Last night I had my first class at Gordon Theological Seminary School. I am taking graduate courses for certification in biblical teaching. I was so nervous, I really had no idea what to expect. I listened to this incredibly knowledgeable teacher who at times spoke way over my head. I am blown away at how little I really know. God has given me such a treasure today that I had to share it. Our first lesson was on Genesis 1-11.
He talked about when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, how they were warned. Do not eat the fruit from the forbidden tree or you will die.....Genesis 2:16; "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
We all know what happened! In Genesis chapter 3; this was the fall of man. Genesis 3: 6; When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave it to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
My professor didn't want us to miss this fact. They were told they would die, right? Well guess what they didn't die. In fact they lived very long lives outside the garden of Eden. Why do you think that is? Why didn't they die? Now they suffered greatly. But they were spared death? Why? Because of God's grace and His mercy!!!! Instead He chose this as an opportunity to show His love for the ones He created. He killed two animals instead and allowed them to cover themselves with the animal skins.
I received a phone call today from a friend who is studying the old testament. She was wondering why God was so angry in the old testament and loving in the new testament? It can seem that way until you look deeper. When you read the Bible it is clear: GOD IS THE SAME GOD TODAY THAT HE WAS YESTERDAY AND WILL BE TOMORROW!!! In other words even though the bible is 66 individual books written on two or possibly three continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1500 years by more than 40 authors, it remains ONE UNIFIED BOOK from beginning to end without contradiction.
Clearly: God is NO different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament!!! God by his very nature is immutable (UNCHANGING)....
Because of God's righteousness and Holy character, all sin present, past and future much be judged. But because of His love for us He provided a way that would be payment for sin!! A way that we New Testament believers avoid His wrath!! He sent Jesus to die for our sins the ultimate sacrifice!!!! Doesn't that make you want to scream Hallelujah??
In the New Testament, God's loving-kindness and mercy are manifested by: For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!!!!
In the old testament God dealt with Israel the same way a loving father deals with a child!!! When they would start worshipping idols etc. God would punish. But each and every time, God would deliver them once they had repented. This is the same way God deals with us today, New Testament believers. Hebrews 12:6; "the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son." Don't miss this nugget. Every time in the old testament when God's wrath would wipe out human-kind, He would recreate them and He would recreate them better than before. He could not help himself!! He would always recreate... This is one of God's characteristic's. His MERCY and GRACE!!! He loves us so much...
1 JOHN 4: 10; This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a atoning sacrifice for our sins......
Oh how I pray this has blessed someone like it has me. When I find these treasures in God's word I get so excited that I start walking and talking real fast. I want to share it so bad with others. It's like I want to have the world's biggest conference call.
Remembering that God does not change like shifting shadows...(James 1:17)...
God Bless you all,
Robbie
He talked about when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, how they were warned. Do not eat the fruit from the forbidden tree or you will die.....Genesis 2:16; "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
We all know what happened! In Genesis chapter 3; this was the fall of man. Genesis 3: 6; When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave it to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
My professor didn't want us to miss this fact. They were told they would die, right? Well guess what they didn't die. In fact they lived very long lives outside the garden of Eden. Why do you think that is? Why didn't they die? Now they suffered greatly. But they were spared death? Why? Because of God's grace and His mercy!!!! Instead He chose this as an opportunity to show His love for the ones He created. He killed two animals instead and allowed them to cover themselves with the animal skins.
I received a phone call today from a friend who is studying the old testament. She was wondering why God was so angry in the old testament and loving in the new testament? It can seem that way until you look deeper. When you read the Bible it is clear: GOD IS THE SAME GOD TODAY THAT HE WAS YESTERDAY AND WILL BE TOMORROW!!! In other words even though the bible is 66 individual books written on two or possibly three continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1500 years by more than 40 authors, it remains ONE UNIFIED BOOK from beginning to end without contradiction.
Clearly: God is NO different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament!!! God by his very nature is immutable (UNCHANGING)....
Because of God's righteousness and Holy character, all sin present, past and future much be judged. But because of His love for us He provided a way that would be payment for sin!! A way that we New Testament believers avoid His wrath!! He sent Jesus to die for our sins the ultimate sacrifice!!!! Doesn't that make you want to scream Hallelujah??
In the New Testament, God's loving-kindness and mercy are manifested by: For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!!!!
In the old testament God dealt with Israel the same way a loving father deals with a child!!! When they would start worshipping idols etc. God would punish. But each and every time, God would deliver them once they had repented. This is the same way God deals with us today, New Testament believers. Hebrews 12:6; "the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son." Don't miss this nugget. Every time in the old testament when God's wrath would wipe out human-kind, He would recreate them and He would recreate them better than before. He could not help himself!! He would always recreate... This is one of God's characteristic's. His MERCY and GRACE!!! He loves us so much...
1 JOHN 4: 10; This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a atoning sacrifice for our sins......
Oh how I pray this has blessed someone like it has me. When I find these treasures in God's word I get so excited that I start walking and talking real fast. I want to share it so bad with others. It's like I want to have the world's biggest conference call.
Remembering that God does not change like shifting shadows...(James 1:17)...
God Bless you all,
Robbie
