From the Birth of Adam to the Death of Shem

 I wrote a previous article entitled, “How old is the earth?”. In it I provided a timeline from the birth of Adam to the flood. Those that do not hold to the view that the earth is millions of years old and that the universe is billions of years old are called “Young Earth Creationists” by some. I would fall into this category. I do not believe the earth is millions of years old. I believe it is only thousands of years old. Why? Because of the timeline, the Bible provides for its readers.

There are some that teach that there must be gaps in the timeline we read in Genesis 5; this is where we read how old the father is when his son is born. For instance, we read in Genesis 5:3 that Adam was 130 years old when he had Seth. Some would argue that Seth was perhaps Adam’s grandson or great-grandson, and not his son implying there are gaps in the timeline and perhaps names omitted from the record. I do not know of any documentation discovered with missing names in this timeline. Moses who is the author of the book of Genesis was a meticulous, and very careful writer who paid attention to extreme detail. He was one hundred percent honest in his presentation of the facts. His scholarship was impeccable – a great historian who was guided by the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:21).

With that said, I will now present the Biblical Chronology in Genesis Chapter 5:

Adam begot Seth at 130 years old – vs. 3                                                                                                                              

Seth begot Enosh at 105 years old – vs. 6

Enosh begot Cainan at 90 years old – vs. 9

Cainan begot Mahalalel at 70 years old – vs. 12

Mahalalel begot Jared at 65 years old – vs. 15

Jared begot Enoch at 162 years old – vs. 18

Enoch begot Methuselah at 65 years old – vs. 21

Methuselah begot Lamech at 187 years old – vs. 25

Lamech begot Noah at 182 years old – vs. 28

Noah was 500 years when he begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth – vs. 32[1]

In Genesis 6:14-15 God commands Noah to build the ark because he is going to send a flood over all the earth. He told him to seal inside outside with pitch and provided the measurements: 300 cubits long (450 feet), 50 cubits wide (75 feet), and 30 cubits high (45 feet). A massive vessel even today. The length of the ark would be the length of 1.25 football fields today. The ark was the world’s first ocean liner; a huge wooden box that could float without capsizing.

It took one week for Noah, his family, and the animals to board the ark (Genesis 7:4).     

In the 600^th year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the rains came on the earth for forty days and nights (Genesis 7:12). The waters remained on the earth for 150 days – 5 months (Genesis 7:24).

God caused the wind to blow on the earth so the water could recede from the earth which began in the seventh month, and the seventeenth day of the month. The ark rested on top of Mount Ararat in modern day Turkey. The elevation of this mountain is about 17,000 feet above sea level or 3.2196 miles high. The waters continued to recede. By the tenth month and first day, the tops of the mountains could be seen (Genesis 8:5).

Forty days later, Noah opened the window of the ark and sent out a dove; the dove returned because it could not find anywhere to nest. He sent a raven out also which did not return to the ark. Two weeks later, Noah sends out the dove again, and it did not return because it had found a place to nest; the waters were continually abating from the earth.

In Noah’s 601^st year, second month, twenty-seventh day of the month the entire earth is dry (Genesis 8:14).

In total Noah, and his family were in the ark for 378 days (One year, eighteen days).[2]

God covenanted with Noah by putting his rainbow in the sky promising never to destroy the earth with the waters of the flood (Genesis 9:14).

Noah died at 950 years old – 350 years after the flood (Genesis 9:29).

Some interesting facts

Adam lives long enough to see nine generations of his family. When Noah’s father Lamech was born, Adam was 874 years old. He would die 56 years later at 930 years old.[3] Noah was born 126 years after Adam’s death.

Lamech Noah’s father died five years before the flood and mostly likely helped build the ark. Noah was 595 years old at the time of his father’s death. Shem son of Noah was 93 years old. The year was 1651 YAC;287 years before the birth of Terah, father of Abraham, and 417 years before Abraham was born.

Methuselah was born in the year 687 YAC. He lived 969 years; the oldest man to ever live. The year he died is when the flood came – the year 1656.

Abram (later Abraham) was born thirty-two years after Noah’s death; 382 years after the flood. It was the year 2038 YAC. Shem the son of Noah who is the progenitor of the Semites, and the Messianic line lives to be 600 years old. He dies in 2158 YAC when Abraham is 120 years old.  Abraham's son Isaac is 20 years old. This is 40 years before Jacob and Esau the twins are born. Shem lives long enough to see nine generations of his family. When Abraham was born, Shem is 480 years old. Shem dies 120 years later.

So, from the birth of Adam to the flood was 1,656 years[4] of human history or 1,656 YAC (years after creation). From the flood to the death of Noah was 350 years. In total, from creation to Shem’s death covers 2,158 years of human history (YAC).

By this time in history Adam our first father has been dead for 1,228 years.

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[1] The author list Noah’s sons not by age, but by significance. Shem is listed first because he is the ancestor

Of Jesus Christ. He was the second born of his brothers. Japheth was first and Ham third. We see the same thing

With the sons of Terah: Abram, Nahor and Haran. Abram (renamed Abraham).  Abraham is a direct ancestor of Christ, but he was born last of his brothers. Haran was most likely the oldest because he had 3 children already: Lot, Milchah, and Iscah (Genesis 11:27,29), then Haran, and then Abraham who was born when Terah was 130 years old.

[2] Back then all months were 30 days each.

[3] The life span of those patriarchs is literal, not symbolic. The reason people lived so long is that some have

Said the earth was protected by a water canopy (some sort of natural invisible shield) which prevented the

Sun’s ultraviolet rays from penetrating the earth allowing for very long life. When the rains came during the flood,

The canopy was destroyed shortening the life span dramatically after the flood.

[4] This figure comes from adding the age of the fathers when they had their sons above.

What is Eschatology?

Eschatology in relation to the Christian faith is the study of the last things or the end times. A vital element of eschatology is an event in the Bible called the Millennium. Millennium means one thousand. There are different views regarding the time in history we call the millennium. Is it real or figurative? Another question is when does it happen, or has it happened already? Are we in the millennium now? I will attempt to answer those questions in this article; but first, let us look at some different views on the millennium.

                                                                                                                                 

Amillennialism – Amillennialists believe there is no literal millennium reign of Jesus Christ. The prefix “A” means none, and millennium as mentioned above means one thousand – so it means no millennium. Amillennialists believe the Church Age – the age we are in now is also the millennium.  In other words, the church age and the millennium are concurrent. Amillennialists timeline is as follows:

a.       First Advent of Christ

b.       Church Age/millennium

c.       Tribulation

d.       Second Advent of Christ

e.       New heavens and new earth/Eternity

Premillennialism – Premillennialists believe there is a literal one-thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth after his second advent. Of course the prefix “Pre” means before – meaning premillennialists believe the return of Christ occurs before the millennium. Premillennialists timeline is as follows:

a.       First Advent of Christ

b.       Church Age

c.       Tribulation

d.       Second Advent of Christ

e.       Millennium

f.        New heavens and new earth/Eternity

Postmillennialism – Postmillennialists do not believe in a literal one-thousand-year reign of Christ. Rather, they believe the Church age becomes the millennium. The one thousand years is figurative – non designated period of time. In fact, there are some postmillennialists that subscribe to what is called a “Dominion Theology." This means they will take control of the earth through (1) evangelization, and (2) through economic, military and political control. Once the entire world is ‘’Christianized”, Jesus is allowed to return to the earth.

  

The postmillennialists timeline is as follows:

a.       First Advent of Christ

b.       The Church age → becomes “millennium” (non-literal and indefinite time frame)

c.       Tribulation?

d.       Second Advent of Christ

e.       New heavens and new earth/Eternity

The problems with the amillennium view are (1) the Church age which we are in now is distinct from the millennium, not equivalent to it. (2) to assert there is no millennium is to distort the scripture – particularly deny the reality of Revelation chapter 20 which produces several problems within the chapter if there is no millennium:

1.       The Angel does not bind[1] Satan and places him in the Abyss if there no millennium (v. 2).

2.       The first resurrection does not occur minus the millennium  (vs. 4-6).

3.       Satan cannot be released to deceive the nations only to be cast into the Lake of Fire (vs. 7-10).

4.       The Great  WhiteThrone Judgment of the wicked dead does not occur which means they are not cast into the Lake of Fire (vs. 11-15).

The amillennium position is unbiblical.

Problems with the postmillennium position is that like amillennialism distorts the Biblical timeline of events. The main error that the writer sees is that it gives total dominion to the Church instead of dominion to the head of the Church – The Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Bible makes it evident that the millennium has to be literal. If it is not, then Jesus cannot set up his global reign of peace on earth.

In Isaiah we read a clear picture of the posture of the millennium. It reads, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:6-9).

Now I ask the reader, at what time in history has these things occurred? Certainly it is not happening now. And it definitely will not happen during the seven-year tribulation, or at the second coming. The only logical explanation would be it would have to occur during the millennium reign of our Lord, and then into the eternal state.

The postmillennium view is also unbiblical.

That only leaves premillennialism. If one takes Revelation chapters 19-20 literally, then one has to believe the millennium occurs after the second coming, or that Jesus comes prior to the millennium. It is a literal one-thousand-year period. This is unmistakable. The one thousand years is mentioned six times in Revelation 20 (vs 2-7). No doubt John the writer mentions it that many times to emphasize that the one thousand years is literal.

These passages no doubt refer to the millennium:

And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea. In both summer and winter it shall occur, and the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be – “The Lord is one, “ and his name one.

All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the King’s winepresses.

The people shall dwell in it; And no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited (Zechariah 14:8-11).

The Bible commands we that we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces” (Psalm 122:6-7).

There would be no need to pray for Jerusalem’s peace if we were in some “sort” of millennium now like amillennialists and postmillenialists believe. No. The millennium is a surety, but it is yet a future event.

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[1] As an aside, we DO NOT have the ability to bind the devil as many (or perhaps most) in the church believe; no matter how loudly one prays, or how impassioned and sincere they are. I say this hopefully for the benefit and edification for those who attempt to bind him in their prayers. This binding in prayer(s) comes from a misinterpretation of Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:18. Revelation 20 is the only place the author has found in scripture where Satan is bound and literally rendered powerless for one thousand years until he is loosed one last time.

Judgment Day

What exactly is Judgement Day? Many read about it about in books. Many Hollywood films have offered their interpretation of it only for box office receipts because it is no doubt an intriguing topic to draw moviegoers. But, is it a real future event that is coming upon the world or it is fantasy?

Do we really have to deal with an actual judgment of God once He removes all the believers from the earth and the wicked are left behind? That’s what the best-selling novels by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye discuss right?

The judgment of God is indeed real, but to get a correct view of what will happen, we must go to the scriptures.

There are numerous passages in the Old and New Testaments that deal with not only the Judgment of God or what Revelation 6 called the Wrath of the Lamb, but Judgment Day itself – when Jesus returns to earth to destroy His enemies and set up His eternal kingdom on earth.

a.       Malachi – For behold the day of the Lord is coming, burning like an oven. Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:1,5).

b.      Zechariah – Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem. The city hall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished (Zechariah 14:1-2a).

c.       Zephaniah – The great day of the Lord I near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter. There the mighty men will cry out. The day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness (Zephaniah 1:14-15).

d.      Matthew - Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:29-30).

e.      ll Thessalonians – And the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing with the brightness of His coming (ll Thessalonians 2:8).

f.        II Peter – But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a great roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and the dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed (II Peter 3:10).

g.       Jude – It was about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam prophesied saying, “Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him (Jude 14-15).

h.      Revelation - And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.  He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.  From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in mid heaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” “And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.                                

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.  And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:11-21).

These passages given by eight different witnesses describe the day of the Lord or Judgment day. It will be the most horrific day in human history, and rest assured it is coming!

Why must this day take place? Because God must for His holiness sake judge the sins of the world. The world must go through a global cleansing in order for God to rid the earth of evil and usher in eternal peace.

Many doubt the return of the Lord. Why? Because the writers predicted Judgment Day centuries ago and it has not occurred yet.

  

Many mock at the return of Jesus Christ which is foolish. Listen to what Peter declares. Knowing this first of all, that scoffers (we would call them haters in today’s vernacular) will come in the last days (now) with their scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (II Peter 3:3-4).

Peter rebukes the ignorance of the naysayers stating that the world that existed at the beginning of creation is different from the world that exists now. The old world was destroyed by water – i.e. the Flood. This current world is reserved for destruction by fire (II Peter 3:5-7).

In Noah’s day God saw all the evil man was committing continually and declared that His Spirit would not always strive with man, and that he (man) had 120 years (Genesis 6:3).[1] God will not forever strive with man now either. God has even been more gracious now in that He has given man nearly two thousand years, since the time of Christ’s first coming to repent, and all of the world still commits evil continually.

Jesus’ return I believe cannot be that far away. Judgment Day is coming. Will you return with Him in glory (Revelation 19:11), or judged by Him in damnation (Revelation 20:15)?                          

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[1] The 120 years in Genesis 6:3 has been interpreted in at least two ways. (1) the 120 years

supposedly became the life span God reduces man to due to his persistent sinfulness after the flood. Prior to the flood, men were living past 900 years old. This is unlikely because Abraham lived to be 175 years and his son Isaac lived 180 years. Jacob his grandson lived to be 147 years old. (2) the 120 years are the years Noah preached until the coming of the flood.

The author does not know of any other possible interpretations

Why did Jesus say to the rich young ruler there is no one good but God? Was He denying that He was God?

In Matthew 19:16-17a we read, “Good Teacher what good thing shall I do to have eternal life?” So he said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is God.”

From the language one could infer that Jesus was not God because he said to the young ruler, “Why do you call me good?”

When Jesus asked the young man why do you me call me good, he was not denying his deity. Rather he was affirming to the young man that he is God by virtue of the fact that he made the statement, 

“There is only one that is good, and that is God.” 

It was if Jesus was also saying to the young ruler, “Since you are calling me good, are you implying that I am God?”

Whether the man knew if Jesus was God, he knew he was talking to someone with supreme wisdom and authority.

Jesus also was not rebuking the young ruler for calling him good, rather he wanted him to consider the gravity of his statement to Jesus by calling him good.

Notice though when Jesus answers the young man’s questions and lets him know what he must do to inherit eternal life how the young ruler’s attitude changes; The Bible says he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions or wealth (Mark 10:22).

This is the attitude of most of the world when they encounter the Good Master; they want to come to God on their own terms. How many people are like that rich young ruler; they feel confident about their position in life. They are unaware they are lost, and are in need of salvation. They believe their works are good enough to merit eternal life, but when matched against the requirements the Word of God demands, their evil pride is broken, and they turn and walk away sorrowful because the requirements of God do not match their own.

Remember the rich young ruler asked Jesus, “What good thing must I do to have eternal life? When Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me” (Matthew 19:21).

Had he loved the Lord, he would have obeyed Jesus and followed him. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” He also said, “He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he loves me” (John 14:15, 21).

This is important to understand, when Jesus answered the young man by telling him to obey the law, and the man said which ones, Jesus said, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your Mother and Father, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself, he (Jesus) was not advocating that the rich man could be saved by obeying the law, rather he was testing him to see if he believed by keeping the law he could be saved.

The young man replied to him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack” (Matthew 19:20)?

By the young ruler’s reply, he believed he did all that was required to gain eternal life. That is why he replied to Jesus, “What do I still lack?”

When Jesus told him to sell his goods and follow him, he was not advocating that salvation comes through philanthropy.

Jesus was demanding the rich man be willing to abandon all he has to gain all Christ had for him. He refused proving he was unfit for the kingdom of God.

In the end, the rich man did not want to do the good thing he asked Jesus about. Why? Because of what it would cost him, and more importantly, he did not love God like he may have thought in the beginning.

Love of God demands obedience to him. Jesus tested the young man’s faith and love for him and he failed tragically.

The Adams Families

It may be news to some, but the Bible talks about two Adams; the first Adam and the last Adam.
What I would like to do is compare the two men.

In 1 Corinthians 15:45 we read, “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”

The last Adam, of course, is Jesus Christ.

The first way we can compare the two men is in their temptations. With the first Adam, he failed miserably. Adam plunged the entire human race into sin, suffering and death. As a result of his act of disobedience, he became a sinner. Along with his act of sin along with our mother Eve, we were born sinners, unrighteous and rebellious in our own right. The sin nature the first Adam acquired has been transferred to us. All of the human race is guilty by association and guilty by our own sinful acts of rebellion toward God.

Adam was created perfectly by God, but with peccability – the ability to sin. We know this because he did in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6).

Contrast the life of Christ we find that he endured every temptation perfectly with no sin. Jesus has what is called impeccability – the inability to sin. Although we are comparing two men, one was of an earthly origin, the other from everlasting with a heavenly-earthly origin in his flesh (I Corinthians 15:47).

The marked difference between the two men was Adam hearkened unto his wife who was deceived by Satan’s lies and ate the forbidden fruit. The first Adam’s mistake was that he did not use the word of God to rebuke the devil, and send him out of the garden.  The last Adam on the other hand, when confronted with temptation, recited God’s word and sent the devil away (Matthew 4:10-11).
Both men had ultimate authority. The first Adam forfeited his authority and was defeated by the enemy. The second Adam used his authority to gain victory over the enemy.
The last Adam regained with the first Adam lost – the authority in the earth. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

The second way we can compare the two Adams is in their offspring. All those born in the first Adam will die because of sin. Since the first Adam was made the federal head of this world, all those born in him take on his DNA which is a certificate of death; we are born into sin.

The Bible says it like this, “Wherefore, as by one man (i.e. Adam), sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death upon all men for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).
In Romans 5:17a we read, “For by one man’s offense death reigned by one…”
In Romans 5:19a we read, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…”
All of the first Adams’ children which are the entire human race are sinners. We were born with no hope and without God (Ephesians 2:12).

The chasm between sinful man and a Holy God is an unbridgeable gap. We can never cross that gap on our own. Why? Because in our natural sinful flesh we are unable to because we are unwilling. Our sinfulness is so systemic that it would take a miracle from God for us to be able to get to Him.
Unregenerate man is indeed a child of the devil (John 8:44). Anyone who does not acknowledge this truth is spiritually blind and dead.

So, how does one go from being in the first Adam’s family to the Last Adam’s family? The sinner HAS to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and the justification of his soul by faith in order to cross over the bridge to get to God. The last Adam is that bridge we must go on to cross over and become a part of the family of the righteous. The first Adam ruined our relationship with the Father, the Last Adam restored it forever (Romans 5:19b).

Truly all die in the first Adam, and truly all live in the Last Adam (Romans 5:18).
The third and final comparison I want to make between the two men is rulership

In Genesis 1:26 we read God giving Adam authority over all the earth. Scholars have referred to the first Adam having Federal Headship over the earth. Why? Because God gave him complete dominion. Adam was the king of the earth prior to his epic fall from grace. The earth has always belonged to the Lord, but he centuries ago gave authority to man to take care of it. We see how this has turned out to this very hour – it’s a disaster! Fortunately not a disaster that God is not aware of and in control over. He knew this would happen for he allowed it for his own divine purposes.

Because of sin man’s authority is totally corrupt, and out of control. Man no longer rules with righteousness and submission to God’s will. Rather man is an evil egotistical, despot who abuses his power that leaves countless souls ruined in his collateral damage.

The word of God in Proverbs says this, “When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase” (Proverbs 28:28).

Because of the failure of the first Adam’s rule as Federal Head, we are now seeing the fruits of his descendants’ rulership.

Contrast this with the last Adam’s rule; we read that Jesus will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).

His rule will be an everlasting rule which will never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44).

The last Adam’s rule will usher in everlasting peace. We read in Isaiah 11:9 these words, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.”
Being full of the knowledge of the Lord is an amazing reality! We have no capacity to realize that now in the world that is wholesale ignorant of God’s true knowledge. The reason why I know we are deficient of God’s knowledge is because of all the false religions, and false teaching that exists regarding the true God; as a result, man manufactures his own gods with his own code of “ethics”, and worships his false deities.

This is idolatry.

Man is ignorant of the knowledge of the Lord willfully because he is sinful, and he is ignorant because he is spiritually dead to God (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13).

These two men represent two natures. The Adamic  nature represents the fall – the man of sin. The last Adam is God in the flesh; He represents all those forgiven of sin, born of his Spirit, adopted into the family of God as sons and daughters.

Two men, two families. To which one do you belong?

Defining Some "isms"

What is Atheism?

Atheism is the belief that God does not exist. In Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 it says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God!’ “

Atheists also would have to believe in evolution since they do not believe God exists. There has to be a reason for the existence of the universe so the theory of evolution is their “drug” of choice. Atheism contradicts itself in that it does not believe in the existence of God, but they have enough “faith” to believe in another god – the god that is evolution. This of course is in direct violation of Exodus 20 verse 3 where Moses says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”

It is illogical for anyone to believe in evolution because it means we are believing in randomness, chance happenings for the causality of our universe. An effect always has to have a cause. The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:1 in the beginning God (the cause) created the heavens and the earth (the effect).

What is Theism?

Theism is the belief that a god exists. Here’s the catch though, a Theist is not necessarily a Christian. There are Theists in false religions also – like for instance Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons. The Jesus in those religions is not the Jesus of Holy Scripture. For an explanation of who they worship see my article on, “Do all roads lead to God?” http://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2014/07/do-all-roads-lead-to-god.html.

We want to be Theists according to the Bible and nothing else.

What is Pantheism?

Pantheism is the belief that God is everything, and in everyone. In another words, God is a rock, a shoe, a dog, a tree, you get the idea. No doubt a misinterpretation of Psalm 139:7-8 has contributed to a Pantheistic worldview. These verses read, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in hell you are there.”  These verses do not mean that God is in everything. Rather they mean God is omnipresent – He is everywhere. God is not one with his creation, he is separate from his creation. Think it about logically, if God is his creation, then he had to create himself which of course is impossible. No being can self-create. A couple of huge problems is that (1) if God self-created himself, then he is not eternal – which means he had a beginning. Micah 5:2 makes reference to Jesus Christ as being everlasting so that means God is eternal, and self-existing, not self-creating. And (2) the other problem with God being one with his creation is that if one chooses to believe God is eternal, then the creation is eternal too which is unbiblical also. This view prohibits God from being the creator of the universe. Hinduism and Buddhism are religions that are Pantheistic and Polytheistic. They both have over 300 million gods in their system, and Hindus in particular main goal is to become one with their man deistic force – Brahman.

What is Monotheism?

Monotheism is a compound word. Mono means one or only, and Theism comes from the Greek Theos meaning God. Monotheism is the belief in one God, or that God is one. In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read, “Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is one.” In James 2:19 we read, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble.” Contrary to the criticism of some that believe that Christians worship three gods due to God being triune, the Bible makes it clear that we serve one God manifested in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three are God; Co-equal, Co-eternal, and Co-powerful.

The Muslims also regard themselves as Monotheists. For they only worship Allah.

Monotheism is only viable if one is worshipping the one and only true God, the God of the Bible.

What is Polytheism?

Polytheism is the opposite of Monotheism. It is also a compound word. Poly meaning many, and once again Theism meaning God. A Polytheist is one who worships multiple gods. A cult called Baha’i Faith is a false religion that incorporates many belief systems into its worldview. A synonym for Polytheism would be Pluralism. The Bible condemns Polytheism. As a matter of fact, it was punishable by death.

In Deuteronomy 13:1-5 says, “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them’, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet of dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord Your God and fear him, and keep his commandments and obey his voice; you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So shall put away the evil from your midst.”

What is Fundamentalism?

Fundamentalism developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries because of the infiltration of liberalism entering the Church. Men from Princeton Theological Seminary were commissioned to write articles on the core doctrines of the Christian Faith. The result was they produced a twelve volume series titled, “The Fundamentals”. Reportedly over 300,000 copies were published and distributed for free to various church leaders.

The fundamentals doctrines of the Faith include, the Bible being the inspired Word of God – free from error. Jesus Christ being born of the Virgin Mary. The sinless life of Jesus Christ, his deity, his miracles, his crucifixion, burial and resurrection. His ascension, and return to earth to destroy his enemies, and set up his eternal earthly kingdom. Justification by faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone, and not by works.

When fundamentalism declined, it took on a derogatory character. Now a Fundamentalist is considered someone who is a legalistic extremist boycotting abortion clinics and telling women they cannot wear pants or makeup in Church or they are going to hell for being too worldly.

Fundamentalism was a positive force about 100 years ago that fought against the tolerance of liberalism – which is a view that is not a stickler for staunch Biblical truth, but rather a mixed bag of beliefs; a religious pluralism.

We as believers should endeavor to be classic Fundamentalists who were defenders of the faith like the Reformers were in Europe in fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Remember the eternal words of Jude 3b, “Contend earnestly for the faith once and for all delivered unto the saints.”

That is true and classic Fundamentalism.

Christ humbled, Christ Exalted

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

-          Philippians 2:5-11

Christ’s humiliation

When Jesus Christ came to earth as a man, we call that his humiliation. Why? Because he descended to earth to become like mankind without sin. Christ humility was not just his coming into the earth, but his entire life was one of humility.

In Matthew 11:28-30 we read, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Notice Jesus never paraded or aggrandized himself. Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28).

Even when Jesus represented himself as Messiah during Passion Week he humbly rode on a donkey on Palm Sunday. This was done to fulfill scripture, “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey. A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ “[1]

An extraordinary act of humble servitude is when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet during the Last Supper. He was showing them how they are to be humble servants and wash one another’s feet. Jesus led by example (John 13:3-17).

I see another of act humility was during Christ’s arrest. He declares that he could have prayed to the Father, and 12 legions of angels (around 72,000 of them) would have been dispatched at his disposal, but he relented so that scripture could be fulfilled.

Jesus ultimate humiliation, of course, was his crucifixion. This universal shattering act of God also was ultimate triumph. For through Christ shed blood, all those who truly believe they could be forgiven of their sins would be set free. Jesus had to die and shed his blood for it is the only way sins could be remitted (Hebrews 9:22).

Christ’s Exaltation

Oddly, Jesus declared he was glorified when Judas betrayed him (John 13:31b). Why would he declare he was glorified before the humiliation of the cross still ahead of him? I believe because scripture was unfolding just as it was written. Also, Jesus’ work on earth was nearly finished, and he would receive his pre-incarnate glory back with the Father once he was raised from the dead (John 17:5).

Jesus’ exaltation was evident when his disciples worshiped him prior to his ascension (Luke 24:52).

A tremendous expression of Christ’s deity is delivered by God the Father Himself when He calls his Son God. Hebrews 1:8-9 says, “Your throne O God is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Therefore, God, Your God has anointed you the oil of gladness more than your companions.”

This lets us know that Jesus the Son of God is also God, the second one in the Holy Trinity or Godhead. If God the Father calls His Son God, it is foolish to debate the matter.

When Jesus is dying in agony on the cross, one of the thieves crucified with him says, “Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied to him, “This day (italics mine) you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Do we get the gravity of this affirmation by Jesus? To the majority of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ impending death, he is a common criminal, and insurrectionist, a blasphemer against Caesar who deserves to die. But to the thief on the cross he is the Lord who knows Jesus can save him. And you know what? Jesus grants the man eternal life in the darkest hour of both their lives; while they are both suffocating to death!

This account is one of the boldest affirmations of Christ’s deity. While he is suffering the most horrific death in human history, he is at the same placing his Holy Spirit into a dying man next to him! The thief unbeknownst to him is being resurrected spiritually by the God-Man. Remember while this is occurring Jesus has been made a curse for us and made sin by God because the weight of all mankind sins he is currently bearing (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13).

We will never be able to fully grasp this transcendent love for us. Praise God for it though!

This type of love blows my mind! How could a man love another man that complete unless one of them is God?

We read in John 20:28 where the disciple Thomas calls Jesus his Lord and his God. The Greeks words for Lord and God are Kurios and Theos. Kurios describes majestic titles of Jesus such as Master, Owner, Emperor, King. The Alpha and Omega.  The First and the Last. These describe his position. Theos describes his attributes such as The One True God, monism, self-existence, immutability, infinite knowledge, creative power, absolute holiness, et al.

So when we say Jesus is Lord and God, we are saying he is everything to us. He is life itself. The apostle John said in John 3:36 and in I John 5:12. “He that has the Son has life. He does not have the Son does not have life.

Jesus in his humiliation was misunderstood, mocked, despised, threatened, betrayed, arrested, beaten, spit upon, cursed and crucified.

Jesus in his exaltation was raised from the dead, worshipped, praised, loved, and ascended into heaven, is making intercession for his own, will destroy his enemies at the battle of Armageddon, will return to set up his eternal kingdom, throw Satan, the beast and false prophet along with all unrepentant sinners into the lake of fire to burn forever.

Jesus humiliation is over. Only his eternal glorification remains.

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[1] Originally prophesied in Zechariah 9:9