The God of All Creation
In Genesis we read that there is one God who created all things within our universe. There is no part of that universe that is untouched by His hand or outside of His reach. God is the God of all Creation. In the Gospel of St John we further read concerning Jesus, that without Him, nothing was made. All things in the universe are created by Him and for Him. All things are under His jurisdiction. Life itself is only possible as a gift through Him. This is irrespective of what anyone wishes to believe. This is the truth of the matter.
The prophet Isaiah tells us that God is King, Judge, and Lawgiver.
As king God rules his creation through providence. The course of human events is ultimately directed to fulfill His ultimate design. He has determined the end of all things, His honor, glory and the ultimate good for His people. As creator he knows his creation best. By His decree, the laws of nature have been established for the well being of His creatures. Further, He who knows us best has given us a moral law for our good. By this law we determine good and evil. Obedience to this law brings blessing, disobedience brings judgment, wrath, and punishment. To this standard, our creator holds all creatures accountable. Ignorance of this law is no excuse, as our creator has put this law within those creatures who bear His image.
(Romans 2: 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) :16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
As Lawgiver, He gave the law first to Adam. It was said to Adam, dot this and live, disobey and die. Not too hard to understand. Sadly in a moment of foolish pride Adam sinned. He and all his posterity died in him. That Law was again given and spelled out, written with the finger of God on two stone tablets. Following the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, the law did not disappear, but remains in force. The only difference is that now in Christ we are redeemed by faith from the penalty of the law. In Christ we are able to meet the requirements of the law. Thus in Christ, we are no longer looked upon as law breakers, having been pardoned by God.
Romans 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
As Judge, God from time to time has punished individuals, families and nations. He Judged Cain and his descendents. In the Old Testament we read that God Judged the families of Korah, Dathan, and Abirum. The Canaanite nations were judged by sending Israel to execute God’s wrath on them. God judged the whole world sending the flood and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone sent from heaven. He Judged Israel for its disobedience by wicked oppressors during the period of the Judges and again sending them into captivity by the hands of Assyria and Babylon. In acts we read of two individuals being judged, Annaias and Saphira. God even judged individual members of the Corinthian Church who partook of the sacrament unworthily, some became sick and some died. God is still Judge. Individuals, families and nations are still accountable.
As creator God has the right to rule. He is the great king. He is the great lawgiver, and he is the great judge. All authority resides in Him. All governments derive their authority to rule from him. Only He can grant the authority to rule and take life, and he does. Human government is instituted by God.
Genesis 9: 9:5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
God has given to man the authority to govern himself along with a law by which he is to be governed. In the 13th chapter of St Paul’s epistle to the Roman’s the apostle tells us that “the powers that be are ordained of God” and that “they are the ministers of God.” They bear not the sword in vain. The government is His minister, empowered with the sword to provide for the general order, safety, defense of the people, and for the punishment of the wicked.
However, we observe in Scripture that all governments are accountable to Him. Notice God’s dealings with Pharaoh in Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. Even those governments, which do not acknowledge God as their God, are still under His authority. It is further a Biblical precedent that those who govern, govern at the consent of the governed, i.e. Moses commanded the people to choose out those who would rule over tens, fifties, hundreds etc. The Apostles called upon the people to choose from among themselves those who we may set over the work of the deaconate. Timothy was called upon by the Apostle Paul to ordain elders in every city (to ordain is actually to choose by the showing of hands).So as governments are accountable to God, God also has made them accountable to the people they serve.
We also read in Scripture that God blesses His people with Godly leadership when his people, as individuals, are obedient to Him. God raised up Abraham, Joseph in Egypt, Moses, Joshua, the good judges and kings of Israel, Samuel, David, and Solomon, Queen Ester and a host of others who ruled Israel well while the people were obedient to the law. When His people neglect His law and do that which is right in their own eyes, the blessings of safety, prosperity, good health, etc. are diminished proportionately. He withdraws His grace as we observe when there was sin in the camp. The Army of Israel was defeated in the first battle of Ai because of it. Throughout the Bible we observe that He allowed the wicked to triumph over and to oppress His people when they disobeyed Him. Observe the period of the Judges. In Exodus God gives a promise. The warning is also implied.
Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
This being the case, it is the duty and the responsibility of every creature to be obedient to God’s law. This obedience begins first in the individual being obedient in thought word and deed. This obedience is carried into the family, from the family into the community and workplace, and finally into the community at large, the institutions of the society, government, education, the arts, etc. There is nothing in life under heaven which is to remain untouched by Gods law. Why, because God is God and this is His universe and we are His created creatures subject to Him. We will be judged by Him based on the standard, which He has given us. (Note again the reference in Romans 2:12-16.)
Now under God’s Law we are not free do as we please but are to do that which pleases God. There is freedom under God’s law, but within the parameters, which he has set for a godly order of society. True liberty is only possible where you have clear, just, and righteous laws, and a government that abides by them. All human activity remains subject to the parameters of God’s law. Here we are only taking a peak at the tip of the iceberg, if you will. The law of God is far reaching and applies to all areas of life. It is not a brutal and oppressive law but a law rooted in love. We read in Holy Scripture that Love is the fulfilling of the law. Jesus said we are to love God and to love our neighbor; this is the sum and substance of the law. Love, however, as we are to understand it, is defined by the Scripture (note First Corinthians 13), and not by contemporary culture. The greatest example of this love is to be observed in the life of Jesus.
This purpose of this message is not intended to be a class on Christian Civics. What I hope to do is to help us all understand that as we celebrate the birth of our Nation, this great Republic, this “One Nation under God,” all that we are and all that we possess, our rule of law, and our liberty, are all great gifts of God. When we read and study the history of our people, we observe the blessing of Almighty God. Our nation began as nothing more than a vision, (in the words of William Penn) “a Holy Experiment.” Governor John Winthrop of Boston (Massachusetts Bay Colony) stated that what they had begun was like “a city set upon a hill’ for the entire world to see.” From the beginning of the colonial era our forefathers endeavored to establish a Christian nation, a nation whose God would be the Lord. The Mayflower Charter begins, “For the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” During the 1830’s a French writer Alexis de’ Toqueville came to America to investigate how such a people became so great a nation in just a few hundred years. He investigated all of our institutions. However, he writes that it was not until he entered our churches that he began to understand the source of our greatness. He further warned that no people on earth take as much for granted as Americans From the beginning of colonial America until the early 1900’s the Bible itself was the common law of the land. All law was based upon it. Even after the Constitution was ratified, the Bible was still considered to be the superior law. Some Judges in taming the west judged their cases with the Bible on one hand and a six-gun on the other (for protection). This one law, recorded in Holy Scripture, governed the home, the church, the state and all her institutions.” The following is a quote from an opinion of the Judges of the Supreme Court “Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of The Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian. This is a religious people. This is historically true. from the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation.. .we find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth. ..These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation. ( SUPREME COURT DECISION, 1892 The CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY Verses The UNITED STATES.)
It is a good thing to be governed by God’s law in the heart, the home and in the community. What a difference it made in our land. Many of you remember what our communities were like when we grew up when daily prayer and Bible reading were observed in the schools. We also remember what happened as soon as it was removed. Over night that which restrained wickedness in the heart was removed. There was an immediate deterioration of morality and culture. Without the restraining influence of the holy Spirit, through the word, there has been and there will continue to be a serious decline of our culture and a serious advancement of darkness. This at some point will be Judged.
Our forefathers, the early settlers who sacrificed for their children in order to give them the heritage of a godly society, did so because they wanted something better for their children. Further, they themselves recognized that God is God everywhere in His creation. No matter where they lived, they were still accountable to God in all things. God is the God of all creation. It seems that generations later, like in Egypt there arose a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph. In our case, there arose a people who have forgotten their God. The words of Isaiah the prophet speak to us…
Isaiah 1: 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken,I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
The result cannot be good if we continue this path. As the Scriptures are given for our learning, we learn in them the means by which we may secure the blessing of God upon us and upon our children. From the same we learn how we may bring a curse upon our children, and deliver them over to oppression, poverty, and all that goes with it. In fact, the pattern of Scripture would lead us to believe that only destruction can follow unless there is a true returning to our God.
Deuteronomy 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; 4:31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swear unto them. 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? 4:33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? 4:34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Some time ago I saw a bumper sticker which said, “I am spending my children’s inheritance.” The sad reality is that this has been true for all too long and the ramifications of this truth are sadly yet unrealized, and catastrophic. Let us remember that on the eve of the French Revolution King Louis XIV said, “After me the deluge.” He bankrupted France in more ways than one. It is happening again here. I fear for the next generation if there is not a return to our God. May we recognize the great debt we owe God for His undeserved goodness to us, and pray for His mercy to turn the present tide. If there were but 10 righteous men in Sodom, God would not have destroyed it. Can we, beloved, make some difference not only among ourselves but also in our community to secure God’s blessing?
II Chron. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
In Genesis we read that there is one God who created all things within our universe. There is no part of that universe that is untouched by His hand or outside of His reach. God is the God of all Creation. In the Gospel of St John we further read concerning Jesus, that without Him, nothing was made. All things in the universe are created by Him and for Him. All things are under His jurisdiction. Life itself is only possible as a gift through Him. This is irrespective of what anyone wishes to believe. This is the truth of the matter.
The prophet Isaiah tells us that God is King, Judge, and Lawgiver.
As king God rules his creation through providence. The course of human events is ultimately directed to fulfill His ultimate design. He has determined the end of all things, His honor, glory and the ultimate good for His people. As creator he knows his creation best. By His decree, the laws of nature have been established for the well being of His creatures. Further, He who knows us best has given us a moral law for our good. By this law we determine good and evil. Obedience to this law brings blessing, disobedience brings judgment, wrath, and punishment. To this standard, our creator holds all creatures accountable. Ignorance of this law is no excuse, as our creator has put this law within those creatures who bear His image.
(Romans 2: 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) :16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
As Lawgiver, He gave the law first to Adam. It was said to Adam, dot this and live, disobey and die. Not too hard to understand. Sadly in a moment of foolish pride Adam sinned. He and all his posterity died in him. That Law was again given and spelled out, written with the finger of God on two stone tablets. Following the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, the law did not disappear, but remains in force. The only difference is that now in Christ we are redeemed by faith from the penalty of the law. In Christ we are able to meet the requirements of the law. Thus in Christ, we are no longer looked upon as law breakers, having been pardoned by God.
Romans 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
As Judge, God from time to time has punished individuals, families and nations. He Judged Cain and his descendents. In the Old Testament we read that God Judged the families of Korah, Dathan, and Abirum. The Canaanite nations were judged by sending Israel to execute God’s wrath on them. God judged the whole world sending the flood and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone sent from heaven. He Judged Israel for its disobedience by wicked oppressors during the period of the Judges and again sending them into captivity by the hands of Assyria and Babylon. In acts we read of two individuals being judged, Annaias and Saphira. God even judged individual members of the Corinthian Church who partook of the sacrament unworthily, some became sick and some died. God is still Judge. Individuals, families and nations are still accountable.
As creator God has the right to rule. He is the great king. He is the great lawgiver, and he is the great judge. All authority resides in Him. All governments derive their authority to rule from him. Only He can grant the authority to rule and take life, and he does. Human government is instituted by God.
Genesis 9: 9:5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
God has given to man the authority to govern himself along with a law by which he is to be governed. In the 13th chapter of St Paul’s epistle to the Roman’s the apostle tells us that “the powers that be are ordained of God” and that “they are the ministers of God.” They bear not the sword in vain. The government is His minister, empowered with the sword to provide for the general order, safety, defense of the people, and for the punishment of the wicked.
However, we observe in Scripture that all governments are accountable to Him. Notice God’s dealings with Pharaoh in Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. Even those governments, which do not acknowledge God as their God, are still under His authority. It is further a Biblical precedent that those who govern, govern at the consent of the governed, i.e. Moses commanded the people to choose out those who would rule over tens, fifties, hundreds etc. The Apostles called upon the people to choose from among themselves those who we may set over the work of the deaconate. Timothy was called upon by the Apostle Paul to ordain elders in every city (to ordain is actually to choose by the showing of hands).So as governments are accountable to God, God also has made them accountable to the people they serve.
We also read in Scripture that God blesses His people with Godly leadership when his people, as individuals, are obedient to Him. God raised up Abraham, Joseph in Egypt, Moses, Joshua, the good judges and kings of Israel, Samuel, David, and Solomon, Queen Ester and a host of others who ruled Israel well while the people were obedient to the law. When His people neglect His law and do that which is right in their own eyes, the blessings of safety, prosperity, good health, etc. are diminished proportionately. He withdraws His grace as we observe when there was sin in the camp. The Army of Israel was defeated in the first battle of Ai because of it. Throughout the Bible we observe that He allowed the wicked to triumph over and to oppress His people when they disobeyed Him. Observe the period of the Judges. In Exodus God gives a promise. The warning is also implied.
Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
This being the case, it is the duty and the responsibility of every creature to be obedient to God’s law. This obedience begins first in the individual being obedient in thought word and deed. This obedience is carried into the family, from the family into the community and workplace, and finally into the community at large, the institutions of the society, government, education, the arts, etc. There is nothing in life under heaven which is to remain untouched by Gods law. Why, because God is God and this is His universe and we are His created creatures subject to Him. We will be judged by Him based on the standard, which He has given us. (Note again the reference in Romans 2:12-16.)
Now under God’s Law we are not free do as we please but are to do that which pleases God. There is freedom under God’s law, but within the parameters, which he has set for a godly order of society. True liberty is only possible where you have clear, just, and righteous laws, and a government that abides by them. All human activity remains subject to the parameters of God’s law. Here we are only taking a peak at the tip of the iceberg, if you will. The law of God is far reaching and applies to all areas of life. It is not a brutal and oppressive law but a law rooted in love. We read in Holy Scripture that Love is the fulfilling of the law. Jesus said we are to love God and to love our neighbor; this is the sum and substance of the law. Love, however, as we are to understand it, is defined by the Scripture (note First Corinthians 13), and not by contemporary culture. The greatest example of this love is to be observed in the life of Jesus.
This purpose of this message is not intended to be a class on Christian Civics. What I hope to do is to help us all understand that as we celebrate the birth of our Nation, this great Republic, this “One Nation under God,” all that we are and all that we possess, our rule of law, and our liberty, are all great gifts of God. When we read and study the history of our people, we observe the blessing of Almighty God. Our nation began as nothing more than a vision, (in the words of William Penn) “a Holy Experiment.” Governor John Winthrop of Boston (Massachusetts Bay Colony) stated that what they had begun was like “a city set upon a hill’ for the entire world to see.” From the beginning of the colonial era our forefathers endeavored to establish a Christian nation, a nation whose God would be the Lord. The Mayflower Charter begins, “For the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” During the 1830’s a French writer Alexis de’ Toqueville came to America to investigate how such a people became so great a nation in just a few hundred years. He investigated all of our institutions. However, he writes that it was not until he entered our churches that he began to understand the source of our greatness. He further warned that no people on earth take as much for granted as Americans From the beginning of colonial America until the early 1900’s the Bible itself was the common law of the land. All law was based upon it. Even after the Constitution was ratified, the Bible was still considered to be the superior law. Some Judges in taming the west judged their cases with the Bible on one hand and a six-gun on the other (for protection). This one law, recorded in Holy Scripture, governed the home, the church, the state and all her institutions.” The following is a quote from an opinion of the Judges of the Supreme Court “Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of The Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian. This is a religious people. This is historically true. from the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation.. .we find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth. ..These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation. ( SUPREME COURT DECISION, 1892 The CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY Verses The UNITED STATES.)
It is a good thing to be governed by God’s law in the heart, the home and in the community. What a difference it made in our land. Many of you remember what our communities were like when we grew up when daily prayer and Bible reading were observed in the schools. We also remember what happened as soon as it was removed. Over night that which restrained wickedness in the heart was removed. There was an immediate deterioration of morality and culture. Without the restraining influence of the holy Spirit, through the word, there has been and there will continue to be a serious decline of our culture and a serious advancement of darkness. This at some point will be Judged.
Our forefathers, the early settlers who sacrificed for their children in order to give them the heritage of a godly society, did so because they wanted something better for their children. Further, they themselves recognized that God is God everywhere in His creation. No matter where they lived, they were still accountable to God in all things. God is the God of all creation. It seems that generations later, like in Egypt there arose a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph. In our case, there arose a people who have forgotten their God. The words of Isaiah the prophet speak to us…
Isaiah 1: 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken,I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
The result cannot be good if we continue this path. As the Scriptures are given for our learning, we learn in them the means by which we may secure the blessing of God upon us and upon our children. From the same we learn how we may bring a curse upon our children, and deliver them over to oppression, poverty, and all that goes with it. In fact, the pattern of Scripture would lead us to believe that only destruction can follow unless there is a true returning to our God.
Deuteronomy 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; 4:31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swear unto them. 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? 4:33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? 4:34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Some time ago I saw a bumper sticker which said, “I am spending my children’s inheritance.” The sad reality is that this has been true for all too long and the ramifications of this truth are sadly yet unrealized, and catastrophic. Let us remember that on the eve of the French Revolution King Louis XIV said, “After me the deluge.” He bankrupted France in more ways than one. It is happening again here. I fear for the next generation if there is not a return to our God. May we recognize the great debt we owe God for His undeserved goodness to us, and pray for His mercy to turn the present tide. If there were but 10 righteous men in Sodom, God would not have destroyed it. Can we, beloved, make some difference not only among ourselves but also in our community to secure God’s blessing?
II Chron. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Beloved, let us turn to the Lord our God, the God of all Creation and call upon others to do likewise, endeavoring to live a life worthy of our calling in Christ, one that will be pleasing to Him. Let us endeavor to be the salt and the light in our homes, our work places, and in our communities. Let us seek to make a difference. In doing so let us seek first His kingdom, and all these things, which others seek after, will be added to us.
No comments:
Post a Comment