The Revelation of God – 8
The greatest question ever asked by mortal man is found in Acts chapter
two verse 37: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and
brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Only the Word of God answers
that question.
The Bible submits
to
our consideration five great propositions: (1). God created man in His
own
likeness and image. (2). Man sinned, and the likeness of God within him
was
corrupted. (3). God has devised and revealed a plan to reinstate
Himself
in the minds of men. (4). The scheme of redemption is adapted to our
wants,
and is sufficient in itself to enlighten and convert the world. (5).
God
approaches man through his ears and eyes, his understanding.
There is not an
intelligent, and therefore accountable, person on earth who has not at
some time asked himself four great questions: Who made me? What
relation do I sustain to Him? What is my condition? Where will I spend
the hereafter? The Bible is the only book in the world that proposes to
answer these questions. In fact, it is the only book that can answer
them.
Please allow me to
get personal for a few moments. I exist. I am here. I think. I act. I
hope. I love. I believe. This hand has painted the pictures, built the
ships, the bridges, the railroads, and the pyramids of the world. These
eyes photograph all nature, and the mind directs the commerce of the
world, explores the earth, and penetrates the secret chambers of the
Most High. Where did I
originate? Why was I created? Am I in any respect like my Creator? Am I
immortal, or will my existence end with death? Is my body and mind one?
Does my body think, or is it the servant of the thinking man within?
You and I cannot
answer those questions. However, the Bible can! Will you hear it?
Man was made after the similitude of God (James
3:9). He is a double being, composed of two distinct elements. The
Bible says: "The LORD God formed the man
from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life, and the man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). "And the dust returns to the
earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it" (Ecc.
12:7). "For we
know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have
a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens" (2 Cor. 5:1). "For I delight in the law of
God, in my inner being" (Rom. 7:22). "The natural person (the body, flesh, blood)
does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to
him (flesh and bones cannot think), and he is not able to understand
them because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14). "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our
Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my
flesh
I serve the law of sin" (Rom. 7:25). "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer
man
is wasting away, our inner man (nature) is being renewed day by day" (2
Cor. 4:16). "For we are the real
circumcision,
who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no
confidence
in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3). "But
let
your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable
beauty
of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious" (1
Pet. 3:4). "Keep your heart with
all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life" (Prov. 4:23).
We have here a number of expressions
which prove conclusively that there is more of me than my body:
“Natural man,” “outer man,” “this tent/tabernacle,” “inner man,”
“heart,” “mind,” “imperishable spirit.” The first three refer to my
material organization; the others to something that is immaterial, and
therefore invisible.
I! Do you grasp it? I am? Can you understand it? I shall be
forevermore! Do you believe it? The body is mortal; the mind is
immortal. Man is a little world in
himself. “I” am the center; the body is the circumference, “I” am the
king; my body is the “palace royal.” “I,” or mind, represents our
individuality, our independent existence - our distinct personality.
Is man wholly
mortal? If so, what is that principle that diversifies character; makes
one man
a poet, another an orator, another a mathematician, another a mechanic?
What is that within us that is never satisfied, never full, never at
rest?
What is that which bursts through the gates of the physical prison and
reaches out after the everlasting, the unseen, the unknown? Whence
comes this wonderful machine, this ceaseless activity, this insatiable
thirst for immortality? They are the products of “the likeness” of God
that is within us, the indestructible mind.
Man was created
both
in the image and likeness of his Maker. Did he lose the likeness of God
when he sinned? Yes, in a great degree, but it is impossible to destroy
it entirely, for it is woven into the constitution of man. There is not
a tribe of people on earth, however ignorant, corrupt, or degraded,
that does not possess
some idea of a supernatural and all-wise Creator. Some men are so
corrupt
that they do not respect conscience; but all men fear God or dread the
future. Man cannot get away from the thought that there is a God.
The statement that
man was made in the “likeness and image” of God contains some very
important lessons. What is meant by the image and likeness of God?
Answer: That man is like God! Is man able to think? God gave him this
power in the creation. Is man able to reason? This ability is inherent
in his nature - the gift
of God. Is man capable of decision? This is a part of the likeness of
God
imparted at the beginning. Is he capable of loving? Love is of God (1
John
4:7).
Did man maintain
his
unity with God? He did not. Why not? He sinned, or rebelled against
God,
and was condemned to labor, suffer, and die. Did his heart remain pure?
Did
he continue uncorrupted in mind? Did he live at peace with God and
himself?
Was his mind still the image and likeness of his Maker? Was he free
from
sin? NO, he began to wander away, and the farther he wandered from the
Lord
the less of His likeness he possessed.
He crowded God out
of his heart and mind by perverting his nature, by filling himself with
lust, hatred, malice, hypocrisy, envy, uncleanness, idolatry,
deception, wrath, superstition, ignorance, pride, ambition, rebellion,
selfishness, and the love of this world. As the “thick darkness” of
ignorance and superstition settled down upon his mind the light of
heaven faded away. Step by step
he wandered away from God until the likeness of God was so corrupted,
so
destroyed, so nearly obliterated, that he forgot whether there is one
God
or many gods; whether his Maker is pure, truthful and good, or the
impersonation
of vice, lust and corruption!
Just in proportion
as the nations of the earth have appreciated the principles of justice,
truth, and holiness, have they been free, contented, and happy. Just in
proportion as they have refused “to retain God in their knowledge”
(Rom. 1:28), have they been sinful, superstitious and degraded. What
makes a man a heathen? Nothing more or less than forgetting the true
and living God. Does the
Bible support these declarations? Let it speak for itself. It will make
it plain. It never fails. The Lord is able to speak the truth, for all
truth emanates from Him (John 14:6; 17:17).
Man gradually
wandered away from God, and therefore corrupted himself by degrees.
Lust conceived and brought forth sin (James 1:15), and sin led him on
to degradation.
The departure from God began within – in the heart. It manifested
itself
without – in the life – and led to darkness. The Bible says:
"Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight,
and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the
earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their
way on the earth" (Gen. 6:11-12). "The
fool says in his
heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there
is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children
of
man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after
God.
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is
none
who does good, not even one" (Ps. 14:1-3).
"They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children
because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation"
(Deut. 32:5). "For although they
knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they
became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
This is a terrible picture. Why were the people, before the flood, corrupt? Because they forsook God and turned to evil. Why was the earth filled with violence? Because the people had, through their corrupt practices, lost their union with God. Why did David say there were none who did good? Because sin had corrupted their minds, and almost destroyed the likeness of God within them. Why did they refuse to glorify the one true and living God? Because they had drifted so far away from Him that they would not honor His name, or respect His authority. Why did they become vain in their imaginations? Because sin had corrupted their thoughts. Why were their foolish hearts darkened? Because they had willfully shut out the light of heaven.
Why did they worship the creature more than the Creator? Because they had forsaken and forgotten the true worship, but their disposition to worship remained; hence they deified the creature and despised the Creator. What separated the people from God? SIN. Why are the practices of sinful men an abomination in the sight of God? Because they are the products of sinful hearts – minds devoid of judgment. They refuse to “retain God in their knowledge,” and as there is no other way to retain Him, to know Him, or to be filled with Him, they naturally drifted into darkness. Without God. Deplorable condition! Without hope. Indescribably dreadful! NO prospect for the life that is to come. Horror of horrors!
THANK GOD, JESUS THE CHRIST IS THE ANSWER!
Go To REV. 9 -
The Gospel of Jesus Christ