This thread will be on on the early chapters of Genesis. For my purpose my emphases will be exploring symbols of Jesus Christ and of the growth of Jesus Christ as divine life within man.
Gaps, the age of the earth, the science of the origin of the world I will not speak to. From my effort I want to talk about seeing the center of the whole Bible in Genesis - and that center is the Son of God, Christ.
If some want to regard this as spiritualizing Genesis, I will not object to that charge. But I will provide reasons why such spiritualizing is legitimate, necessary and helpful to the seeker of truth.
First let me talk about the phrase "divine life". Divine life is not something man is created with. Man is created with natural life. Sometime after being born with natural life, if one receives the Lord Jesus she or he is born again with divine life.
By divine life I also mean the Trinity.
The entrance of the divine life of God is our getting to know a PERSON. That life is a Person - the Triune God. We receive divine life simultaneously with being joined to a living Person of God.
The symbolism of receiving the Triune God as divine life and having that Person grow, saturate, and fill up man is very much in Genesis 1 and 2.
"Young Earth" verses "Old Earth" has very little to do with this. This will be a study of life - God as life imparted into man as allegories in Genesis 1 and 2 particularly.
I have written a discussion with many good contributions on "An Old Earth History of Satan." This discussion is more important.
RJHinds, being faithful to raised a number of objections to what critics call "Gap Theory." I actually appreciate the examination. But this study is more important.
Seeing divine life in Genesis is, I think, more important than trying to see old earth verses young earth or the history of Satan. I could be wrong. But I think I am not.
What good does it do to know lots about the creation of the world if we do not see we need to receive the Son INTO our beings as eternal life ?
The Moslem, the Bahai, the Orthodox, Reform, or Conservative Jew may see that God is the Creator. The Christian may argue that God is the Creator and the origin of life. That is good. That is true. But if we do not see that this God desires to impart His Spirit into us to be our eternal life, our spiritual life uniting us with God, it is rather vain.
This will be a discussion aimed to establish the truth of God imparting Himself as divine life into man to fulfill His eternal purpose.
Originally posted by sonshipI agree wholeheartedly that this is much more important. However, having said that, if you are saying one must believe/receive the "Trinity, I will pass on this discussion.
I have written a discussion with many good contributions on "An Old Earth History of Satan." This discussion is more important.
RJHinds, being faithful to raised a number of objections to what critics call "Gap Theory." I actually appreciate the examination. But this study is more important.
Seeing divine life in Genesis is, I think, more importa ...[text shortened]... blish the truth of God imparting Himself as divine life into man to fulfill His eternal purpose.
The bible says believe on the Son of God, which I do. I believe Jesus is the Son of God, God is his Father, and God has given His Son all authority in heaven and earth and to be head over His church, of which I believe I am a part.
Nowhere does the bible state one must believe in a "Triune God" to be saved. I just want to get this out of the way right now.
I submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I am filled with holy spirit (God's gift at the new birth) and I can operate some of the manifestations of holy spirit which is the power of God dwelling in His people. I do not believe it is a person, but pneuma God's gift.
Originally posted by checkbaiterNicely said. I would add my piece which is that anyone who preaches a doctrine which they claim is required but is not according to the clear teachings of Christ and the Apostles is preaching apostasy.
I agree wholeheartedly that this is much more important. However, having said that, if you are saying one must believe/receive the "Trinity, I will pass on this discussion.
The bible says believe on the Son of God, which I do. I believe Jesus is the Son of God, God is his Father, and God has given His Son all authority in heaven and earth and to be hea ...[text shortened]... the power of God dwelling in His people. I do not believe it is a person, but pneuma God's gift.
Originally posted by Rajk999Jaywill an apostate? ouch! we should hand him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh to bring him to his senses!
Nicely said. I would add my piece which is that anyone who preaches a doctrine which they claim is required but is not according to the clear teachings of Christ and the Apostles is preaching apostasy.
Originally posted by robbie carrobieYes we should. This is the umpteenth time he is preaching about some triune god which is not Biblical, and he insists that we accept his version of God.
Jaywill an apostate? ouch! we should hand him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh to bring him to his senses!