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Concluding Remarks

Reviewers: Rev Sherman Isbell, Rev Ron Standiford, Mr Tom Beard

Oh, how quickly we pass through this earthly life! So what did I learn? One observation is how arrogant and foolish humans are. Why? We're only dust made of extremely complex molecules but just dust from the earth's crust. Yet we have a remarkable and profound constituent that allows life and ability to re-create, think, act and change our conditions, even do remarkable things.

Coupled with this observation are facts even more profound. Our home is a single planet we call earth, a rare part of a vast and orderly universe surrounded by nothing! The few who have traveled to space see the significance of how rare our planet is - it is startling to see the colorful earth against the black emptiness of space.

Earthrise, photographed from lunar orbit
Earthrise. Apollo 8, December 24, 1968. NASA photo by William Anders.

The earth is perfectly suited and is filled with life in many, many forms. And it is protected by special conditions that persist to sustain life, e.g., large nearby planets with their gravity to capture rogue asteroids that might destroy all life on earth, an ideal distance from our sun located in a life-friendly area of a galaxy, 70% of earth's crust is covered by water that helps regulate its temperature and a very thin atmosphere that continuously purifies and recirculates fresh liquid water and shields from harmful radiation. The miracle within the leaves of plants that take in our exhaled carbon dioxide and generate life-sustaining oxygen. Amazingly, life is so abundant - yet fragile - on earth that billions of people do thrive by earth's provisions. The special form of life we call human beings - dust and water - replicate in minute detail over hundreds of generations. How could that be possible?

There is now and has always been the answer to that question - life, earth, the universe were created by an extraordinary and unique entity we call "GOD". The Creator GOD demonstrates infinite wisdom and power. This entity we call "GOD" has revealed HIS nature in HIS creative acts over long periods of time, e.g., power, beauty, purity, harmony, stability, order, intelligence, clearly implying a plan. The Creator GOD has also placed within the creation creatures that reflect some of HIS attributes, i.e., humans are made in HIS image!

How do we know this is true? One answer to that is by carefully analyzing a competing idea of self-made existence. This idea is totally absurd and nonsense. Why? Out of nothing, nothing comes. There had to be a cause that preceded all things. Yet many humans don't want to accept the truth. They arrogantly claim that matter and energy just appeared out of nothing, then began to self-organize into what we see all around us - the universe, billions of galaxies and planets. But only one planet demonstrates abundant life - complex carbon-based molecular structures, intricate information that provides self-regulating processes, made of dust and water!

Consider life and the beauty and harmony we see all around. It takes a stretch to claim it is all a biochemical accident to generate it all, especially given what true science has revealed in the recent age.

Hummingbird at a flower

Further, those who deny the Creator-GOD think there are other special planets where life exists, and that life can originate similar to earth's creatures, i.e., human-like intelligent beings. So, vast sums are spent searching the heavens for proof of other planets and signals from intelligent beings. When there is none! Why do they insist on doing such a foolish quest? The answer explains who humans are and reveals how arrogance is confronted by another source of truth.

The GOD-deniers are GOD-haters! Why? Admitting the Creator-GOD imposes an obvious condition on one's mind - the conscience. IF this GOD-creator exists, then one must not only acknowledge HIM, one must submit to HIS power and wisdom.

One way to avoid this is to suppress the knowledge and truth of the GOD-creator. Plentiful evidence of this all around. Sadly, lacking knowledge and a desire to know the truth of our existence, many notice HIS creatures and created objects and substitute them for the GOD-creator. In doing so, they avoid any devotion to their own Creator. They imagine and may even say, "Yes, a 'GOD-creator' is out there but HE is far away from me and my understanding." They withhold their interest in the true GOD-Creator and substitute devotion to HIS creatures and created things. And stay busy. This is a symptom of arrogance and rebellion. Their anthem is "I did it my way!". It has ultimate consequences in other areas of life particularly illogical behaviors.

Now, one must pause to consider the truth. It is a revealed truth that is wholly consistent with the Creation and the GOD-creator's character. It is a "Special Revelation" in words written to explain what the Creation itself only partially reveals about the character of the GOD-creator. These words are thousands of years old yet still are relevant for all humans to know, comprehend and carefully acquire. This resource is of and from the GOD-Creator and is called "the Bible", a supernaturally derived book. The book explains its origin, how it came to exist as printed words on a page, the authorship, why it exists, and the amazing benefits to those who embrace it. Yet most humans ignore it! Unfortunately, it also explains what has and will happen to those who ignore it. It does have power to change people in a supernatural way. It even claims to re-create humans into new creatures! How is that possible?

Hold on! The next part requires a deeper understanding of how the GOD-Creator interacts with HIS Creation. As a trustworthy GOD, HE wanted us to know a lot about this. So it is in the Bible. And it is plainly visible throughout the Bible, and to the minds of many - but not all people can grasp it. It is also simple - the GOD-Creator explains:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2 NASB

The Bible reveals that GOD-Creator is a "spirit" who operates both outside and within the Creation. Think about that. The GOD-creator is an invisible spirit who creates and hovers over the Creation. Amazing!

This portion of the Bible, and other parts, describe the Creation events. And most importantly describe what happened after all things were created in time and space, what we call "history". The really big deal was the creation of humans. That led to a sorrow-filled event where these creatures ignored their Creator and ruined everything. Yet, the loving GOD-Creator revealed HIS plan to correct the mistake these first creatures caused. And thereby restoring HIS creatures and HIS creation to eventually become a new heaven and a new earth where HIS perfect righteousness dwells.

And here is the most significant part of the creation story: the GOD-creator, a Spirit, had to personally get involved to correct the mistake that the first humans caused. It is interesting however that it did not happen immediately but slowly over thousands of years! Most of the Bible tells the stories of many humans in this long period of history. In this progress of time, some of the humans were specifically chosen as oracles of GOD-creator's plan. The Bible defines these select-humans as "prophets". Slowly, the very small numbers of these GOD-lovers increased while most humans, sadly, ignored them.

The Biblical written record of human history ends about two millennia ago coinciding with the most profound event in human history: the GOD-creator appeared on the earth, not as a Spirit, but in the form of a real human being! Amazing! This person was not a mere creature but a supernatural unique Being who is "truly human and truly divine," born by a young Jewish woman, by the name of Mary, whom the Bible describes as a virgin, one who never "knew" a man. The Bible describes this person as "GOD the Son". And HE accomplished a specific mission that was part of GOD-creator's plan, actually the key part of it.

The Bible carefully describes this person in detail, whose name is JESUS, and HIS mission as the first-born of a new creation. The Bible also reveals that this person is in fact the GOD-Creator, one of the three persons in the Godhead, HE being God the Son and the other two persons in the Godhead being God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. They are one God, each of the three distinct persons possessing the whole of the same Being. GOD-the Son being truly GOD and in addition truly man, HE is "the GOD-man" having a divine nature and also a human nature! HE lived a short human life, maybe about 33 years. So what was HIS mission?

The Bible explains HIS mission by giving us much deeper truths about GOD's nature contrasted to human nature. Please know that not many humans have this deep understanding. It is curious that the Bible explains why. Yet it states the "GOD-haters" all know the truth but suppress it to their doom. This truth revealed in the Bible is accepted and understood only by certain people who have been given a love for the truth. This truth is revealed by GOD-the Spirit to certain human minds. Why only to certain specific individuals? A real mystery!

The Bible simply states "So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires" Romans 9:18 Scary! In other words, GOD chooses to whom HE will reveal the whole truth. HE has mercy on some - not many - but lets many humans go their own way. And HE did the choosing of these specific humans before HE created all things, before they even existed! Wow! This is a hard truth, very difficult to accept and believe. But it is what the Bible teaches.

Yet the Bible also teaches these truths are impossible for humans to believe unless God draws them to Himself and gives them a love of the truth. GOD must intervene to enable belief in this truth. Many humans will live, even long lives, and never believe. The Bible describes those who do believe as being "regenerated". These select minds have been transformed by the word written and by the GOD-Spirit. The Bible speaks of "faith", as belief of the truth and also an entrusting of ourselves to JESUS to deliver us from our sins and reconcile us to God. God also gives us a new desire to please GOD, i.e., obey HIS laws and HE remakes us in the likeness of JESUS. But how is this achieved? We must dig deeper into the Bible - the words of life and the cure for death.

One result for the human mind is a fear of this self-existent being we call GOD. HE is awesome! And it is this realized fear and awe that drives the minds of these selected humans to realize they need obedience to this same GOD. And the Bible explains this process, gaining obedience to GOD, for the Bible also reveals that GOD has rules for obedience, termed "laws". Here is a partial summary of the process of saving us from our sins and reconciling us to GOD, again noting it is GOD who brings this about. Humans on their own can not; it's impossible.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 NASB

Why is it impossible for the human mind to come to terms with this majestic Being and comply with HIS laws? Notice the sequence of actions and who performs these actions. The answer is in the creation story. Read Genesis chapters 1 - 3. Pay close attention in chapter 3 after noticing what preceded it: "And GOD saw all that HE had made, and behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:31 NASB Then the creatures rebelled and disobeyed the Creator. It was not subtle but pure conscious rebellion ignoring the consequences. Amazing! They had it made beyond all imagination but listened to one of GOD's special creatures who planted the seeds of unbelief and rebellion and doubt and they were deceived.

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, have left us all "rebels". One should know the 3-letter term for this: sin. All humans are born sinners by inheriting the sinfulness of our first parents. Their disobedience which brought about our universal sinfulness is called "the fall". And the consequence is death. The Bible clearly explains this in many places, see Romans and Ephesians and Hebrews and others. That is the bad news! Death came to the human race because of sin. All humans are sinners and the punishment for sin is not only death but never-ending punishment in a horrible place called Hell.

We should pause and then learn the good news. All sinners deserve the wrath of GOD for their rebellion. Why? The Bible explains that the Creator is perfect in HIS Holiness. HE is perfectly righteous, no imperfections. HE is Holy! Perfectly Holy! HE abhors sin and sinners. Being good, HE is also merciful, longsuffering and lovingkind also to those HE loves, the ones HE has selected to be HIS adopted children. And here we pause again to understand the most astounding and marvelous fact of all of human history: the person and work of JESUS enables sinners to escape the wrath of GOD! How? One Bible verse summarizes:

HE made HIM who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of GOD in HIM. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB

and throughout the Bible, thus:

GOD demonstrates HIS own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of GOD through HIM. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD through the death of HIS Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by HIS life. And not only this, but we also celebrate in GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:8-11 NASB

By HIS knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, For HE will bear their wrongdoings. Therefore, I will allot HIM a portion with the great, And HE will divide the plunder with the strong, Because HE poured out HIS life unto death, And was counted with wrongdoers; Yet HE Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the wrongdoers. Isaiah 53 NASB

"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 31 NASB

The Bible reveals the substitutionary sacrifice of JESUS on HIS cross to atone for the sins of many sinners who believe and trust in HIS finished work. JESUS paid the debt for HIS people's sin. HE took the punishment and the sinner is now declared just before the Holy GOD. By faith, one believes and it is counted as righteousness. It's an exchange of the sinner's sin to JESUS and HIS righteousness is "imputed", i.e., counted to the sinner. The sinner remains a true sinner but is "covered by Christ and HIS righteousness." This is the good news, the Gospel. GOD justifies the sinner by Christ's resurrection:

Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, to us who believe in HIM who raised JESUS our Lord from the dead, HE who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification. Romans 4:22-25 NASB

GOD declared JESUS' sinless life and innocent death are worthy to satisfy HIS demand for justice for the sinner's rebellion. It is a legal declaration that the sinner is covered in JESUS' righteousness. Why? Because the sinner's mind has been renewed, now believes and trusts in JESUS alone, he now has salvation and never-ending life in and love for Christ. Read John 6:37-40, the bread of life.

Faith, Trust, Belief ALONE in the Person, JESUS CHRIST, HIS Sinless Life, Death, Resurrection that saves Repentant sinners!

GOD's eternal plan is fulfilled by adopting many restored sinners, now termed "saints", for new life among many in HIS Holy Heaven. That is HIS purpose and certain goal HE had in mind before the foundation of the universe. Using HIS power and wisdom, many souls are renewed and transformed to be in HIS adopted family. All for HIS glory! A grand project for purifying the many residents of heaven.

Sadly, many more souls who ignored the Creator and HIS Bible's warning and the salvation offer of the GOD-man will spend eternity paying for their rebellion. They "earn their just wage" thus satisfying GOD's justice. Romans 6:23 NASB. And spend eternity in hell. Revelation 21:8 NASB

"This is the disciple [John] who is testifying about these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which JESUS did, which, if they were written in detail, I expect that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written." John 21:24-25 NASB

John and Peter running to the empty tomb
John and Peter rushing to the empty tomb after hearing of JESUS' resurrection, John 20:1-10. Eugène Burnand, 1898 (1850-1921). artbible.info

There is More...a lot More:

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