‘ If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do?’ Psalm 11:3
Introduction The Green Tree (TGT) sermons & articles are based on these 3 foundations drawn from the Bible itself. They are as below : - 1.God Created the Heavens and the Earth (Genesis 1: 1). 2.Bible is God’s Revelation of Redemption for mankind. (Matthew 4: 4; II Tim 3: 16). 3.God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to give us Eternal Life he who believes in Him. (John 3:16).
1. First Foundation : Creation ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and earth’ (Gen. 1: 1). These very first 10 words build the foundation for every one who wants to know God. This lays the first step for rest of the doctrines of the Bible. This is the first act of God recorded in the Bible for the redemption of mankind from sin, Satan and eternal damnation. Bible with very first verse nullifies the theories and knowledge of this world. This verse is says :- i.To Atheist who does not believe in God : GOD created… ii.To Cosmismist who believes that belief that the cosmos is a self-existing whole: God CREATED… iii.To Polytheist who believes there are many gods & goddesses: GOD (singular) created. iv.To Pantheist who believes that Universe is God : God CREATED THE HEAVENS AND EARTH. v.To panentheist who believes that world is the part of God not all of God’s being : God CREATED …
There are many other worldly views about God and His person, which are not Biblical not mentioned here, are defused by Gen.1:1. What can be stringer foundation for man to know about God and His person than the very first verse of the Holy Bible? Lets examine a bit deeper level this verse… This verse talks about God’s several attributes directly and indirectly:-
a.In the beginning God… It tells every man that God has no beginning. If God has a beginning He cannot be the God. God began the beginning. It is to say that God was before the beginning. Beginning means beginning of time and ages. Since God began the beginning or the time He is not bounded to the circle of time. He is beyond the 24 hours of day. Because He never required time or hours. It is mankind created to be within the limit of 24 hours. No man can neither increase the 24 hours nor decrease it by any means. Only God has the absolute control over the time and ages of the world. God is the author of time and finisher of it.
b.God created…It tells that God exists and He exists in Himself. God never lived, but He always exists. It is man who lives because he is created or born to this world. He lives till he dies on this earth. God existence is self-existence. It means to say God never needs anything or anybody for His existence. And because He is self-exists He is not created. If He is created He should have a Creator; and since God is the Creator of whole universe He cannot be created but remains both as the Creator and sustainer of the whole universe.
c.Created…It tells that God is Person. God created the whole universe and sustains it with His own power and will. Creation of God is a action of God which displays His power, wisdom and will. And only a person can have all these characteristics. Since God has His power, wisdom and will He is a Person. God is never a force or a power but always a Person. Because a force or a power alone cannot create such a vast, immeasurable and unimaginable universe. And only the divine Person is behind it and sustains it.
d.Created the Heavens and Earth…It tells that God has His plan and time. It is not possible to have the exact date of creation. But at the same time it cannot be deny that creation is a fact and it was created, created on a certain time by God. Since God is all-knowing God, he knew the time, purpose and design of creation before the creation exists. It is to say God had and has definite plan and purpose when He created the Universe. Bible records this fact that God never created or done anything without any purpose. Thus creation is not an accident action of God’s power, wisdom and will. It is not that God wish some ting in His mind to do and He then created this universe. Creation of not play ( leea ) of God. He created and He sustains it because he has plan and purpose for each and every body and things in the universe.
e.God created the heavens and earth…It tells that God is the absolute. He is the author and the authority of the whole creation. It means to say God should not and cannot be questioned for His creation. Man who question God for any reason of/about His creation denies and against God’s authority and Person. God is not answerable to anyone in heavens and earth. He is above all the heavens and earth. His creations suppose to be humble before its Creator and not asking questions of His authority and plan. Because God is the absolute !
Creation is fact that cannot be hidden or denied. For making it is the first thing to accept that God created the heavens and earth, in order to know the plan and purpose God has made for him or her.
2. Second Foundation : REVELATION
‘But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4) All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness : that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2Timothy 3: 16)
There are 3 greatest proof existing to proof that God exists :
i.Creation: God’s Action ii.Bible :God’s Inspiration iii.Nation of Israel:God’s Selection
a.Bible is the Gift of God to Man : Bible is the open mystery next to creation about God. No one can understand everything about the creation of this universe. And so also Bible cannot be understood fully. Creation reveals His power, wisdom and will and so also Bible. Bible is the Revelation of God to man. Bible is for man that he might come to God. Any one who wants to come to God has to accept Bible as His very word. If creation is the handy works of God, Bible is the breath of God. Creation is under the stewardship of man and Bible is the gift to man. Creation is God’s revealed works and Bible is God’s revealed words.
b.Bible is the Breath of God for Man : When God created man he breathed into him and man became a living being. Likewise for man to live in God and for God Bible, the Word of God is needed, because Bible is God’s breathed. Jesus answer to devil reveals this fact, when he said, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God that proceedeth from the mouth of God.’
c.Bible is Mind of God in Man : Since Bible is the revelation of God’s Person and Works it reveals His mind and heart. Words and truths of the Bible that edifies our love and faith in God should be in our heart and mind. And when such thing happed to a person he understands the heart and mind of God for him/her. God has revealed what His will and plan for man the Bible; and thus Bible is the mind of God in / for man. The absence of Bible in a person life means to say he / she has not understood the heart and mind of God for him / her. It is profitable to man and makes him perfect for good life. Man without Bible is not profited ; man without Bible is not perfect.
Man without Bible is nothing to himself. Rejecting Bible as the revelation of God brings nothing but destruction to person. Without it he is aimless, cursed and dead person in the world. Bible is breath to live, food to strength, light in darkness, sword to fight, fire to purify, hammer to shape, scale to measure and foundation to build. Now let us move to the 3rd foundation …
3. Third Foundation : Salvation
‘ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16) We have seen God as the Creator laid the first foundation for the human being and given them the best gift of His Revelation in the Bible. The central theme of the Bible, God’s revelation is SALVATION of His people. And among thousands of verses about salvation in the Bible John 3: 16 is the theme verse. Many have called even as the theme verse of the entire Bible. It reveals the very heart of God as well as the heart of man.
a.It tells that God is the author and source of our salvation. Bible clearly says that salvation belongs to the Lord. He is the designer of it. He plans and does it in His own time and according to His won ways. Salvation is His gift to man. Love does not find its origin in man, but in God. Our love is only a response, only a reflection of God’s love toward us. Bible says very clearly that it is God who loved us first and so we love Him. (1 John 4:10). Bible records this fact very much clearly. When Adam & Eve fallen from His presence it was God who took the first step to come down to the garden and seek them out. It was God who clothed them and promised a Savoir in future; When the antediluvians world was filled with wickedness and sins, God’s grace found Noah ; Out of confused and idolatry world Godrevealed His glory to Abraham and separated him for His purpose ; God went down to Egypt and called Moses to lead His people Israel to the Promise Land ; God instructed Moses to anoint Joshua to lead the 12 tribes to possess the Land ; It was God who sent the prophets with His word to Israel; and it was God who sent His only beloved Son Jesus for the redemption of the sinners; and Jesus commissioned His disciples to go preach the world the good news of His love. He always remains the fountain of our eternal salvation.
“Here the heart of God is revealed. It is not the love of the Son which is here emphasized but rather the love of the Father Who gave the Son. The cross of Calvary is the measure of God’s love for man”.[1]
b.It tells that Man is not able to gain his salvation by his won.
“ Man is a sinner. He does not sin reluctantly, but with pleasure. When his wickedness is exposed, he has no intention of forsaking sin, and so he extinguishes the light which reveals it. Man in both deed and motive is a sinner. It is for this reason that he is worthy of condemnation. It is for this reason God sent His Son to save. Strictly speaking, the coming of Christ to the world and His death on the cross did not condemn men to eternal damnation. Men were already condemned. The Son came to accomplish salvation for condemned men. He came into a world of sinners, who were under the sentence of death. Those who look to Him for salvation are delivered from condemnation. Those who do not remain in the state of condemnation in which they were found. Our Lord’s death is the solution, not the problem. Our Lord came as light to reveal man’s need of a Savior. Men revealed their sinfulness by rejecting that light and nailing Him to the cross. It was because men were condemned sinners that Christ came to provide salvation. It was because men were worthy of condemnation that they rejected His provision.” [2]
In brief Jon 3: 16 is the theme of God’s heart of love and man’s heart of lust. If man has not this foundation which is of eternal SLAVATION, what’s profitable for him / her in gaining the whole world? His soul is lost in hell.
§It is Supreme Promise of God to man. §It is Universal Invitation of God to man. §It is Eternal Purpose of God for man.
Conclusion
Creation, Revelation & Salvation originated in God. Creation is by God alone, Revelation is from God alone and Salvation is of God alone. Creation declares the glory of God, Revelation proclaims the will of God and Salvation shows the love of God. God’s glory is the chief purpose that God created man in His image and like ness; God’s will is the chief requirement that God revealed to man in the Bible and God’s love is the chief cause for His salvation to man. These are interrelated and cannot be separated from each.
These 3 facts cannot be avoided by any human being on this earth. God has given these 3 foundations to man that he/she may come to His saving knowledge and live for Him alone.
[1]Bob Deffinbaugh, The Manifestation of Messiah to Nicodemus: http://www.bible.org/page.php? page_id=589. [2] Ibid.