Adam to Abraham Genealogies
NOAH – Times of Noah (Lesson 3)
By Kathy L McFarland
We now know a little bit more about the environment Noah lived within. It was a mess. The different people, those of the world and those belonging to God, intermingled. They no longer maintained that separation that God had demanded from them; they chose instead to mingle their bloods and create flesh that was impure to both races. The Profane were mixed with holy, natural desires mixed with spiritual hunger, and the LORD God became irrelevant to everyone.
It wasn’t just that mankind was doing a lot of transgressions against the LORD God in an active way. They had the putrid sin flowing through every pore of their body, and they liked it! They liked that feeling of sinful abandonment so much, when they weren’t actively sinning, they were thinking about sinning!
Genesis 6:5
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)
It almost seems as if the wicked things in their imagination were even greater than the potential their mortal bodies had to carry out their sins! They were polluted with darkness completely and so engulfed with sin that they were pleasured by their thoughts.
The LORD God regretted ever creating Human Beings. Often times in religious theory, an attempt is made to make the LORD God without the ability to make mistake, regret an action, or correct a wrong; this view suggests that His Perfection must remain untouched, or He cannot be above all gods. Yet, we see in Genesis 6:6, that the LORD God repented of his creation of mankind; both the profane and the once holy.
Genesis 6:6
”And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”(Genesis 6:6)
The LORD God suffered GRIEF! He cried. He sobbed. He shuddered. He regretted. He grieved. He mourned. His heart broke. He had wanted His creations to achieve great things. He had planned a perfect world, with a perfect plan, but something had gone horribly wrong. The evolved and the imaged were both corrupted from the mingling with each other and shared their ever increasing sins.
There was no purity in either of them. The whole of created mankind was corrupted as a direct result of the free choice He had given to man; they were free to choose and they chose to mingle with the dirty rather than stay pure, clean and separated to God’s purpose. It broke the LORD God’s heart!
There was only one solution to the utter failure of mankind to embrace the LORD God’s will and ways. He had to destroy His creations. It was not just the evolved creation that had gone bad, but the imaged creation also. The common and the separated, the profane and the once holy were all filled with the same creeping darkness of absolute sin. There was no hope in spiritual restoration, or chance of making good and honest people out of them. They were dead way before they were removed from the earth, by their poor choosing. But the LORD God chose to destroy every living thing of creation from the face of the earth, because He was sorry He had ever tried to create them in the first place.
Genesis 6:7
”And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:7)
Everyone, that is, except for Noah! While the wickedness of mankind reached proportions that totally engulfed mankind with evil doings against the things of God, Noah remained faithful to Him!
Genesis 6:8
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:8)
The LORD God looked at Noah, and favored Him.
The LORD God favored Noah because he was just and perfect and walked with Him. Note those three characteristics of Noah well, because they become a pattern for you to focus upon in these days when wickedness seems to permeate every corner of life.
Genesis 6:9
“These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)
Noah was just. He was righteous in his conduct in life. He was also righteous in his innermost being. He was virtuous, moral, honest, fair, and great inside and out. Noah was a wonderful man that lived his life fully with the nature of holiness that the LORD God created him to be.
Noah was “perfect in his generations,” which suggests his blood was pure and contained the “created in His Image” blood throughout his lineage. He did not have any blemish upon him. He walked upright, even in the midst of wickedness that surrounded him. He was sincere, healthy and whole. He did not have any brokenness within him.
Noah walked with God. He was one of those created in His image. He was obedient to the LORD God with all things. Noah emulated the things of God that were given him, and he always sought to do His Will and Ways. In fact, it is that characteristic that caused Him to help keep a chance for you and me to live one day. It is also the reason why Noah is mentioned in Hebrews 11:7 as an example of great faith.
Hebrews 11:7
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)
Then the LORD God looked upon the results of mankind sins upon the earth and He was horrified. All the flesh of mankind had corrupted His things that He had created, and violence was everywhere.
Genesis 6:11-13
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” (Genesis 6:11-13)
They lived the way of the cursed earth, and embraced the wickedness of fallen mankind, over the holiness of the righteous LORD God. The LORD God committed to destroying them, save Noah and his family, with the same earth they wickedly embraced.
The LORD God instructed Noah:
Genesis 6:14
“Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.” (Genesis 6:14)
In the midst of all of the troubles that mankind had visited upon the earth, and taken within themselves, stood Noah, at odds with the rest of the world. The LORD God instructed him to make a giant ark and gave him implicit instructions to carry out His plan. Noah obeyed. He was uncertain of the future plans of God, but he trusted His Will and Ways. He built the boat.
And that action displayed the greatest of faiths of a man toward his God. He trusted his LORD God, and immediately reacted as one of great faith. More importantly, Noah feared the Judgment of the LORD GOD, a fear long lost to the rest of the wicked mankind. He had full confidence of the power of the LORD God to squish mankind at His will, and He quickly moved to build the ark according to God’s instructions.
Hebrews 11:7
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)
It is that belief that the LORD God has planned for our salvation and righteousness through His covenant, when His wrath comes against mankind. It is Noah’s faith that expresses the belief that God will prolong the days of those that fear Him by moving the faithful to the righteous places He has prepared for their protection and His good works, and will shorten the days of the wicked which do not fear Him. And it is Noah’s preparation that encourages our own, as we have confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ to provide survival instructions to us during these End Times as we watch and prepare; that will be our focus in our next lesson.
NOAH – Daughters of men and Sons of God Hebrews 11: 7; Genesis 6:4 (Lesson 2)
By Kathy L McFarland
Genesis 6:4
“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare [children] to them, the same [became] mighty men which [were] of old, men of renown.”(Genesis 6:4)
Before we attempt to identify who the Daughters of men and the Sons of God, we must have a good understanding of the Creations accomplished by the LORD God. These next few lessons will be difficult for one very good reason. Mankind, guided by the devil’s hands, has done all it can to confuse the Creation of all things by the LORD God. It’s wicked attempts to remove God from the creation process has been effected through the use of words like “evolution” and “natural selection” while attempting to place an arbitrary, unproven date of that “big bang” that far exceeds the probable age of all things of the universe that God created.
First let’s define the worldly ideas of science so we are all on the same page.
Evolution, defined by Darwinism and Neo-Darwinism is the belief that all living organisms arose from one simple, living cell. This belief suggests that by chance, over a long period of time, these cells clumped together in spontaneous generation, and created life without the touch of God.
Natural Selection is the belief that only the best adapting life forms survive, forcing the deviant and weakened life forms to disappear from the chain of life without the direction of the LORD God.
The Big Bang “model” suggests that an extremely hot, dense and violent event occurred at the beginning of time, causing the universe to expand, and start the creation process of all living things without the presence of the LORD God.
Regrettably, people of faith have blindly argued against the scientist’s guesses of the origins of the Universe, by refusing to discuss these theoretical ideas. Rather, it seems that most believers are so fearful of the discussion, that the conversation is left unspoken, and their search of the Word of God, slanted to support a very limited and unrealistic idea of Creation by God.
Today, you are going to learn about Theistic Evolution that is supported by the Word of God, conforms to some of the scientific findings that are non-theoretical, but yet upholds that all things were created by the LORD God. (In-depth teachings on the Creations accomplished by the LORD God will be another course; however, you should be able to gain some understanding of creation in this lesson that will help you understand Noah’s and your own time in depth).
The LORD God’s creation account can be found in the first chapter of the book of Genesis. This account speaks of seven days in the beginning of God’s time of Creation, and gives deep knowledge to searching believers on how His creation of all things was accomplished. A careful examination of the Word of God reveals the different types creations on different days that were tailored to the LORD God’s specific will for that creations’ nature.
For instance, the LORD God’s contemplation of the surging water influenced and moved Him to create. His first act of Creation, “light” was made to illuminate the surging waters so He might deeply understand. As a result of His creation, He was able to separate His created light from the existing darkness. From that moment on, the LORD God created because His Works were illuminated to Him as good and purposeful. Each movement made by Him resulted in new illumination and enlightenment and an opportunity for Him to respond with even higher levels of creation.
The Word of God reveals that there was no one Big Bang that created all things; each Creation was deliberately made by Him with specific techniques suited for the job at His hand. Of course, one can suppose that the biggest Creation process to have ever happened in our known realm included awesome displays of supernatural events that we cannot understand with our limited human minds. So we rely upon our reasoning ability to make sense of the scientific measurements and we are able to create theories that might fit.
Therefore, the one Big Bang theory as a singular event that created all things is shot out the window by the Word of God. Creation did not happen that way. However, a believer can conclude that both science and the Word of God agree that a supernatural event began the process of Creation, and the faithful know it was at the Hand of God. If there is to be a creation, there must be a Creator, and we know with certainty that it is the LORD God. How exciting it is for both the believer and the skeptic as the newly restored Hubble telescope peers deeper into the beginnings of the Creations by the LORD God!
From that very moment when light was created through the LORD God’s intense desire and effort to understand the surging waters, He became the Creator to everything mankind knows. At that very instant, when the light shined brightly in His Mind, He began the accomplishment of His Works to become our Creator, our LORD God, and truly the Master of our beginnings.
As the Creation process advanced He separated one thing from another (darkness), expanded His Creation (Heavens), gathered together different portions (seas), allowed the propagation of earth’s fruits to evolve (herbs, fruit and trees), spread His influence to regenerate strengthen and refresh (waters from Him), established the laws of nature to proceed in a natural way (mist), and then purposefully made new things through His direct effort (sun, moon and stars). Note how the Word of God reveals the different techniques the LORD God used to create His different designs.
Genesis 1:1-23
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
”And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he
called Night. And the evening and the morning were the.first day.”
“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.”
“And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.”
”And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”
”And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters broughtforth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.” (Genesis 1:1-23)
Now we come to the part that is critical for understanding those alive in the times of Noah. It centers upon the identity of the Daughters of men and Sons of God, which can only be understood through the steps of Creation, for it is through these different creation processes that different people were formed and created by the LORD God in the beginning.
Recall where our journey originated, how it has proceeded, and why we are at the place in this lesson today. Hebrews 11:7 extolled the faith of Noah in the midst of unrighteous mankind. Genesis 6:4 blames the union between the “daughters of men” and the “sons of God” as the reason for mankind’s wickedness. Now we turn to Genesis 1:24-26 to understand who these different people were through a study of the different creations of life that the LORD God made.
The deep revelation of specific Creation techniques is revealed in each verse. There are three different types spoken about in these verses, and we will examine each one individually.
Genesis 1:24
“And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.” (Genesis 1:24)
This verse shows that the LORD God “LET” the earth bring forth cattle, creeping things, and beasts. A scientific name for this process might be the word “evolution”. It certainly shows that a Creation of the LORD God was allowed to evolve into a creation of life itself. Since all Creation was created by the LORD God, even evolution was created by Him. Allowing His creation to move forward was a choice He made.
After the LORD God saw the evolution of His Creation produce the cattle creeping things and beasts, He chose to make His own beasts, cattle and creeping things:
Genesis 1:25
”And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.” (Genesis 1:25)
Now, think upon this a moment. The LORD God allowed His creation to evolve, which produced cattle, and then He rolled up His sleeves and created some of His own. He used the pattern of Earth’s evolution, to create life. How did the purposefully created animals by the LORD God differ from the animals that evolved from the created earth? The secret can be found through the typological representation of the cattle, beasts and creeping things throughout the Word of God.
Prophesy of the LORD God is always rich in typology because it is given to only specific people of the LORD God to understand. Many words in the Word of God have meaning far beyond what is understood by common people of the world. Ezekiel 34:1-31 defines cattle, beasts, flocks and shepherds in detail, and gives Christians the ability to understand the deeper mysteries of the LORD GOD’s Creation.
Ezekiel 34:1-31
“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.”
“Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, 0 ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.”
‘And as for you, 0 my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. 21 Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 34:1-31)
These verses, like many other throughout the Word of God, lead us to know that cattle, beasts and flocks represent peoples of the world, wild ones, common ones, abominable ones, always using the pattern of evolution to conform to His Laws of Creation. When this act of creating through the pattern of evolution was completed, He was not yet pleased with the results. It is at that moment that the LORD God chose to create man in His Image, after His own likeness!
When the LORD God created the common people of the world, he used the pattern of evolution to form these people. These people lived before the final creation of man by the LORD God. They formed themselves into families, and tribes and cities, and began civilization as generations reproduced.
After creating these common people of the field, He wanted to create a people that reflected His Image, and thus set out to make man from the pattern of Him mixed with the dust of the earth.
”And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis1:26)
A man of God was created by Him after His Image. This created man of God, and his generations to come, were to have dominion over all other life, both the animals and the humans created after the pattern of His evolved Creation. The LORD God formed this man from the dust of the earth, and then breathed His breath of life into him. This man created in God’s image was a son of God.
The Word of God speaks of two distinct creations of people; one people were made as common mankind that were created by God from the pattern of evolution and the other were a people of God created from the pattern of His image. His creation was made from perfection in His Image, at the most advanced creation possible. (Evolution would NOT affect His people created in His Image; from that point on, all Imaged people would de-evolve from perfection when sin entered the world.)
This brings us to the place where we can now identify with some certainty the identity of the daughters of men and the sons of God. There is enough typological evidence within the Word of God to support two different types of mankind; those created after the evolution pattern and those created in the Image of God. This knowledge identifies the daughters of men as coming from the evolution pattern, and the sons of God as coming from the Image pattern of creation. When these two different life forms came together and reproduced, they created “Giants.”
“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare [children] to them, the same [became] mighty men which [were] of old, men of renown.”(Genesis 6:4)
You should be aware that there are many different interpretations of the identity of the daughter of men and the sons of God. I believe I have absolute support in the Word of God for my conclusion, and challenge those who support the other interpretations to find the same amount of valid support in defense. I think it to be impossible for critics to supply as much evidence from the Word of God as my theory supports.
Most wrong interpretations center upon the belief of two different ideas:
1) That the daughters of men were people of the earth, and the Sons of God were aliens come down from outer space to procreate
2) That the daughters of men were people of the earth, and the Sons of God were fallen angels that had sexual intercourse with mankind.
I believe these two conclusions to be preposterous and not supported by the Word of God.
Remember our study to this date that has been fully proven by the Word of God. The error of Abel had blossomed into a full-blown attack of people transgressing greatly against the LORD God. That attitude, coupled with the interracial coupling of two different types of life forms, created wickedness of great magnitude. The offspring of the cohabiters had the best of both worlds; they possessed the things of God and the things of mankind; thus, they were very, very powerful.
Genesis 6:5-7
”And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.”
”And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:5-7)
The LORD God set out to destroy all types of life that He had created because of their wickedness. The interrelations between life forms were the last straw, and brought the judgment of the LORD God fully against all life on earth.
NOAH – Introduction to the Faith of Noah Hebrews 11:7 (Lesson 1)
By Kathy L McFarland
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)
Hebrews 11 is richly laced with deep teachings of God, to help you know how to receive full benefit of faith. Through your study of the faith of Abel, you learned that your faith should be confident that you are both worthy and knowledgeable to offer acceptable works to the Lord as He leads you. The faith of Enoch should remind you that a stance against the wickedness of these terrible times is a reflection of your own faith. Also important was the teaching that God can supernaturally translate a life into the places He wills, without regard to the normal laws of Creation that are seen and understood by man.
In both of our previous studies of faith, we have learned that we should have great conviction that we can please the LORD God by coming to Him, knowing Him through our diligent study of His Word, and believing that He will reward us for our efforts. Hebrews 11 was written for you to know deep faith. Young Christians read the words and find hope and peace. Mature Christians discover deeper teachings to help them fully mature their faith to a place that can complete perfect works for the Lord.
The hidden gems of deep faith issues will come to the surface in our study of the Faith of Noah. Like you, he lived in a time where great wickedness was seeping into every crevice of the world. There was all manner of profane and lewd behaviors, and the disobedience to the LORD God’s Will and Ways was out of control.
Remember, by the time of Enoch, the “Way of Cain” was fully developed into making disobedient and disrespectful, wicked people against God. Enoch saw the behavior swirling around him, and had watched the evil gain hold. At one point, God spoke through Enoch and warned the people of not only the Way of Cain, but also of the future disobedience that would come from its expression, to include the error of Balaam and the gainsaying of Core.
Noah was born in the mess of times. Interestingly, we find a connection to Cain and Abel’s time upon the time of the birth of the baby boy to Lamech and his wife. Lamech chose the name “Noach” which means “rest:”
Genesis 5:29
“…this [same] shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.” (Genesis 5:29)
Two generations after Enoch, the “Way of Cain” was permeating mankind. Again, Noah’s world was connected to the past, as the nastiness of profane people spread throughout his own time.
Genesis 6:5
”And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)
In the next lesson, we are going to discover how really bad it was in the time of Noah. In fact, we’re going to tackle a piece of Scripture that has caused many to speculate and debate a bizarre event involving “giants” that possibly brought mankind to this place of utter wickedness. We’re going to learn the possible identity of the Daughters of Men and Sons of God, along with a little bit of creation and a little bit of evolution thrown in to make sense out of it all!
As you study and learn about the faith of Noah, it is important that you realize that his times differed little from your time today. If you are able to keep that realization close to your heart, the faith of Noah will begin to shine in your own, and you will know the Lord’s expectations for your walk in these times. Recognize the symptoms of past generations who were guided by carnal desires and wicked lusts, and consider your own time and place. It is this connection that will make you know how crucial it is to develop your faith fully in these dangerous times!
Appearances of the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ by Numbered Witnesses
By
Kathy L. McFarland
First Appearance: The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ appears to a weeping Mary Magdalene at the tomb after Peter and John depart. She first mistakenly identifies him as a gardener, but immediately recognizes Him when He speaks to her (John 20:11-17; Mark 16:9-11)
Second Appearance: Christ appears to the fearful but joyous women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary (mother of James) and others, on the way from the empty tomb to tell the disciples. (Matthew 28:9-10; Luke 24:1-10).
Third Appearance: The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ reveals Himself to two disciples, one named Cleopas, as they walk on the road to Emmaus, approximately seven miles from Jerusalem. Christ
speaks of Old Testament Scriptures concerning His death and resurrection as He walks with them, and later connects these events with the blessed bread He breaks and gives to them. The sharing of bread, laden with deep typological shadows and mysteries, supernaturally reveals Christ in recognizable form, and the two disciples know Him. (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35)
Fourth Appearance: Peter runs to the empty sepulchre on Resurrection Day and finds only the linen clothes within the tomb, prior to Christ’s appearing to the two Emmaus disciples. At some point, the two Emmaus disciples report to the eleven disciples gathered in Jerusalem that Christ is seen arisen from death by both them, and the disciple Peter Simon (Cephas). (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5)
Fifth Appearance: The fifth appearance of the resurrected Christ is to the unbelieving, hard-hearted disciples as they sit eating. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-23; 1 Corinthians 15:5)
Sixth Appearance: Christ appears to the eleven disciples eight days after His resurrection. Doubting Thomas is present in this meeting of the Resurrected Christ, and believes He is arisen from the dead because he sees it with his own eyes. (John 20:26- 29)
Seventh Appearance: Resurrected Jesus Christ next appears to seven disciples, Simon Peter, Thomas (Didymus), Nathanael, John and James (Sons of Zebedee), and two other disciples by the Sea of Galilee. He shouts to their boat from the shore and instructs the disciples to cast their nets for a multitude of fish. Simon Peter recognizes the Savior, and jumps out of the boat to come to him on land quickly. (John 21:1-23).
Eighth Appearance: The eighth appearance was to about five hundred brethren who see His Resurrected body with their own eyes, at the same time, and are able to tell others what they saw as proof through their testimonial witness. (1 Corinthians 15:6)
Ninth Appearance: Next Christ appears to James, the Lord’s brother (1 Corinthians 15:7). James was probably not a believer prior to the resurrection (John 7:3-5), but immediately after the resurrection he is numbered among the believers (Acts 1:14; Galatians 1:19). He later became one of the outstanding leaders in the apostolic church.
Tenth Appearance: Then the Lord Jesus Christ comes to eleven disciples on an appointed mountain in Galilee, where He gives them the Great Commission to preach the gospel. (Matthew 28:16-20)
Eleventh Appearance: His eleventh appearance occurs at the same time of His ascension from the Mount of Olives. This is the last appearance of Christ to His disciples prior to His glorification in Heaven. (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:3-9)
Glorified Appearance after Ascension
Twelfth Appearance: The Ascension glorified Christ appears to Stephen just prior to the time of his stoning martyrdom that was witnessed by Saul. (Acts 7:55-56)
Thirteenth Appearance: The thirteenth appearance of Christ is to Saul on the road to Damascus as he was about to continue his work of persecuting Christians. It is the time he was made blind for
three days, just prior to his conversion to the Apostle Paul. (Acts 9:3-6; cf. Acts 22:6-11; 26:13-18)
Fourteenth Appearance: Christ appears to Paul in the Temple and warns him of the persecution to come. (Acts 22:17-21)
Fifteenth Appearance: The fifteenth appearance of Christ is to Paul while in the prison in Caesarea. Scripture records that “the Lord stood by him,” and told him that he would bear witness in Rome. (Acts 23:11)
Sixteenth Appearance: The final and sixteenth appearance of the glorified, resurrected, Lord Jesus Christ is to the Apostle John at the beginning of the revelation given to him in setting of Heaven. (Revelation 1:12-20)
A Biblical and Doctrinal Study on the Concept of Original Sin
The Nature of Free Will Examined Through Scripture
By Kathy L. McFarland
The LORD God did not make Adam and Eve sin; His most holy nature makes Him unable to sin or tempt others to commit transgressions of disobedience against Him. Satan did not make them sin; he did not force Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit or Adam to disobey God. There is absolutely no evil or defect inside Adam or Eve that forced them to sin; God created man in His Image, and formed both man and woman perfectly. Adam and Eve chose to be disobedient to God through their own self-determination, a privilege given to them through the bestowment of free will by their Creator.
The freedom to choose the direction of one’s self has consequences attached. Each free choice made by an individual is not enacted within a vacuum; rather, it influences the activity within the realm of humanity that it touches. God’s divine plans are implemented above the choices made by mere humans. While human choices change the direction of life as the various forces collide, change, build, grow, destroy, and fester, God’s plans are unaffected. He is God. His works unfold perfectly, at the time He chooses, and those works are not affected by the faulty free choices made by human beings.
It seems a simple concept. God gives human beings free will that allows them to choose their life and make it what they will, with the counter-balance of all other humans having free choice that regulates those choices. That becomes the connected life force that free choice gives all human beings. And God’s will reigns and acts perfectly in the time He chooses far above the doings of mankind. But, that simple concept is not quite as unobtrusive in the relationship between God and mankind that it seems at first glance, especially in the affairs of spiritual connectedness between natural and spiritual lives interrelating to the divine nature of God.
Historical traditions formed by religious doctrines have connected the doctrine of free will with the doctrine of original sin. The common religious consensus of the union of these two doctrines reflects that sinners cannot save themselves because of their fallen condition, and that free will has no choice but to sin and receive the punishment of damnation for eternity. Thus, it is my intentions in this study to fully explore the nature of the free will of human beings before I tackle the possibly conflicted doctrine of original sin that has developed in traditional religious doctrines over time.
Understanding Free Will through Sarai, Abram, and Hagar
Sarai and Abram are able to make free choice as all humans possess, and Sarai uses that right by choosing her maid Hagar to fulfill God’s divine promise to give her husband an heir (Genesis 11:30; 16:1-16; 21:1-20). Hagar, with much less free choice because of life circumstances but fully endowed with free choice by God, becomes the surrogate. Things go miserably wrong for Sarai as her free will fights against the will and movement of God. This leads to the removal of Hagar and Abram’s son Ishmael, to ensure their younger son Isaac’s full inheritance from his father Abram and to receive the everlasting covenant with God (Genesis 17:10-27). Hagar and Ishmael have done nothing wrong; yet, they are captive of the times and the social structures that allow Sarai to act against her servant as a human agent representing God’s will.
That Sarai’s actions are not in God’s plans are not at issue. Rather, the absolute predicament that Hagar and Ishmael find themselves, unable to prevent the events that cascade toward them, brings them to cry out to God for salvation. Though Hagar had acted according to the customs of the day, and lay down with Abram at Sarai’s orders, she was not guilty. She had done nothing wrong. Yet, as the account advances, the unchangeable direction of Hagar and Ishmael is rolling, and there is absolutely nothing they can do to prevent this from happening.
Genesis 21 reflects the results of the free choices of Sarai that brought adverse times to Hagar. Yet, the Lord is with both Sarai and Hagar and His will and ways guide them to His desired consequences and conclusions in spite of the errors made in the exercise of Sarai’s free will. The Lord’s divine plans cannot be changed or affected by human freedom even when His will unfolds in humanity’s messed up environment.
Similarly, the poor choices made by Adam and Eve bring the curse of death to every living creature made in God’s Image when life forces grow uncontrollable. In the midst of the curse of death, is life, and it is life that is formed according to God’s desired consequences and conclusions. Every person is subject to the penalty given by God to Adam and Eve for their sins of disobedience to Him. Sin cannot be conquered without death; it is the natural order of things once the curse by God toward sinful human beings was applied.
Every person is also born with free will. But, free will is not free ever. Just as Hagar was at the whims of Sarai, and unable to prevent the casting away, so too are all human beings that are subject to death and stopped from having control over life. Just as Sarai’s free will results in her creating the situation that she thinks reflects God’s intentions, she instead, guesses wrong and makes a mess of things. End analysis shows that even Sarai, blessed by God with a son in her old age and able to receive words from Him, could not use her free will to accomplish the things of God perfectly.
There is not a human being ever created that controls life and none that can act perfectly as a human agent to carry out God’s divine plans with their inferior free will. Even the most pure hearts, those able to express free will in the most righteous of ways, will run into a wall of end life that cannot be controlled. Most notable, the end of lives begins with unpreventable, uncontrollable situations and always results in death. Death is the curse given to mankind for the sins of Adam and Eve. It is inevitable. It will come to all human beings and when it comes, the unfolding events for each death are completely uncontrollable, even if free will is declared and applied by the dying.
Time, space, and limited knowledge of all the key players in this drama are affected by fallen humanity that allows human frailties to become errors and transgressions against God. If Sarai had waited on the Lord, the birth of Isaac would have been the first son of Abram, done in God’s time. But, Sarai takes matters into her own hands with her free will, and mucks things up, and creates an impossible situation of conflict that eventually requires the intervention of God to save Ishmael’s life. Sarai, even though she exercises her free will and has confidence that she is fulfilling God’s will, is not in control of anything. God’s intentions are done in His way and time, in deference to the human error of the free will of Sarai.
The Penalty for Sin is God’s Curse of Death
If free will leads a human being to commit disobedience to God, then free will has led that person to sin. According to 1 John 1:5-8, the truth of God reveals that all human beings have sin:
1 John 1:5–10 (KJV 1900)
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10)
And since all have sinned through their free will to be disobedient to God, then the penalty for that sin activates the curse that God placed upon all sin that moves humanity away from His presence. Ultimately, death will come to all, in spite of human error or perfection:
Romans 5:12–21 (KJV 1900)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:12-21)
Death will come even though some human beings have free will that seems to make righteous choices always; don’t let the semblance of perfection fool you. Every adult human being has sinned at some time. The nature of free will gives opportunity to choose righteousness or transgression, and the nature of humanity in relationship to each other leads to some disobedience to God always.
Death is God’s curse placed upon mankind because of the transgressions made by the first human beings that released the component of sin into the natures of mankind (Genesis 3:19). Only death to the physical body releases the cling of sin. God is not going to change His curse against sinful humanity with even one degree deviation. It’s too late; sin is part of the fabric of human life, and only His curse against it can release its hold upon his beloved humanity.
The Grace of God Frees Sinners from the Curse
There is no deviation from the curse against sin; death is the only thing that releases a human being from the power of sin. However, God has granted grace unto a select group of people, by allowing them to symbolically experience death while they are still alive, thereby releasing the hold that sin has upon them. This grace of salvation is given to all human beings that receive the Baptism of Jesus Christ:
Romans 6:1–14 (KJV 1900)
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:1-14)
Simply stated, human beings are sinners and remain sinners until death is brought to sin. When death comes, sin releases its hold upon a person. Followers of Jesus Christ can have this hold released by experiencing death through His Baptism because God has offered His grace by promising release from the His penalties of disobedience to His law that He bestowed upon humanity because of sin. God loosens man from the requirement of the law that brings death to sin:
Romans 7:1–6 (KJV 1900)
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:1-6)
Next Focus of Study Concerning Free Will
We have explored a bit of Scripture in this study concerning free will and what it looks like in Scripture with an examination of Sarai’s poor choice. We have examined Scripture that clearly states the curse that is brought against sin, and how death will come to every living thing as a result. We have also recognized the special provision of grace that God grants believers of Christ in allowing a symbolic death to come upon their sins while yet alive, giving them hope in eternal life through the promise of the forgiveness of past sins.
Romans 6 begins with an expression of the effects of faulty free will and carefully leads the reader into Romans 7 and 8 with the development of the condition of sin in humanity. It will be our primary focused text to discover the different connections that original sin has in its attachment to mankind. Free will Scripture has been introduced in this first study; in our next we will take a more detailed look at the development of the Doctrine of Free Will that will ultimately lead to our study of the Doctrine of Original Sin, and reveal God’s truth in this important spiritual matter.
Bibliography
Andrews, James A. “On Original Sin and the Scandalous Nature of Existence.” Journal of Theological Interpretation 5, no. 2 (2011): 231-250.
Geisler, Norman L. Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2004.
DEFICIENT, WRONG, FALSE, LIES of ridiculous theories of Atonement
Atonement means the reconciliation with the LORD God that Christ accomplished through His life and resulting Crucifixion and Resurrection for the forgiveness of sin and the granting of eternal life and ability for righteousness through the complete salvation of His Followers.
In this holiest of Seasons that celebrates the Crucifixion and Resurrection our our beloved Lord Jesus Christ and the atonement of our sins through His shed blood, there are many lies and false teachings floating out their in the carnal world of wickedness. Here are possibly some of the lies you will hear:
False Theory – Ransom made to Satan
Defender – Origen (A.D. 184-254)
False Idea – Satan accused of maintaining hold on people, requiring Christ’s shed blood as a ransom on their behalf for their release
Weakness – This is an offense to Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross for the salvation of human beings; the judgment is upon Satan, and he is NOT in control!
Modern Day – This gives some falsely perceived support to Satanic worshippers who think the devil is more powerful than the LORD God.
False Theory – Recapitulation
Defender – Irenaeus (A.D> 130-200)
False Idea – Christ lived a full life of experience in the same pattern as Adam; thus, he sinned.
Weakness – Scripture upholds the sinlessness of Christ (1 John 3:5) and fully contradicts a duplication of Adam’s fallen state.
Modern Day – Efforts made to suggest Christ’s fallen state, marriage to Mary, collusion with Judas in arranging his own death are some of the popular media false reflections of Christ.
False Theory – Satisfaction
Defender – Anselm (1033-1109)
False Idea – The LORD God’s honor is betrayed and lessened by sin which can only be restored through Christ’s honoring death. Once honor is restored, God is able to forgive sins.
Weakness – Makes God’s honor an attribute that rises above all other attributes and refutes the doctrine of vicarious atonement.
Modern Day – Not much of a problem today because of the purposeful intentions of the worldly to remove all honor from the LORD God.
False Theory – Moral Influence
Defender – Abelard (1079-1142)
False Idea – The need for the atonement of sins in human beings is unnecessary. They need only to have hearts made ready to repent, accomplished through Christ’s death.
Weakness – Atonement become unnecessary an the achievement of holiness the goal.
Modern Day – Adherents include Friedrich Schleiermacher, Albrecht Ritschl, and Horace Bushnell
False Theory – Example
Defender – Socinus (1539-1604)
False Idea – Christ’s example of obedience toward the LORD God inspired reformation of sinful behavior; Christ’s death was unnecessary.
Weakness – Denies the deified part of Christ, declaring him to be fully human and a great example for human beings to emulate.
Modern Day – Adherents include Thomas Altizer and the denominational Unitarians.
False Theory – Governmental
Defender – Grotius (1583-1645)
False Idea – Christ’s death paid a token to the LORD God, that gave Him the opportunity to forgive people of their sins, through the governance of His law.
Weakness – Denies the changelessness of God. Also allows His law to be negated in order for Him to forgive human beings without need for payment of sin.
Modern Day – Adherents include Daniel Whitby, Samuel Clarke, J. McLeod Campbell, Richard Watson, H.R. Mackintosh.
False Theory – Accident
A. Schweitzer (1875-1965)
False Idea – Christ formed a Messiah ideology that caught him up accidentally into events leading to his death.
Weakness – Denies Christ’s purposeful sacrifice and substitutionary atonement.
Modern Day – Some popular media and extremist efforts develop an accidental life of Christ as a moral teacher that was caught up in events beyond his control.
THE BIBLICAL TRUTH REPRESENTATION OF THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST:
The Lord Jesus Christ purposely went to the cross for His crucifixion after prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was sinless in all ways during his time spent on earth. He was crucified, taking upon himself the original sins of His Followers. When He shed His blood, it became the atonement that He would offer to His Father, the LORD God. This offering of atonement of Christ’s blood is based upon the promise the LORD God has made to forgive all sins and grant salvation and eternal life to all those covered in Christ’s blood. Following Christ’s resurrection, all followers became eligible for the Baptism of Jesus Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to assist in the full process of walking eternally with Christ.
USA TODAY Letter to the Editor By Kathy L McFarland “Salvation only through Jesus”
USA TODAY May 26 2011 Page 10A
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/letters/2011-05-26-beliefs-about-heaven-and-hell_n.htm
Author Rob Bell’s words do not hold true when evaluated through the inerrant word of God. Jonathan Edwards, a colonial‐era pastor, had it right. The difference between the most carnal, sinful, wicked people in the world, compared with the most righteous, spiritual, saintly ones, is one of appearance rather than fallen nature. Those who are able to seemingly rise above common sin have done nothing of the kind; they just have the tools to hide it better from others.
When someone is lucky enough to be born in an environment that teaches these hiding skills, then he or she has the tools needed to look “good” and escape condemnation or restriction from society. Those born within a culture that neglects teaching the necessity for the outward appearance to hide sin receive blunt judgment and accusation from the perfumed pews of Christian pretenders.
Kathy L McFarland
Peck, Idaho
USA TODAY Letter to the Editor by Fulton J Waterloo, “Theology and Nuance” (June 1, 2011)
USA TODAY reader Kathy McFarland made some valid points about the fallen nature of all people in the eyes of God and their continuance in sin in her Thursday letter “Salvation only through Jesus.” However, the possible implications of her theology are nothing short of mind‐boggling.
It is one thing to state correctly, that “Hitler and Mother Teresa were sinners.” It is another to deny the reality that many people cooperate with God’s grace rather than resist it. In the reader’s world, every man is a wife beater; every adult a child molester; every mechanic a cheat; and every lawyer an ambulance chaser, but we just aren’t aware of it.
If the only difference between Hitler and Mother Teresa was that she was “lucky enough to be born in an environment that teaches these hiding skills” then we need to begin a search for the millions of innocent people that she murdered.
Even more dangerous, if there is no difference in the “lived faith” of individual people, does sin even matter? To McFarland’s credit, she has taken the doctrine of “salvation by faith alone” to its obvious conclusion.
This evening, God willing, I will obey the speed limits on my drive home. Inevitably, a motorist will blast by me, only to be pulled over several miles down the road by a state trooper. In McFarland’s reality, the speeding motorist and I were driving the same speed; I just had better “hiding skills.”
Perhaps her letter demonstrates the danger of theology without nuance, and interpretation without guidance.
Fulton J. Waterloo Aston, Pa.
Rebuttal to Fulton J. Waterloo, “Theology and Nuance” (June 1, 2011)
USA TODAY Rebuttal to Fulton J Waterloo’s Letter to Editor dtd June 1, 2011 by Kathy L McFarland
Clearly, Fulton Waterloo has learned the hiding skills of traveling the speed limit, whereas the speeder that passes him is sinfully negligent (if speed could be defined as sin in Waterloo’s world). And Mother Teresa, bless her works in His name, learned from a young age that walking the way of her beloved Christ was preferable to submitting to her fallen nature and allowing it to guide her along a life path. Hitler was evil, through and through; his fallen nature overtaken by the worst of darkness, a glaring example of what happens when fallen nature walks so far away from God.
Beware! It is easy for “good” sinners to compare themselves to “bad” sinners, and convince themselves that the salvation of Jesus Christ is not needed. Sadly, that trick of the mind convinces many to trust in their own perceived righteousness, rather than relying upon the saving grace of Christ, and that error will one day doom them.
Kathy L McFarland
Peck, Idaho
ABEL – The deeper SHEEP shadows of things to come (Lesson 7)
The Word of God powerfully expresses the Things of God in both literal interpretations as well as in its typological expression. This typological approach means that the LORD God reveals things to mankind in ever enlarging ideas that first begins with shadows of things to come. The “Faith of Abel” represents one of these many shadows that unfold from the beginning into the saving Grace through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Genesis 4:1–2 (KJV 1900)
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (Genesis 4:1-2)
The keeper of sheep is given the responsibility to ensure that the livestock is protected. Abel was the first keeper of sheep. Note how Abel is described as simply being born as a brother to Cain, while Cain’s birth was announced dramatically as the parent’s receipt of a man from God.
The status of lesser presence is symbolically represented once again as the young lad David tends to his father’s sheep as the rest of his brothers march off to war. in fact, David arranges for another keeper for his father’s sheep before he goes into battle and confronts Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:20 (KJV 1900)
20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. (1 Samuel 17:20)
Later on, David was taken from the “sheepcote” by the LORD God, and made a great man and ruler to Israel.
1 Chronicles 17:7–8 (KJV 1900)
7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel: 8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth. (1 Chronicles 17:7-8)
Guilty David identifies the people of Israel that he rules as “sheep” to the LORD God, unawares of the sin he perpetrated as a result of taking census of His flock.
1 Chronicles 21:17 (KJV 1900)
17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. (1 Chronicles 21:17)
Rachel, another noted keeper of sheep, was identified by Jacob when sighting her at the well giving drink to her charges.
Genesis 29:10 (KJV 1900)
10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. (Genesis 29:10)
A Psalmist extols the LORD God’s keeping of His people as sheep during the time of wandering in the desert.
Psalm 78:50
“He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.” (Psalm 78:50-53)
In the same manner, He protects protecting His sheep from evil and preserves their souls.
Psalm 121
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” (Psalm 121)
In fact, throughout the Psalms, the people of the LORD God are identified many times as being “sheep,” protected by Him in His pasture as Creator of His flock.
Psalm 100:3
“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3)
Dramatic prophesy from the LORD God includes the promise of retribution to the shepherds of Israel who abuse their position, as He declares His love for His scattered sheep that He will one day bring together as His flock once again.
Ezekiel 34:1-16
“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.”
“ Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.” (Ezekiel 34:1-16)
Then the Shepherd of the Sheep that changed the way man could approach God comes to the lost sheep, as the Lord Jesus Christ leads His people to follow Him. It is Jesus who defends breaking the law of Sabbath to preserve and heal the life of one lost sheep.
Matthew 12:12
“How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” (Matthew 12:12).
The Lord Jesus Christ first came for the lost sheep of Israel; yet, His glory fell upon even the Gentiles.
Matthew 15:24
“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24)
The Messiah taught how important each of His sheep were important to Him, and how even the littlest of the flock who strays would be rejoiced when he comes back to the fold.
Matthew 18:13-14
“And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:13, 14)
And on that great Judgment Day, the Lord Jesus Christ will separate the righteous from the wicked, as the sheep from the goats; the sheep will be sorted to his right hand, and the goats to His left. It will be the sheep that inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the beginning.
Matthew 25:32-34
“And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25:32-34)
The love of Christ shines through his compassion as he sees people without a shepherd, and begins teaching many things to lead them as well.
Mark 6:34
“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34)
What better understanding can a Christian receive of the relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and them, than through the revealing Word that speaks of the relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep?
John 10:1-18
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:1-18)
It is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ that his sheep recognize and follow after, and He keeps them to eternal life!
John 10:27-28
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27, 28)
The LORD God gave the Lord Jesus Christ to the sheep to keep them.
John 10:29
“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:29)
And in the same way that David gave another keeper his father’s sheep before he went to battle in a shadow of things to come, the Lord Jesus Christ chose Simon Peter to feed his sheep while He was gone.
John 21:15-17
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)
Abel, keeper of sheep, was the shadow of our Shepherd Jesus Christ that would one day come to guide the people of God toward Him once again. From the beginning, the Faith of Abel, allowed him to represent the things of God that would unfold much later. Abel did not know of the coming revelations, yet, Abel walked intimately with His LORD God. He was not focused upon the harsh rule of God, but rather, upon the Creator whose Creations were worthy of the highest praise and worship, and fit for an offering to the LORD God. It was the perfect “Faith of Abel” that prepared the path for our Shepherd to come and gather His People and bring them to the Kingdom of God.
Thanks be to God!
ABEL – How are dead works related to sin? (Lesson 6)
Up to this point, we have learned that if the LORD God is NOT directing the works of men, then they are NOT “living works.” The means that they are “Dead works” to the LORD God. No matter whether the works are grand and mighty, fully funded with the riches of the world, or the simple and humble acts of compassion and caring of the less fortunate; if the LORD God has NOT directed the works, they are NOT living.
We are reminded of this fact through our study of Cain’s error when he offered the works of his own hands from the cursed ground, rather than from the works from the LORD’s efforts instead. The LORD God told him specifically:
Genesis 4:6–7 (KJV 1900)
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Genesis 4:6-7)
The LORD God links Cain’s error to offering unworthy works to Him with being very near to sin that lies at his door. This link of sin to dead works is associated to many different teaching places in the Word of God.
In fact, it is one of the six principles that every Christian must be taught for the establishment of the Foundation of Jesus Christ within them:
Hebrews 6:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.
(Hebrews 6:1-3)
Note how the six principles of the doctrine of Christ for foundation building are listed exactly:
1. Repentance from dead works (sins)
2 Faith
3. Water Baptism
4. Holy Spirit Baptism
5. Resurrection
6. Judgement
Before we go any further, let us state a fact that you will hear us state over and over in your studies with us:
You are saved through belief in Jesus Christ! You can do nothing to bring salvation to yourself.
SALVATION IS BASED UPON BELIEF!
Now here is where it gets complicated for some sincere Christians because of their defense against false religions that wrongly believe works are necessary for salvation. As a result, many Christians often reject the discussion of works completely, in a false sense that belief is all you need to come close to the LORD God.
Ephesians 2:8–10 (KJV 1900)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
This misguided belief prevents an intimate relationship with Him. The LORD God wills each of His people to do “Living Works” that are guided by Him. When a person is focused entirely on salvation, and does not place importance upon doing His works, then the plans that the LORD God has established are not fulfilled. It is prudent that we discuss the accomplishment of works, and there is no better time than right now, as we learn about the “dead works” that Cain tried to present to the LORD God.
As we study this important topic, keep this in the forefront of your mind:
SALVATION comes from belief in Him.
REWARD comes from works led by Him.
Living Works are acts performed in obedience to the law and movement of God. Those acts done by unbelievers and believers that are against His law, or do not contain His movement, are without life. Man cannot create living works by himself. Man cannot create living works if he is in sin.
Dead Works are just the opposite. They are acts performed in disobedience to the law of God that are without life and inanimate.
At some point, every Christian will be judged for the works they do.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: A Christian’s salvation is not going to be judged; it is clear that a believer had faith if he is standing in the presence of the Lord in Heaven. Salvation is not something a person does, but something a person receives. If there had been no faith, there would be no judgment at the Glory Seat of Christ. Judgment of those without belief will happen later at the Final Judgment Seat of Christ; Faithful Christians receive their Judgment earlier from the Glory Seat of Christ in Heaven.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
The Glory Seat Judgment will be the place where Christians receive their rewards for the living works they have completed as moved by Him. There are different levels of living works, and different levels of rewards that the Lord will give to the deserving.
2 Timothy 2:19-21
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:19-21 AV)
Note once again how a believer must purge himself of sin, in order to become sanctified and able to accomplish the living works of God.
There are many types of vessels in the great house of Jesus Christ. Each vessel represents the works of a person of Christ. Those works form the great house of Jesus Christ. The vessels of gold and silver bring honor. The vessels of wood and earth bring dishonor. Some works bring honor and some works bring dishonor to the great house of Jesus Christ. If a person purges himself from iniquity, his works shall bring honor to Jesus Christ. If a person is sin-free and does works of honor, he will be made holy and prepared to do even more honorable works for Jesus Christ.
Faith without works is dead. Dead Faith does nothing. Living Faith does works.
James 2:17-18
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18 AV)
The Word of God furnishes all Christians to do the living works of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Therefore, those who come closest to the LORD God through righteousness and perfection, void of sin, are in the position of doing the greatest works led by Him.
It is this reality that Cain failed to understand. He honored the works his own hands had produced above the works that the LORD God had made. At that very moment, sin was at Cain’s door. Dead works and sin go hand-in- hand, because it causes a man to think himself superior to the Lord. When a man thinks this, he is emulating the same wicked ways of Lucifer when he declares he is better than God.
Thus, it is profitable for a Christian to understand fully the importance of Living Works directed by God and to have the ability to distinguish dead works that are led by carnal man.
Concept #1 – If you are a sinner without grace, no amount of good works will be rewarded.
Concept #2 – If you are a sinner without grace, you do not get credit by the LORD GOD for any works that you have done in your life.
Concept #3 – If you are a sinner without grace, you cannot be saved by your works.
Concept #4 – A sinner can repent from dead works and be saved by grace of the LORD GOD by, accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.
Concept #5 – If your foundation is laid on Jesus Christ, but you have not produced good works that sustain the testing of fire, you will be saved, but will suffer loss.
Concept #6 – If your foundation is laid on Jesus Christ, and your good works sustain the testing of fire, you will be saved and rewarded.
Concept #7 – If sin is present in the midst of your good works, the fire of the Holy Spirit will burn away all impurities. The type of work is revealed by this fire and classified as gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble.
Concept #8 – If impurity is present throughout your works, you will have stubble, hay or wood which will quickly be burnt away. You will suffer loss.
Concept #9 – If no impurity is present throughout your works, you will have gold, silver or precious stones. You will be rewarded.
Concept #10 – If your works are pure and complete and under the direction of the LORD GOD, the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit, the fire will reveal gold.
Concept #11 – It is very, very good if your works are classified as “gold”. You will receive great reward.
These concepts taken from Scripture make it clear for believers to know the differences, equipping them with the ability to honor the LORD God in the same way that Abel did in the first offering of Living Works!
