saved upon her reception of the Messiah by grace-given faith, and Christians in glorified resurrection bodies will be reigning with Messiah on thrones. (Revelation 20:1-6) 

Such a reality will take place following the close of this age in the Great Tribulation, which will entail Christ's catching away of His church, judgment of this world and salvation of Israel at His second coming. 

Christ's second coming will be a pre-millennial return
The sequence of events that I am suggesting in this blog corresponds to what is called a "pre-millennial" view of Christ's second coming.  The prefix "pre" means before.  Before what? The Millennium or 1,000 year reign that we have been discussing this past week.  In Pre-millennial thought the idea is that the millennium is yet to come and characterizes what will be the earthly stage of Christ's reign in Jerusalem.  Among Pre-millennialists there is difference of opinion as to whether or not Christ is reigning spiritually now in heaven with that reign being brought to earth to begin the millennium or whether the official beginning of His reign will occur when He returns. Other viewpoints on the millennium exist and I have put them in the footnotes below for the reader to peruse.  For this writer, though Pre-millennialism has its own challenges to overcome in the interpretation of Ezekiel's prophecies, yet it seems to best explain the material we find in Ezekiel's prophecies. More could be written, but the point is that Ezekiel 40-48 helps us understand many of the events that will be occurring following the literal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ to this planet after the great tribulation period. 

Conclusion
We have spent the past five days exploring Ezekiel's prophecies about the Millennial Kingdom.  Among the fascinating details that we have explored, the value of such a study is being able to see the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in another section of scripture that we may not otherwise study.  Truly getting to know Jesus better and understanding what He is going to do to bring about the completion of God's purposes is supremely valuable.  My prayer is that these past several posts have been both edifying to you as a Christ-follower.  If you are not a Christian and are reading this post, now is the time to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and acknowledge Him as your Savior, Lord, Treasure and soon coming King.  

Endnotes
We could certainly mention two other viewpoints real briefly. A-millennialism teaches that Christ's reign on David's throne is right now and is all spiritual, with His return taking us straight into the final judgment and eternity. The reason for the name "A-millennialism" is because there is no belief in a literal 1,000 year reign (as the prefix "A" usually signifies the meaning "no"). 

The other viewpoint is what is termed "post-millennialism" and teaches in similar fashion that Christ's reign is mainly spiritual, however it believes that through the church's evangelistic efforts - the vast majority (not all) of people in every nation will be converted and that Christ will return at the end of a yet to come golden age.  In that golden age of Post-millennial thinking, the vast majority of the world will be Christianized - hence Christ will return at the end or "post" the predicted millennial period that will had come upon the earth.  

P4 - Ezekiel's vision of Millennial Kingdom - keys to interpretation

Ezekiel 46:12 "When the prince provides a freewill offering, a burnt offering, or peace offerings as a freewill offering to the Lord, the gate facing east shall be opened for him. And he shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he does on the sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and the gate shall be shut after he goes out."

Challenges in understanding Ezekiel's vision of the Millennium

In today's post we once again see further details given to Ezekiel about the Millennial temple. One may wonder why this section of Ezekiel is so important for the Christian life, being that it speaks of an age yet to come (the Millennium) and secondly, it speaks of the Millennial temple that will exist in the age to come. To compound the challenge of interpretation, we see sacrifices being offered in this temple and the Prince, the Messiah, offering even His own sacrifices. 

Admittedly it is difficult to understand Ezekiel's vision in light of the Bible books such as Hebrews, which tell us that Christ's once and for all sacrifice did away with the ceremony and ritual sacrifices of the Old Testament. Many scholars have tried to resolve this by suggesting these sacrifices are memorial sacrifices that Jews will be offering to celebrate and picture what Jesus accomplished for them on the cross, or perhaps the offerings may serve as a means of ritual purification. 

The Key to understanding Ezekiel's vision of the Millennium

To me the best way to see the application of this passage is to focus on the Prince, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We see Him walking in and among the courts of this Millennial temple in Ezekiel 46:11-12. Wherever you see Jesus in these prophecies, focus on Him, and soon all the other details serve like a picture frame for the exquisite portrait that is our Lord Jesus Christ. Comparing scriptures like Ezekiel 40-48 with other scriptures such as Isaiah 11, Zechariah 12-14 and Revelation 19-20 can aid greatly in resolving some of the interpretive details of the prophecy. In future posts we may revisit the interpretive challenges of these chapters in light of the above statement.  

2 Peter 3 functions perfectly to aid in seeing the relevance of Ezekiel 45-46 by how it emphasizes the second coming of Jesus Christ. The whole theme of 2 Peter 3 is "know the Lord": know Him by the scripture (3:1-2); know Him by faith (3:3-7); know He is coming again (3:8-13) and know Him by growing in Him (3:14-18). The whole chapter centers on Christ's second coming, which serves to motivate us to Godly living. His coming is certain, and the reality of His Millennial reign to follow that coming is also certain. 

Application and closing thoughts

You and I must remember that we don't live on the basis of make-believe, but true, genuine revealed truth that speaks of realities more real than even the current age in which we live. Let's keep our eyes fixed on the horizon, for He is coming again!

P3 - Ezekiel's Vision of the Millennial Kingdom - The King enters His temple

Ezekiel 43:1-2 "Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing toward the east; 2 and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory."

Getting to the heart of Ezekiel's vision of the Millennium

In today's post we end up seeing in Ezekiel's vision the main purpose of the Millennial temple and a warning about false teachers in these last days. Ezekiel's grand vision of the temple is about the one that will be in existence during Christ's Millennial reign.  One of the crown jewels of this vision is where we witness the the entryway where the King will actually enter into His Millennial temple to assume His earthly reign at the beginning of the Millennium (Ezekiel 44:1-4).   

Dr. John Walvoord, a late prophecy teacher, writes these words about Ezekiel's prophecy in Ezekiel 43-44: "Climaxing the tour of the temple, Ezekiel prophetically saw the return of the Lord and the glory of the Lord filling the temple (43:1-5). God declared that this temple will be His residence and His throne (vv. 6-7). Ezekiel was instructed to describe the temple to the people of Israel, including its various aspects of design, that they may be faithful in building the temple when the time comes (vv. 10-11)." 

As you read through these wonderful chapters of Ezekiel, the glory of God and the Messiah entering into His temple is truly breathtaking. Imagine what that will be like at the beginning of the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ. To hear His footprints echoing on the ground as he in Divine glory and in glorified humanity walks up to assume His rightful place as central to the worship of His people. 

In contrast to this glorious vision of the Millennial age, we find Peter's description of those false teachers that pollute this current age of human history. Until Christ returns, the church here on earth will be the church militant, fighting the good fight of faith. 2 Peter 2 is all about defending against the enemies of grace: false prophets (2:1-3); fallen angels (2:4); foul world (2:5-9); the flesh (2:10-16); false teachings (2:17-19) and false faith (2:20-22). 

Closing thoughts

As we look forward to Christ's second coming, let us be faithful and remain firm and steadfast in the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

More tomorrow....

P2 Ezekiel's Vision of the Millennial Kingdom

Ezekiel 40:4  "The man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and give attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.”

Why God revealed the Millennial Kingdom to Ezekiel - and ultimately to us

As we once again journey into Ezekiel's vision of the Millennial temple that will be standing during the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, we must ask why God is revealing this vision? According to Ezekiel, the vision was granted on the 40th year after the city had been taken. The people needed to know that God's glorious Kingdom promises to them was going to come to pass. 

God deals with His people based upon His finished work

We could go into all the details, but the one theme that weaves its way throughout this vision is that the work is already done. When you see the details of this temple, the impression is that in God's plan, it’s a done deal. God always views things from the end back to the beginning. When He deals with you and me, His dealings with us are from the vantage point of seeing us and His purposes as finished. 

Faith operates on the expectation of God's finished work

Now you and I as Christians are quite the opposite. We can't see the finished product. We operate from the beginning to the end. Faith is necessary to trust God for the end. As you open up 2 Peter 1, we find one of the most informative sections on the Christian life. I call this section of Peter's epistle the "A,B,C's" for diligent Christian living: 

1. Add to your faith (2 Peter 1:1-9)

2. Base confidence in God's Sovereign choice (2 Peter 1:10-15) 

3. Consider the scriptures (2 Peter 1:16-21). 

Conclusion & Application

Truly only when we carry out the prescription as given in 2 Peter 1 will we then be able to align ourselves with God's plan and purposes for our lives. What He begins, He will finish.