Post by dragonlots on Dec 25, 2009 12:51:43 GMT -5
First off, let’s set the record straight. The fall of man is blamed on Eve, but if you read the Biblical account, Adam was standing right there next to his wife when she picked the fruit. He could have stopped her, but didn’t.
Also, we have no idea how long Adam and Eve lived in the garden before the events in Genesis. Was it days, weeks, years? Yes, an age is given to Adam later, but the question is, was it his real age, or the time he lived after the fall?
Not to mention when Eve had her first child, she thought she’d gotten a man from God.
So in the Garden, God promised a redeemer and Eve thought her firstborn was the fulfillment of God’s promise. From her example, you can see how much Eve and Adam believed God. Eve thought God had immediately redeemed them. It wasn’t the case of course because she didn’t know the entire plan.
Side note here, thanks to satellite imaging, Biblical archeologists are pretty sure they’ve found the site of the original Eden. It’s under water.
Second, in the NT it says God, in His foreknowledge, knew who was going to believe in Jesus Christ and who wasn’t.
Since God already knew the outcome and all the people who would come to Him, our Loving Heavenly Father, put His plan into motion. You have to remember, since He’s all knowing, He could have chosen NOT to, but would have missed out on the fellowship of His creations.
And I’m not talking just humans here. Thanks to Acts 2:17, I’ve had visions and know that animals will also be in heaven. Now, whether it’s just Christians’ pets and the wild ones, I have no idea. But I do know the two cats I lost recently are in heaven.
Now, I know, you want to know how I know. I asked. I was wide awake, the vision was in color and I saw Little One playing at Jesus feet. She got to come back for a few seconds and rub against my ankle in a final goodbye. When I put Tabitha to sleep Little One appeared, she was sitting on the edge of the table, and the two were joyfully reunited. I have God’s promise I’ll get my ‘furred’ children back.
Third, when Jesus was on the cross he KNEW or FORESAW everyone thru time who was going to believe in Him and come to know God and for that reason, understood his sacrifice was worth it.
This piece of information is included, so I wonder if even Jesus didn’t understand the full magnitude of what he was doing until that moment. He knew he was going to die and horribly. He knew the prophecies. The scene with him in the garden praying is one of his most human moments. Plus, we have to remember Jesus had a choice, he could do God’s bidding or not. He chose to follow his father’s plan and not call the angels to rescue him
Let us not forget the devil had no idea what God’s true plan was and thought when he crucified Jesus that he had won. A really good demonstration of the ‘party’ the evil ones threw can be seen in the Narnia movie after the white witch stabs Aslan. She too, thought she’d won only to Aslan return more powerful than ever.
We must also remember his humanity in the scene when the devil tempts Jesus and tries to get him to fall down and worship the dark one. Again, Jesus had a choice. He KNEW his fate. Jesus could have chosen to give in to the devil and become an earthly king. Instead, he chose to obey his father.
He cried when he learned Lazarus had died. He got angry with how and by whom the temple had become defiled. He made sure, like a good son, that his mother was taken care of while he hung there on the cross. We miss the significance of this because in our culture this doesn’t happen. But in Biblical times, it was the first born son who cared for his parents in their old age.
These are very human moments in Jesus’ life. Yes, he was the son of God, but he was human too, and because he was, we can identify with him.
Fourth, we are all part of the inheritance promised to Abraham that his seed would be like the stars. Abe didn’t receive all God had said he would in his lifetime, but I’m betting at the judgment, he’s going to be overwhelmed with the fulfillment of His promise. Pretty neat, huh?
Not to mention the rewards we’ll receive or how He looks after us in our day to day living.
God didn’t set us up to fail. He set up the ultimate redemption plan to win back what the devil would steal.
Even Jesus said: The thief (devil) comes to steal, kill and destroy.
I am come that you might have life and have it more than abundantly. (Meaning in full measure or bounty.)
I would say God set us up for success.
Also, we have no idea how long Adam and Eve lived in the garden before the events in Genesis. Was it days, weeks, years? Yes, an age is given to Adam later, but the question is, was it his real age, or the time he lived after the fall?
Not to mention when Eve had her first child, she thought she’d gotten a man from God.
So in the Garden, God promised a redeemer and Eve thought her firstborn was the fulfillment of God’s promise. From her example, you can see how much Eve and Adam believed God. Eve thought God had immediately redeemed them. It wasn’t the case of course because she didn’t know the entire plan.
Side note here, thanks to satellite imaging, Biblical archeologists are pretty sure they’ve found the site of the original Eden. It’s under water.
Second, in the NT it says God, in His foreknowledge, knew who was going to believe in Jesus Christ and who wasn’t.
Since God already knew the outcome and all the people who would come to Him, our Loving Heavenly Father, put His plan into motion. You have to remember, since He’s all knowing, He could have chosen NOT to, but would have missed out on the fellowship of His creations.
And I’m not talking just humans here. Thanks to Acts 2:17, I’ve had visions and know that animals will also be in heaven. Now, whether it’s just Christians’ pets and the wild ones, I have no idea. But I do know the two cats I lost recently are in heaven.
Now, I know, you want to know how I know. I asked. I was wide awake, the vision was in color and I saw Little One playing at Jesus feet. She got to come back for a few seconds and rub against my ankle in a final goodbye. When I put Tabitha to sleep Little One appeared, she was sitting on the edge of the table, and the two were joyfully reunited. I have God’s promise I’ll get my ‘furred’ children back.
Third, when Jesus was on the cross he KNEW or FORESAW everyone thru time who was going to believe in Him and come to know God and for that reason, understood his sacrifice was worth it.
This piece of information is included, so I wonder if even Jesus didn’t understand the full magnitude of what he was doing until that moment. He knew he was going to die and horribly. He knew the prophecies. The scene with him in the garden praying is one of his most human moments. Plus, we have to remember Jesus had a choice, he could do God’s bidding or not. He chose to follow his father’s plan and not call the angels to rescue him
Let us not forget the devil had no idea what God’s true plan was and thought when he crucified Jesus that he had won. A really good demonstration of the ‘party’ the evil ones threw can be seen in the Narnia movie after the white witch stabs Aslan. She too, thought she’d won only to Aslan return more powerful than ever.
We must also remember his humanity in the scene when the devil tempts Jesus and tries to get him to fall down and worship the dark one. Again, Jesus had a choice. He KNEW his fate. Jesus could have chosen to give in to the devil and become an earthly king. Instead, he chose to obey his father.
He cried when he learned Lazarus had died. He got angry with how and by whom the temple had become defiled. He made sure, like a good son, that his mother was taken care of while he hung there on the cross. We miss the significance of this because in our culture this doesn’t happen. But in Biblical times, it was the first born son who cared for his parents in their old age.
These are very human moments in Jesus’ life. Yes, he was the son of God, but he was human too, and because he was, we can identify with him.
Fourth, we are all part of the inheritance promised to Abraham that his seed would be like the stars. Abe didn’t receive all God had said he would in his lifetime, but I’m betting at the judgment, he’s going to be overwhelmed with the fulfillment of His promise. Pretty neat, huh?
Not to mention the rewards we’ll receive or how He looks after us in our day to day living.
God didn’t set us up to fail. He set up the ultimate redemption plan to win back what the devil would steal.
Even Jesus said: The thief (devil) comes to steal, kill and destroy.
I am come that you might have life and have it more than abundantly. (Meaning in full measure or bounty.)
I would say God set us up for success.