Monday, May 14, 2018

"New Creations"


"New Creations"

   
    After creating the human race through special processes - from the dust of the ground and the rib of the man - God then chose that other human beings would come into existence through the physical union of husband and wife.  Indeed, the very first command to the human race involved our participation in the Divine purpose to make people.

   "Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth" (Genesis 1:28).

    Why, rather than using more dust and ribs, did the Lord determine to create people through intimate physical relationship?  One answer lies in the very reason for our existence, a truth perhaps most clearly expressed by the Lord Jesus Christ in His John 17 prayer: "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).  The Greek root word of "know" in this passage is "ginosko," meaning an applied, experiential knowledge (as opposed to mere mental assent).  Thus, our Heavenly Father made us to live eternally in knowing intimacy with Himself and the Lord Jesus, as revealed in us by the Holy Spirit.  He made us for relationship - "our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" (I John 1:3).    In this light, we see that the intimate physical relationship of sexual intercourse whereby God creates human beings through other human beings reflects the spiritual intimacy of relationship that occurs when the Holy Spirit births us in Christ.  

    "The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made" (Romans 1:20).  

    Salvation involves the most personal of matters as God's Spirit unites with our trusting spirits to birth us into life with Him.  "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).  He offers Himself to us through Christ, we receive the gift by faith, and a child of God is spiritually conceived and birthed.  "For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, or uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Galatians 6:15).  Thus, physical union constitutes God's means of making human beings as the visible corollary of birthing His saints with whom He desires the spiritual "ginosko" of relationship and fellowship.

    Every baby physically born of a human father and mother bears witness to the Lord's desire for birthing beloved spiritual sons and daughters in Christ through the process of intimate spiritual union.  Dust and bone are no longer the medium in which He works to produce people.  Instead, relationship leads to new creations in both the physical and the spiritual realm, thus emphasizing the glorious reason for which we exist.  To be known by God, to know Him, and to know others in the light of our bond with Him - this is our reason for being whereby our Lord is glorified and His love shines forth through us to reveal the joy He finds in our fellowship…

"The Lord taketh pleasure in His people."
(Psalm 149:4)
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God."
(I John 4:7)
"If any man be in Christ, He is a new creature.  Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new."
(II Corinthians 5:17)

Weekly Memory Verse
  "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God."
(I John 4:7)

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