Paradise Regained
Paradise Regained
- Greg Waybright
- Genesis 3:22-24 & Revelation 21:1-22
- Beginnings - Genesis in the Age of Science
- 41 mins 17 secs
- Views: 870
Study Notes
Creation and Re-creation
Genesis 1 – Revelation 22
I wonder what sort of tale we’ve fallen into?
Sam to Frodo, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
I sometimes feel like Sam Gamgee must have felt when he asked that question. Have you? There are times when things seem to happen around me that I know I can’t control – but, at the same time, I sense that there is a purpose for them. I felt that way during the search that led Chris and me to Lake Avenue Church. We were making real decisions but, even as we were making them, it seemed like there was a bigger plan being played out in the church and in our lives.
If you ever read what sociologists say about the different generations in our culture, many of them say that one main characteristic of “Gen–Xers” (born 65-80) was that those of you in that grouping don’t like this idea of a “metanarrative”, a big story at play in our world. You supposedly don’t want to think that there is an outside authority at work in this world working out a plan and affecting your lives. If that’s true (and I’m not sure it is), then this really has changed with you who are “Millennials” (born 1981-2000) who are said to long for your lives to be a part of a bigger story.
Whatever you think about that, the Bible says you and I are a part of a bigger story, a work of God in our world to take what is broken by sin in this world and to make it right. The Bible says that the “tale we’ve fallen into” is a plan God has had from eternity past that will end with a kingdom of peace and justice. It will be a kingdom in which people from every people group, language and nation will be around the throne of God and each on of us will be conformed to the image of Jesus.
For the last several weeks, we have been looking at how created the world. When he completed that creation, everything was very good.
But then we came last week to Genesis 3, possibly the darkest chapter in the Bible. It tells how evil entered into paradise. If you don’t read it carefully, you may think that there is no hope at all for human beings. Look at how it ends in v. 24: After he drove them out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
It seems like eventual death and no future beyond it is all that is in store for people. But… But in spite of all it says about temptation, sin, and judgment, in Gen 3, God doesn't leave Adam and Eve in despair ‑‑ or us.
So today, I want us to look, believe it or not, at the whole story of the Bible. We’ll see how those who were in paradise and then lost it – are to find paradise again. Let’s look at the big and beautiful story of the love relationship of God to people made in his image as told “in the gardens.”
The Beginning: God’s story with us started in a garden -- Eden (Genesis 1-3)
Do you remember that the powerful God who spoke everything into being and made everything very good is described as a God who talks with people, walks with people and trusts people with the authority to further his rule and care in this world? And it all begins in the Garden of Eden. At the end of chapter 2, everything is “right” in creation. But, in chapter 3, the man and woman chose to put themselves into God’s place.
The People’s Choice
* They became proud and put themselves into God’s place.
* They rebelled and disobeyed the clear will of God.
* They grasped at the forbidden fruit of the tree and willingly sinned.
We’ll come back to those three acts at the end of the message. This experience of evil opened the people’s eyes to evil so, in shame, that they hid in the bushes from one another and from God.
Then, in 3:8, this powerful and holy God walked into the garden where Adam and Eve were hiding. A first-time reader of the story would ask, “What will he do with these people who have disobeyed him?” We learn some wonderful things about God through what he does:
Lesson #1: God is a God Who Seeks
The first sign of hope is that, even after the great sins, God came seeking after those He has made and loved. In v. 9, God asked, “Where are you?” With this question, God wasn’t trying to shame the people he loves. And, his question wasn’t the demand of the policeman who has to bring in two hardened criminals. God’s question is the agonized appeal of a parent looking for a much-loved but wayward son or daughter.
God has never waited for people to seek Him. If He did, He would wait forever – so, I tell you if you have walked away from him this week, He comes looking for you too. I tell you that God has already said "yes" to you. He only asks you to turn away from sin, confess it to him, and trust Him.
Be sure of this today: No matter where you are or what you might be hiding, God is looking for you today ‑‑ just as He looked for Adam and Eve.
Lesson #2: God is a God Who Provides
Matt made this point last week but I want you to notice how quickly God made provision for the Adam and Eve’s immediate need ‑‑ even though they had brought the problem upon themselves? The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them (Gen. 3:21).
And God did what he always does. He freed up Adam and Eve from their pathetic human attempts to patch up their shame by providing them with something better – leaves have never been good clothing!
And, even as he provided for their shame, God still kept His word. Sin did have consequences as it always does. Adam and Even are separated from God and from paradise. They begin to die physically. But, do not miss this: God’s provision shows that when God judges our sin, he doesn’t do it out of petty malice. It’s not: "I'm bigger ‑‑ I'll show them." No, God is here making it bearable for human beings to live out of Eden ‑‑ even though they had sinned. God is “Jehovah-Jireh”, the one who provides.
Lesson #3: God is a God who is making “all things new.”
In my mind, the most intriguing verse in this chapter is God’s word to the tempter v. 15: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.
You might be able to imagine how much debate this has engendered among scholars over the centuries. I won’t go over all those views. I will say, at least, this: I believe God is promising in this verse that those who do evil will be judged and that, ultimately, all evil will be crushed. But, he is also saying that there will be a good end to the story. Evil will be judged and goodness will triumph.
In v. 15, we catch the first glimpse of the fact that God knows what the future will hold. The seed of the woman would come to this world. The Tempter would injure him, but he would destroy the Tempter.
And so, with this statement, the curtain is drawn aside just for a moment on that, as Same Gamgee said, the “tale we are in”. It is a tale of the great battle, which has filled all history. The relationship between God and people made in his image has been disrupted in Genesis 3. Will God and the now-sinful human beings made in his image ever come back together again? Well, to answer that, let me take us now to the end of the story.
The Culmination: God’s story will find fulfillment in a city-garden -- New Jerusalem.
I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away... I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" (from Revelation 21:1-5)
Do you see it? Our world will again be a world that is very good. God will again “walk with” people. The relationship with God that we have been made for will be restored completely. And it will be a city of people because there will now be people with whom God walks from every nation, people group and every language.
But, the city will have a garden-like quality. It will be like walking through the new Grand Park in downtown LA, with its majestic views extending from the Music Center to City Hall. Listen to God’s Word:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life... And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (from Revelation 22:1-6).
After our times together in Genesis 1-3, do you see how God is bringing his story to completion?
*Right relationship with God restored – he will walk with us again.
*Right relationship with our world restored – pollution gone; people caring for the rest of creation well.
*And right relationship with one another – nations healed, no marriage or family problems!
What a story! Don’t you long for the ending? When the Bible ends with Jesus saying, “I am coming soon!” – don’t you want to say with Rev. 22:20, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
What turned the tide? How is God accomplishing this? Let’s go to another garden.
The turning point: God’s story of victory takes us to a garden -- Gethsemane.
When Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." Jesus fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (From Matthew 26:36-42)
Jesus, was in the Garden of Gethsemane knowing that he soon would go to a cross and experience not only physical death – but, in dying, he will also carry the punishment for the sins of the world. Jesus was aware of the indescribable suffering that he would have to go through. But, more than that, he knew he had a choice to make: a choice between going through with this crucifixion or avoiding it. Jesus was wrestling with the possibility of escape. He had to choose between his Father’s will and his own will. When we see Jesus in the Garden, we see a man, just like Adam in Genesis 3, with a decision to make! “My will” or “the Father’s will.”
Twice he tried to get comfort from his friends and twice he found them asleep. Jesus’ words in vv. 40-41 are so significant: “Could you not watch with me for an hour? Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak.”
You see Jesus, at that very moment, was experiencing a collision between the desire for obedience and the desire for escape. He wanted to do the will of the Father – his spirit was willing. But he wanted to avoid the cross – but the body is weak. Which did he want more? That was the issue. The Father’s will or his will?
Remember the early days of the “tale we’re in” when the “first Adam” had stood in a garden and faced a similar choice. But Adam had chosen selfishly. Made in the image of God he wanted equality with God. The serpent told him, “You shall be like God.” And the result of his decision? Cosmic disaster.
In Matthew 26, we see the “Second Adam” in a garden. He bears the untainted-by-sin image of God. He has the opportunity to reverse his predecessor’s failure.
Jesus’ Choice vs. Adam’s Choice:
* Where Adam was proud, Jesus could, if he chose, humble himself.
* Where Adam rebelled, Jesus could, if he chose, be obedient.
* Where Adam grasped at the forbidden fruit of the tree, Jesus could, if he chose, grasp the wood of the cross.
What would he do? Though the spirit was willing, Jesus said, the body is weak.
Where would Jesus find the strength to make such a costly decision? The Bible gives us the answer three times: *V. 39: Jesus fell to the ground and prayed. *V. 42: He went away a second time… and prayed.
*V. 44: He went away a third time and prayed. And the Bible tells us that each time he prayed the same thing. “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.”
The Big Question: “Why did Jesus make the right decision in the Garden of Gethsemane and Adam make the wrong one in the Garden of Eden?”
Theologians have always debated this question. I will only say one thing with absolute assurance: Jesus was not play-acting in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had a real decision to make. Jesus could distinguish his will from the Father’s. If he would die on the cross and bear our sins, it would not be because he was the victim of fate. It would be as a voluntary sacrifice.
So, I ask again, how did Jesus choose right when Adam chose wrong? The Bible lets us know that Jesus made the right decision because he prayed. The Garden of Eden is conspicuous for its lack of prayer. Adam didn’t want to acknowledge God’s presence because Adam wanted to go his own way. But the Garden of Gethsemane is filled with prayer.
And out of his blood-inducing prayer on our behalf, Jesus urges us to be people of prayer. “Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak.” Know this: Above all things, prayer is a seeking of God’s will with a heart to do his will rather than our own.
And that brings us to us! We’re in an in-between time in this “tale we’re in”, aren’t we? We’re not at Revelation 22 yet! What is this saying to us? What is it saying to you?
It’s saying that you can already be forgiven of your sin. You can now know God through faith in Jesus. You can experience the beginning of God’s renewing work now! You can begin to live in your relationships as God created you to do. And, now, rescued by faith in Jesus and filled with God’s Spirit, you and I can go out into the world and further God’s reign. You can care for the needs and pains of people in the world instead of just living for yourself. You can call people to be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus.
But, until God finishes his work we’re in God’s new city-garden, don’t be surprised by the difficulties that fill our world. While you’re waiting for Jesus to return and finish his work, let me tell you this:
1. Decisions between right and wrong will involve struggle. Doing right is still not easy. Breaking addictions is not easy. Following Jesus when all your family and friends mock at it is not easy. Don’t be surprised. No one was a better “Christian” than Jesus – but still making the right choice was a struggle.
2. The Lord Jesus will understand the temptations you feel and will meet you in their midst. We Christians often are embarrassed to own up to the particular struggles and temptations we feel. “No other Christian has these,” we think. “Jesus would surely never have faced these,” we also think. Well, think again. Jesus understands the struggles we go through to see the will of God obeyed in our lives. And, he will not leave us alone.
3. When you face temptation and have a decision to make, prayer is the key. It must be biblical prayer. Learn from Jesus that prayer is not a way to get our own will done. We can ask God for anything in prayer. But, true prayer always acknowledges that God is God. So, be honest and don’t try to hide when you are struggling. Bring your requests to him. But, when you pray, acknowledge that He is the Lord. Know this: When you pray – truly pray – the bottom line always is, “Not as I will, but as you will.”
What do you do when your will points one way and God’s Word points another? You have a choice to make? What do you do? Jesus shows you that you should pray. And how do you pray? It’s a tough prayer. The spirit may be willing but your flesh is weak. But, when you have victories in prayer – victories when you struggle with a temptation and then make a decision to obey God’s way rather than your own desire – become the greatest moments of your entire spiritual life. When you compare the first Adam in Eden and the second Adam in Gethsemane, you see this:
The kingdom of God never advances more triumphantly than when God’s people, faced with a strong desire to go our own ways, find the humility and courage to pray, “Your will be done.”
When you do, it will be to your joy and to God’s glory.
Next Week: Made New Romans 5-8
How God takes us from where we are to being made complete in Christ.
Chinese Study Notes
起初---神論導論
創世記1:1-2:3
“起初,神創造。。。”
聖經開始的這幾個字為我們拉開了神奇的序幕,向我們宣告上帝創造萬物。創世記一章記載的有關上帝的導論比這一章的其他內容都重要。上帝是本章第一句也是最後一句的主語。事實上,他是本章唯一的角色。在這一章的34節經文中,有35次提到上帝一詞。我邊讀邊聽到上帝宣告說:你們被造是為要認識我,如今我將自己啟示給你們!
因此,今天所傳講的這位創造我的上帝讓我感到戰兢,我們也要在接下來的5周連續傳講創世記1-3章的信息。我必須承認我知道教會對於這幾章的解釋一直存在著分歧---不在於上帝啟示他是創造者,而是與此相關的諸如他什麼時候以及花多長時間創造的問題。
在過去兩個月中,Matt Barnes 組織我們教會的科學工作者就創世記與科學的問題進行了系列討論,帶給教牧同工很大幫助。我猜你們也都知道,我們教會某些會友認為上帝是在近一萬年前創造了萬物;與此同時,還有更多在洛杉磯地區的耶穌跟隨者們相信,人們所觀察到的世界至少有一百三十七億年的歷史了。並且,這兩群耶穌的門徒都相信聖經的真確性。
我相信關於上帝何時創造了世界以及花多長時間創造了世界,這兩個問題是今日大多數來教會的信徒問得最多的問題。我相信這些問題雖不是創世記一章提出的最重要的問題,但也相當重要---當然了,也引起我們極大的興趣。同時我還相信,這些問題並不能像在講道這種單方面對話的場景中得著最好的解答。我們需要共同探討。所以,接下來的幾周,我們將在教會預備場地供大家一起討論關於上帝何時以及如何創造萬物的話題。
然而,我確實地知道,“如何”以及“何時”創造的話題也像許多其他事物一樣,雖可能使耶穌的真門徒們在看法上產生分歧,卻仍能保持彼此間的團契。這是因為儘管我們在福音的非主流資訊上看法相左,在信仰的核心真理上的看見卻是合一的。我們先來看看歷史以來上帝的子民在創造的問題上達成的共識是什麼。使徒信經,歷史以來大公信徒告白說:
我信上帝,全能的父,創造天地的主。
尼西亞信經在幾個世紀後回應宣告道:
我信獨一上帝,全能的父,創造天地和有形無形萬物的主。
大洛杉磯縣基督徒信仰告白:
我們相信上帝,萬物的創造者,無限完美且永恆的自有永有者。。。
基督徒在忠於天父為萬有的創造者這一點上是合一的。我要說的是,上帝聯合的,人不能製造紛爭將其分開。
在此基礎上,接下來的幾周我們將進一步討論創世記1-3章中可能有分歧的內容:我們在2月的最後三周討論結束後會準備午餐會進行“漫談”:
漫談
2月12日 “傾聽”—基督徒如何討論有爭議的話題
2月19日 與Richard Averbeck博士談聖經與創造
2月26日 與洛杉磯地區科學工作者們談科學,信仰與創造
我們也給大家準備了一些靈修材料供個人和小組使用。如果各位需要,我們可以發到你的電子郵箱,請將郵箱地址發送到626-765-4453.
Matt Barnes和我將在崇拜時間集中精力,重點在天父給我們的創世記前幾章的教導上。因此,我們今天開始傳講的也是聖經開始的資訊,比如,創世記一章介紹的有關上帝的導論。在上帝的諸多啟示中,我注意到一些與我們今天生活息息相關的內容:
#1:從彷徨到認知—上帝就是聖經中的上帝。
“神創造天地。”
這是這裡打動我的第一個真理。我希望你們記得,摩西將創世記整理成書時,已經是以色列百姓在埃及為奴許久以後的事了,那時的百姓一定已經相信多神信仰了。或者,那些在摩西的帶領下經過紅海的以色列人相信每個民族有每個民族的神明。然而,當摩西被呼召去要求法老釋放以色列人脫離奴役時,他發現法老根本不想放過這些廉價勞動力。所以,正如你們知道的,上帝給埃及降下十災。每一災都是針對一個埃及神祗所為。上帝借此宣佈,“這些神明不是神。”
於是,上帝的子民經歷了紅海被分開,以及他們如何從水牆中經過並看到埃及追兵被水吞噬的偉大神跡。以色列民當時一定會感到奇怪,“我們的上帝是怎樣的一位上帝呀?我們是如此渺小的族類,但我們的神卻讓我們大勝埃及的眾神明。我們的神到底是誰?我們如何才能知道他的樣子?”
在此基礎上,試想象摩西開口說“起初,神創造天地”的情形!在摩西五經的開頭神就說:我是自有永有者。世人敬拜的都不是神。他們都是我所造的。除我以外,沒有別神。
因此,我要問你們一個問題:誰創造的上帝?這是孩子們通常會問的問題。在關於宇宙起源的辯論中,我們也會問諸如此類的問題,如,萬有是如何開始的。是一大塊物體與另一大塊物體偶然相撞迸濺出火花之後生命就開始了嗎?物質是永恆的嗎?
上帝開宗明義就說:你們已經意識到一定存在著一位無始無終者---我就是!上帝還說:你們不是意識到在這個宇宙中一定有比你們更偉大的一位創造了你們生活的世界嗎?我就是!並且我要告訴你們我是怎樣的一位。
請不要被某些欺騙人的說法愚弄,他們說所有宗教都在講同一位無始無終的上帝開始了這個世界。不是這樣的!其他關於世界起源的記載講到,在神明出現以前世界已經有原始物質的存在了。摩西時代的埃及人,巴比倫人以及阿卡迪亞人的創造故事根本不是創造故事而是“神譜”---有關神如何出現的記載。但創世記一章不同,在創世記一章中,上帝已經存在並且一直存在,也將永遠存在。聖經中的上帝才是上帝,除他以外,沒有別神。這就是創世記一章清楚說明的:“起初,神創造。。。”
#2:從混亂到秩序—上帝工作的特點就是有秩序和目的。
“地是空虛混沌。。。”“神看一切所造的都甚好。”
我的科學工作者的朋友和藝術工作者的朋友都很喜歡創世記一章這段話的意思。這賦予他們自由去進一步探索我們天父的其他創造。請注意本章所記載的上帝是如何做成他的工作的。
閱讀創世記一章對我而言,就像一位藝術家或建築師在做作品。他用前三天完成結構,用後三天補充結構。因此,上帝在第一天用話語造出光,然後在第四天補充光的運作方式。在第二天將水天分開,然後在第五天造飛鳥和海裡的魚充滿其間。上帝在第三天將水與旱地分開甚至使菜蔬長出,之後才將動物帶入---最後在第六天造人。
摩西所描述的上帝創造聽起來就像一位建設者每天工作之後為自己的作品拍張照。他說,“好了,我做完了,而且做得甚好。”
我還請大家注意,在上帝六天的創造工作中,被造物逐漸:
*從混亂到秩序,
*從純粹的黑暗到光暗分開
*從無序的“廣褒無垠”到天空,水和幹地的清晰區分
*從空虛到被充滿
*從無生氣和無靈智的被造物到有上帝形象的靈性生命出現
請大家再注意:上帝知道第一批讀者不是今天的讀者---但需要記住他們所聽到的。所以,這裡使用的語言的節奏感很強:“神說。。。要有光。。。神看。。。是好的。。。”他也使用了大量的重複,如,數位7,3和10;使用“有晚上、有早晨”標記創造工作的日期。在我看來上帝如此說是為了人們能記住並將其傳遞下去。
上帝如此做就是為告訴我們,他是創造者也是工匠---能將混亂變為美麗,也能將罪人變為完全。上帝如今還像創造之初時一樣繼續行作萬事,帶給我們益處(羅8:28)。當然,正因為我們相信他是那位創造萬物的大能者,我們在混亂的生活中才會仰望他的同在和工作---就是他會繼續從一無所有中帶出美善的事物!
在你的家庭,事業和人生一塌糊塗時,你看到這些會帶給你安慰和盼望嗎?上帝在工作!他如今仍在工作。並且,當上帝工作時,他要將混亂變為秩序和美好。我要告訴你,當你認識他時,他也要在你的生命中如此工作。
#3:從非人的到關係的:神是一位不同於他的被造物的有位格者。
“神說。。。”
對古代近東世界的人來說,這幾個字也許是創世記一章中最令他們吃驚的部分。還記得嗎,當摩西受上帝默示將聖經前五卷書整理成冊時,在他們曾經生活過的埃及文化已經敬拜太陽、河流和眾多無生命的物質許久了。然而,摩西五經開卷便說:神是獨一的;不是某一個!
本章中使用的所有動詞都顯示出世界的創造者擁有思想、意志和靈智---擁有所有我們知道的人格特徵。“神說”這一句式反復出現。上帝是說話的上帝。我們打開聖經遇到的這位上帝不是“它”而是“你”。
這有何不同嗎?我告訴你,你相信這樣一位上帝會改變你看待世上萬事萬物的角度。我只舉兩個例子:
- 祂改變你看世界的角度(世界觀)。
基督徒相信我們生活的這個世界沒有偶然事件。創世記開始就告訴我們這個世界是上帝有目的作品,上帝知道他在做什麼。
創世記一章否定了在上帝百姓為奴的埃及的多神論世界觀,否定了我們今天世界的自然神論的世界觀。某些現代哲學告訴我們物質是永恆的,我們眼見的世界和生命是由原子隨機碰撞產生的。當人們如此相信時,會困惑於世界到底有無目的。這樣的世界觀會認為,生命只是無意義的宇宙中偶然事件的結果。
之後,當你打開聖經時卻聽到說,“起初,神。。。”。宇宙背後的終極真理不是無位格的能量而是一位活的位格者。宇宙的終極主宰並非一套數學方程式而是一位用他的話宣告“我是獨一的,不是某一個”的那位。
- 可以和你的創造者建立關係。
你思想時會想到,上帝起初默示聖經時會說:我要將自己啟示給人。上帝以非常人性化的方式說:這就是我,而我願意你們認識我。
以上就是我們接下來幾周將要思考的問題的一個開始。我們將看到上帝在創世記第二章對人生命的工作。它揭示了上帝要我們和他建立怎樣的關係。創世記三章讓我們看到,人類為何會直覺到一定有一位元神卻不能真正認識他---因為我們向他犯了罪,遠離了他。
我們還會談到耶穌為何作為道成肉身的上帝來到這個世界,重建與上帝的關係,作為我們個人的上帝的真正原因。“神愛世人,甚至將他的獨生子。。。沒人見過神,只有父懷裡的獨生子將他表明出來(約3:16,1:18)。
你認識他嗎?你願意認識他嗎? 現在讓我來告訴你:如果你和上帝建立了關係,他會一如既往地作他自己,即,上帝。那位在創世記一章中命令有光照耀的上帝將帶領你。當你與他相遇時,你要將你的生命交托他並信靠他;那位為世界區分善與非善的上帝將助你向善。正如使徒保羅所說,當你因信進入與神的關係中,你的生命將不再只屬於你。你的生命將不再只圍繞自己打轉,而是被他所引導。
然而,我要你知道,因信耶穌帶給你的關係會使你的生命像人起初被造時那般美好。你被造是為要認識你的創造者。你為他而造!
“起初,神創造。”上帝仍在創造以及再創造。他也要將你再創造。。。如果你信任他的話。