A Different Point of View
INTRODUCTION – The title of this study sounds dangerously liberal. I may be dangerous, but I have never been infected with any form of liberalism. What I want us to do today is look at three of the most familiar passages of scripture and try to see as God sees.
- GOD AND CREATION
Genesis 1:1-2 – We see God’s creation – and it is beautiful and grand and intricate and irreducibly complex. Only God knows what nothing looks like, what nothing is; God takes everything in the other direction. What do we see at work today? We see God’s creation. We also see entropy; we see things becoming disordered (for example, your unweeded garden); we see movement toward nothing – all as a result of sin. However, God changes the direction of things. Genesis 1 repeatedly tells us that God’s acts of creation were good. It is only when man and woman are created (verses 26-31) that God calls His work “very good.” By creating us “in His own image,” God continues His creativity and provides for us to be creative (including God-sanctioned pro-creation). Clearly, the character of God is creative, eternally creative.
- GOD AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Exodus 20:1-17 – Without boundaries and borders, lawlessness must reign. God provides us with this outline for an ordered life. His commands are good for us and for others. Moreover, these commandments reveal the character of God. For example, God does not murder and never will. He is never unfaithful and never will be. He does not steal and never will. He does not give false witness and never will. He does not covet and never will. God is consistent, blessedly consistent.
- GOD AND THE GOLDEN RULE
Matthew 7:12 – Other religions present a negative form of this command (for example, “Do not hurt others if you do not want to be hurt”). Jesus’ positive form covers sins of commission and of omission and takes us in a different, positive direction (remember Gen. 1?). Who keeps the Golden Rule at all times? Only God is always seeking the best for others. We see Matthew 7:12 fully exemplified in the words and works of God the Son, Jesus Christ. Mark 10:45 well summarizes the ministry of Jesus: “For the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life a ransom for any.” God is committed in the fullest sense of the word. CONCLUSION – God is comprehensive in all His ways, including in His creativity, consistency, and commitment. This completeness works out in our salvation; the work of Jesus in His death on the Cross and in His resurrection is complete. If we trust in Him, He completely saves us. Please do not walk away from God the Savior. Truly He is an awesome God. From nothing, he makes everything. In His Law, He reveals love. As the servant, he becomes the Savior. Yes, He is an awesome God.