Transcript Document

Hypocrites and Backsliders003 and 004
Adam and Eve: Part 1 - Why are
We Here?
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Why Are We Here?
• Why are there hypocrites and backsliders?
• Last week we read the personal testimony of
many who started their Christian lives with
enthusiasm and commitment, but who were,
in a relatively short time, so disenchanted
with their faith in that they chose to leave
Christianity behind, even inviting others to do
the same.
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Why Are We Here?
• What power, what force, would cause people who
were so excited about their new-found faith, whose
lives have changed so dramatically, to refer to their
old way of living?
• To answer that question we must go back to the
beginning, not just the beginning of their faith in
Christ, though we will do that; not just back to the
beginning of Christianity, and we will do that too, but
back further, to the beginning of mankind, the
beginning of the earth, and even before that.
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Why Are We Here?
• Let us begin with an obscure little sentence
at the end of 1 Peter 1:12 -• "Angels long to stoop and look into these
things."
• What things could it be that angels "long" to
look into?
• What could it be that humanity has to teach
angels?
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Why Are We Here?
• Let us look at the context of the entire verse
to see what it might be:
• 12 To them it was revealed that they were
serving not themselves but you, when they
foretold the very things which have now been
openly declared to you by those who, having
been taught by the Holy Spirit which had
been sent from Heaven, brought you the
Good News. Angels long to stoop and look
into these things.
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Why Are We Here?
• So there were others involved before us, and
they were foretelling things which are now
openly declared to us in the good news, the
gospel.
• Let us who look at the entire context, then,
and see the entire story that Peter is telling:
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Why Are We Here?
• 1 Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ: To God's
own people scattered over the earth, who are
living as foreigners in Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia, 2
chosen in accordance with the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through the sanctifying
work of the Spirit, with a view to their
obedience and to their being sprinkled with
the blood of Jesus Christ. May more and
more grace and peace be granted to you.
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Why Are We Here?
• 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who in His great mercy has begotten us
anew to an ever-living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an
inheritance imperishable, undefiled and unfading,
which has been reserved in Heaven for you, 5whom
God in His power is guarding through faith for a
salvation that even now stands ready for unveiling
at the End of the Age. 6Rejoice triumphantly in the
prospect of this, even if now, for a short time, you
are compelled to sorrow amid various trials.
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Why Are We Here?
• 7 The sorrow comes in order that the testing of your
faith--being more precious than that of gold, which
perishes and yet is proved by fire--may be found to
result in praise and glory and honour at the reappearing of Jesus Christ. 8Him you love, though
your eyes have never looked on Him. In Him,
though at present you cannot see Him, you
nevertheless trust, and triumph with a joy which is
unspeakable and is crowned with glory, 9while you
are securing as the outcome of your faith the
salvation of your souls.
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Why Are We Here?
• 10There were Prophets who earnestly
inquired about that salvation, and closely
searched into it--even those who spoke
beforehand of the grace which was to come
to you. 11They were eager to know the time
which the Spirit of Christ within them kept
indicating, or the characteristics of that time,
when they solemnly made known beforehand
the sufferings that were to come upon Christ
and the glories which would follow.
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Why Are We Here?
• So, the angels are aware of some story that even
the prophets of the Old testament were kept in the
dark about, that are now revealed in the church age
believer
• Two questions come to the mind; what is it that is
revealed in the New testament believer, and, what
mystery does it answer?
• Is there anything in the Bible that might shed more
light on what it is about us that the angels are
interested in?
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Why Are We Here?
• Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons (the
angels) of God came to present themselves before
the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and accuser)
also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to
Satan, From where did you come? Then Satan
answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the
earth and from walking up and down on it. 8 And
the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My
servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth,
a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently]
fears God and abstains from and shuns evil
[because it is wrong]?
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Why Are We Here?
• Aha, an Angel, known as Satan, attends an
Angelic, Convocation, and is called out by God
himself and is questioned about a believer!
• While this believer is an Old testament Believer, yet
has something to teach the angels; our text in 1st
Peter indicates that we as Believers after crucifixion
of Christ have greater information to offer!
• Let us look back into history and even pre-history,
find out what is going on.
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Creation
• Genesis 1:1 IN THE beginning God (prepared,
formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and
the earth. 2 The earth was without form and an
empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of
the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving
(hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.
• (Is 45:18 For thus says the Lord Who created the
heavens, God Himself, Who formed the earth and
made it, Who established it and did not create it
without form and an empty waste; He formed it to
be inhabited. I am the Lord, and there is no one
else.)
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Creation
• So, here we have a seeming contradiction, the
second verse of Genesis stating that the earth was
formless and void at the creation, and Isaiah,
quoting God Himself, that He did not create it
formless and void.
• 2 Pe 3:5 For they willfully overlook and forget this
[fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long
ago by the word of God, and the earth also which
was formed out of water and by means of water, 6
Through which the world that then [existed] was
deluged with water and perished.
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Creation
• It was after the creation of angels that this took
place, as they all were present and rejoicing. Job
38:7
• Job 38:4 Where were you when I laid the
foundation of the earth? Declare to Me, if you have
and know understanding. 5 Who determined the
measures of the earth, if you know? Or who
stretched the measuring line upon it? 6 Upon what
were the foundations of it fastened, or who laid its
cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang
together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
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Creation
• The universe was created by the Word of the
Godhead. Ps. 33:6; 2 Pet. 3:5D.
• The 2nd person of the Godhead actually did the
speaking and performed the mechanics. John 1:3;
Heb. 1:2; Col. 1:16E.
• The Hebrew word, bArA, in Genesis 1:1, indicates
that what was created was "ex-nihilo" - out of
nothing.
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Creation
• The universe and the earth were created perfect.
Deut. 32:4
• Isaiah 45:18 describes this perfection.
• Not a waste place: not tohu.
• Created to be inhabited: organized and stabilized
and populated by a pre-Adamic, non-volitional life.
• Probably the prehistoric creatures - dinosaurs and
their contemporaries.
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Creation
• Psalm 18:7-15 describes this judgment with
emphasis on the destruction of the physical features
of the earth.
• Jeremiah 4:23-26 describes the pre-Adamic earth.
• At verse 25, we learn that there were birds
present.
• Cities in v. 26, refers to the organized living
arrangements of the angels who inhabited the
earth.
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Creation
• This act of creation took place before the
angelic revolt of Ezek. 28:11-17 and Is.
14:12-17.
• Based on Job 38:7 the purpose for the
universe was to promote the greatness of the
Godhead in the eyes of his angelic creation.
• Principle of Psalm 19:1
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Angelic Observation
• The creation of angels is an expression of
God's perfect character. Psalm 148:2, 13;
Col. 1:16
• Why they were created is not directly taught
in the bible, but they are "creatures" and have
creature limitations.
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Angelic Observation
• The primary activity of angels gives a clue as to why
they were created. Psalm 148:2; 103:20; Isaiah 6:13.
• To proclaim and reflect the character of God
through praise and service and to have fellowship
with Him on that basis.
• Angels were created with volition so that worship
and service would be an issue of choice.
• God, with His perfect omniscience anticipated the
expression of evil by volitional creatures.
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Angelic Observation
• He allowed this to take place in order to once
and for all expose, neutralized and judge evil
so that in eternity future, evil will never again
be an issue for volitional creatures.
• Once evil was expressed by angels, God
instituted his plan to judge it by creating an
inferior creature with the same volitional
capacity - man.
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Angelic Observation
• From the creation of Adam throughout the
entire human race, the reality of God's perfect
righteousness, justice and love is established
through both those who accept divine policy
as well as those who reject it.
• Because of this ultimate purpose for man, he
is the object of angelic observation.
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Angelic Observation
• Elect angels see the promotion of divine
policy in the human race and rejoice at the
vindication of what they know to be true.
• Fallen angels see the promotion of divine
policy in the human race and realize a
confirmation of God's perfect righteousness
and justice.
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Angelic Observation
• In the beginning, all angels rejoiced at the
initial creation of the world. Job 38:4-73.
• But there was observation and interference in
Eden. Gen. 3:1-54.
• There was observation and interference with
Cain and Abel. 1 John 3:12; Gen. 4:1-8
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Angelic Observation
• Observation and interference prior to the
flood is seen in Gen. 6:1-7
• This resulted in the angelic infiltration of the
human race and the judgment on man and
angel that followed.
• On man: the flood - Gen. 6:9-13; 7:12.
• On angels: 1 Peter 3:18-20; Jude 6; 2 Peter
2:4
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Angelic Observation
• Related to this historical occurrence is the purpose
for the woman having long hair. 1 Cor. 11:1-106.
• Satan's periodic observation of the earth as his
domain is seen in many passages: Job 1:6-11; 2:1-5
(His domain: Lk. 4:6; Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 1 Cor.
2:8; 2 Cor. 4:4; I Jn.5:19)7.
• Observation and participation at the giving of the
Mosaic law. Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19; Heb. 2:2
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Angelic Observation
• Periodic observation and participation throughout
the old testament.
• Gen. 18 and 19 - Abraham and Lot
• Gen. 32:1-2 - Jacob
• 2 Kings 6:8-23 - Elisha
• The watchers: Dan. 4:17, 1 Kings 22:19-23
• "national" demons: Dan. 10:20-21
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Angelic Observation
• When Satan sinned against God, he was
sentenced to the lake of fire for all eternity.
Ezek. 28.19b; Mt. 25.41
• Mt 25:41 Then He will say to those at His left
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