What do we believe?

John 6:64

This topical discussion will answer the title question by asking a series of do you believe questions beginning with the creation story as recorded in Genesis 1:1which states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”, if we believe the scriptures; we are saying yes there is a God who is supreme and there is no other God accept Him. Do we believe that man was created in the likeness and image of God; man being created last in the creation process we see the love, care and responsibility God gave man. Also, man (humanity) was a special creation of God and not a product of evolution as some would have us to believe. Given the fact that man and woman were created in the image and likeness of God authenticates God’s desire to have a fellowship with man and we are to love Him as He loved us and reflect His glory and holiness. Man is to do this by knowing God and obeying Him because man possesses a moral likeness to God for he was sinless, holy and possessing wisdom, a heart of love and the will to do the right thing. In other words, man lived in complete harmony with God where there was fellowship and communication and total obedience until Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden.

What is man’s moral likeness to God? Man was created as personal beings with a spirit, mind, emotions, self-consciousness and the power to choose. In man’s emotions he/she have the capabilities to cry, feel, hurt and care about things of interest. Man being created in the image of God does not means that he is divine, but was created on a lower order and mankind is depended on God from beginning to end.

Do you believe when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world caused the downward spiral of humanity? Their disobedience caused a divide between man and God thus the plan of salvation was implemented because man needed a propiator to redeem him back to God. God promised humanity a redeemer; however it was forty-two generations for this promise to be fulfilled. Between the generations of man’s first sin and Christ’s coming to earth, man had become progressively wicked thus set in motion God’s moral laws, The Ten Commandments. What are some of the events that lead to God giving the Ten Commandments? We have the pre and post flood sins of humanity; only Noah and his family along with two animals of every kind was saved from that generation. During the post-flood generation, man continued in his idolatry and rebellion until God dispersed the human race by fragmenting their language and culture and scattered the human race throughout the earth. God made covenants after covenants which man failed to keep.

Do you believe the Ten Commandments are God’s moral laws and if obeyed by man some of society’s ills would be none existence? The Ten Commandments was written by God Himself and given to Moses on two tablets for the nation of Israel as to how they were to live. The Ten Commandments is a summary of God’s moral laws for Israel and describes Israel’s obligation to God and their fellowman. The same Ten Commandments remain obligatory for all humankind today that was confirmed by Christ and His apostle during the New Testament writings. Reflecting on the Ten Commandments we see the love we should have for God, our fellowman as well as the jealous nature of God when stated “Thou shall have no other god before me” (Exodus 20:3 KJV).

Do you believe God will get angry and bring punishment to the whole human race as depicted during Noah’s time? Romans 1:18 tell us, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of man, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Let’s explore God’s wrath which expresses His anger and response to all manner of sin. His wrath is provoked by the sins of individuals and nations alike. In the past God displayed His anger with the great flood (Genesis 6-8), famine, plagues (Ezekiel 6:11), annihilation of the land (Deuteronomy 29:22-23), scattering (Lamentations 4:16), and even burning the land (Isaiah 9:18-19). Currently we see God’s anger displayed by giving His people over to a reprobate mind for their sins which brings ruin and death to all that disobey His commandments (Romans 1:18-20; 6:23, Ezekiel 18:4; Ephesians 2:3). God’s wrath results in man being eternally separated form God for all who remain in sin. God in His love for humanity provided an escape route which is in Jesus Christ.

Since we have established that God does get angry and punishment is the results of His anger, but He provided a way for man to repent of his sins and be freed from the bondage of sin. The way is Jesus Christ. First, man has to admit he is a sinner. Second, confess his sins and third, turn for his sins all of which is based on the individual believing in Jesus Christ and accepting Him as God’s Son. This brings the writer to a series of questions regarding your beliefs of who is Jesus. Do you really believe that Jesus is God’s Son and was present during creation? Do you believe that Jesus is the second person in the Godhead? Do you believe He is the incarnated Christ and is eternal from the heavens and was not created along with all other creation? Do you believe Jesus was present with God the father and the Holy Spirit during creation? Genesis 1:26 records God saying “Let us.” Who is the “us”? The “us” is God the father, the Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Believers who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior will say “And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69). What do you believe?


Author’s contact information: Email- white3285@sbcglobal.net
Blog: http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
Website: www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com.