LESSON 8 REDEMPTION IS CREATION
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. Psalm 33:6, 9
Redemption/recreation by the word of God:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:23–25
Born again—Regenerated.
Corruptible—Mortal, decay, perish.
Incorruptible—Immortal, undecaying in essence or continuance.
Being born again:
Q. What does this mean?
A. Many have gone to eternal ruin, not understanding what the Scriptures mean when Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.” Jesus is speaking of the new heart, and by this He means the mind, the life, the whole being. To have a change of heart is to withdraw the affections from the world, and fasten them upon Christ. To have a new heart is to have a new mind, new purposes, and new motives. What is the sign of a new heart?—it is a changed life which seeks “first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
Q. How does this happen?
A. By creation or recreation through the word of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit.
1. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:6, 7
Commanded—To speak or say (by word or writing.)
Q. Where do we read of God speaking light into existence?
A. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1:3
God spoke light into existence, for He spoke “and it was done,” and He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit and His word. He illuminates our minds with light, the truth of the gospel and the revelation of the character and love of God as it was seen and lived in Jesus the Messiah. This treasure, this power is of God and exercised upon these lives of clay and dust. It is nothing short of creation or redemption at work.
Simply said the verse above is teaching us that God who spoke light into existence at creation has in the same way spoken through His word. Creative energy therefore is in the word of God, as its knowledge and wisdom illuminates our heart.
Q. How do we get this light of knowledge that brings creation and a new birth?
A. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Psalm 119:130
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
What kind of knowledge is this?
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Philippians 3:8
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
Holy—Sacred, God
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:9, 10
Creation came about by the word and so it is with redemption or recreation, it is by the initiative of God and by His word.
What does this knowledge do for us?
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2
Q. What is this treasure we have in this life of ours, this life that is as insignificant as an earthen or clay vessel?
We possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:7 AMP
This light and power that now shines within us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 TLB
The regenerative light of the knowledge of God given to us in the gospel and through Christ is both redemptive and creative. The insignificance of these earthen mortal vessels makes more apparent the glorious light of the gospel that brings eternal life. And it’s all by the word of God
2. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
In—To give oneself wholly to.
New—Of a new kind previously non-existent; begin to be far different from what they were before.
A new creature:
When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. 2 Corinthians 5:17 TLB
Old things are passed away:
He is not the same any more. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17b TLB
The old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
What are the old things that perish?
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Colossians 3:8, 9
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Ephesians 4:22 (See also verses 25–31 for a description of the old man.)
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. Romans 6:6
What brings about this new man?
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. 2 Corinthians 5:14
Constraineth—Compels
For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us. 2 Corinthians 5:14 AMP
The very spring of our actions is the love of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:14 Phillips
God’s recreative power working in us with our consent, through the surrender of our will brings to us a love for God that continually works to recreate and renew.
3. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:23, 24
Renewed—To renovate or reform. Too renew; to restore to the first state, or to a good state, after decay, destruction or depravation.
We have all seen buildings, or mechanical things restored after being in a state of decay or disrepair. And we comment that it looks like new. But with the physical, no sooner is it restored it begins to decay or wear out. When God renews the spirit or mind of man, it is to be an ongoing renewal from faith to faith; it is to be progressive throughout our life, up to the perfect day, when this mortal shall put on immortality.
4. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colossians 3:10
And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. Colossians 3:10 AMP
Creation was a progressive work over a succession of days and so with man, the work of redemption or recreation is progressive. God’s purpose is that we would grow spiritually in our understanding and knowledge of Him, thus leading us to love God more fully and live in such a way that when pleasing ourselves we are pleasing God for they have become one and the same. In fact the development of man both in this life and the next will continue to expand both in knowledge, and insight into the love of God and the wonders of salvation.
5. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Made—To cause to be; to become or to come into being.
Christ was made, or experienced the guilt, shame, and separation of sin, which was not His. In turn we are made righteous which is not of our doing, it is of God, by the creative work of redemption.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:23, 10, 11). This is the sad state of mankind. As we look at the life of Christ we read that Jesus “did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). We see here very clearly our condition of sinfulness and Christ’s condition of holiness. If we come to some other conclusion and we think to ourselves or we “say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8).
Now through redemption, by the mercy and love of God there is a transaction made, and more a recreation, as man by faith through God’s grace is changed. Christ bore our sins upon the cross, this was the price of redemption, and in exchange Jesus gives us His righteousness. This is not merely an exchange of guilt and condemnation for pardon and acceptance with God, but He actually changes us, sanctifies us, and recreates us. No wonder when we truly understand and accept this gift, then the love of Christ controls and urges us and impels so that we who live no longer live to ourselves but for Him who died for us.
6. But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. Isaiah 43:1
The God who creates is the one who redeems. Redemption’s purpose is not simply to rescue or buy us back from the slavery of sin, which is in itself a wonder of God’s love, but the purpose of redemption is to recreate us in His own image.
7. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD. 2 Corinthians 3:18
As the caterpillar goes through the process of change called metamorphose it comes out as a butterfly, something far different than what it was originally. Man is a sinner and unless regenerated by divine grace continues more or less in sin and rebellion against God. However, God’s grace brings about a change from the unregenerate to the regenerate man. This change is spiritually as real as the physical change of caterpillar to a butterfly.
We are transfigured in ever-increasing splendour into his own image, and the transformation comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Phillips
7. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
Workmanship—Product
Created—(Through the idea of the proprietorship of the manufacturer); to fabricate, i.e. found (form originally).
Mankind was originally formed and created by God and as such is God’s handiwork His product. Sin and Satan stole our hearts from God. Now through redemption in Christ we are His once more, and thus His work of creation continues as He creates in us a life of righteousness, which has been His eternal plan for His children.
8. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Clean—Pure (in a moral sense), from morally innocent or holy.
Heart—Figurative the feelings the will and even the intellect.
Renew—To be new; to rebuild.
Spirit—Figurative life.
The same God who creates is the same God who renews, the power is the same. Thus David understood that only God could create or renew his life and relationship with Him that had been debased by sin.
9. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Colossians 1:13, 14, 16
Delivered—Rescue
Power—Mastery, potentate, token of control, force.
Darkness—Darkness of error. Empire of Satan. A state of being intellectually clouded; ignorance. (See John 3:19, 20, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4.)
“Delivered us from the power of darkness”
[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness. Colossians 1:13 AMP
For he has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom. Colossians 1:13 TLB
God in Christ has delivered or rescued us from the power of darkness, sin and Satan. God has brought into us the kingdom of grace and love in Christ. The assurance of our redemption is bound up in the fact that Christ is the Creator.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3
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