New Genesis - God’s Mission

New Genesis - God’s Mission
Exploring God's Unfolding Story of Redemption

This Bible teaching from Founded In Truth Fellowship, presented by Matthew Vander Els, delves into the comprehensive mission of God as it unfolds throughout scripture, culminating in the concept of a new creation, or a "New Genesis." The message encourages listeners to see the Bible not as a collection of isolated stories but as a unified narrative driven by God's desire for relationship and the restoration of His good creation.

The teaching begins by highlighting the inherent human desire for community, truth, love, and worship. It emphasizes that understanding God's mission requires looking beyond individual biblical books and recognizing the interconnectedness of the entire story. The concept of a "New Genesis" is introduced as a significant aspect of this overarching mission, a promise that traces back to the very beginning.

The speaker draws attention to Paul's letters to the Corinthians, specifically 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, where the gospel is summarized as the mission of reconciliation. Paul emphasizes that because Christ died for all, those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him. He states that if anyone is in Christ, a new creation has come; the old has gone, and the new is here. This reconciliation is from God through Christ, who gave believers the ministry of reconciliation, urging them to be reconciled to God as Christ's ambassadors.

To understand this "new creation," the teaching revisits the original creation account in Genesis. God created a good creation and placed humanity, as His image-bearers, in the Garden of Eden, described as a type of sanctuary filled with God's presence, a first temple. The speaker points out subtle temple language within the creation account, such as God walking in the cool of the day. This imagery suggests God's intimate presence among His people, a connection echoed in later scriptures where God walks in His tabernacle. The Garden is further described through the lens of prophets like Ezekiel as the garden of God and the mountain of God, reinforcing its sacred nature.

The role of humanity in this original creation was to cultivate the garden and reign as kings through God's authority. Being created in God's image meant reflecting His authority and extending His sacred space throughout the earth. Just as ancient Near Eastern kings were seen as the image-bearers of their gods, mankind was created to be God's icon, launching His presence into the world. The command to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it was a mission to increase God's image-bearers and expand the boundaries of Eden.

However, this good creation was marred by the entrance of the serpent, representing cunningness and negative forces. The serpent deceived Eve, leading to the fall of mankind. Instead of subduing the serpent, mankind was subdued, choosing autonomy from God and corrupting God's image within themselves. This fall resulted in exile from God's presence and a distorted human nature.

The narrative continues through the Old Testament, highlighting God's persistent mission despite humanity's failures. The flood in Noah's time was a form of recreation, yet sin continued. God then called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, reiterating the same mission to be fruitful, multiply, and be a blessing to all nations. Israel, as Jacob's descendants, was chosen to be a nation of priests, mediating between God and the world, meant to reconcile all nations and be a light shining God's kingdom. Despite the establishment of the temple, a sacred space representing God's presence, Israel failed to fully embrace this mission, often prioritizing their own agendas over God's. The prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah spoke against their hypocrisy, emphasizing that a physical temple was insufficient without a change of heart.

Looking forward, the prophet Isaiah spoke of a time of ultimate restoration, a new heavens and a new earth, where former things would not be remembered, and peace and joy would prevail. This new creation would be marked by the end of violence, the reign of forgiveness, and a transformation of creation. This prophetic vision included a king, a suffering servant, who would overcome sin and death, a new Adam who would fulfill the original vocation and raise up a people filled with God's glory.

The New Testament reveals that this promised "New Creation" has been inaugurated through Yeshua (Jesus). John's Gospel begins by echoing Genesis, stating, "In the beginning was the Word," identifying Yeshua as the Word through whom all things were made, the source of life and light. John presents Yeshua as the birth of the new creation, fulfilling the promises of Isaiah. Yeshua himself spoke of "living water," reminiscent of the river flowing from Eden, signifying the life He brings to all nations.

In Matthew 28, Yeshua, having been given all authority in heaven and earth, commissions his disciples with a mission: to go and make disciples of all nations. This echoes the original mission given to Adam, now taken up by Yeshua. Colossians 1:15 describes the Son as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of creation, the completed and uncorrupted image. Through Yeshua, believers are reborn as fully human beings, intended to be, and can participate in God's mission. Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians that the new creation has come is presented not as a future hope alone, but as a present reality that has already begun. Believers are now invited to actively participate in cultivating this "garden" as it expands and spreads God's glory. The book of Revelation depicts the ultimate victory of this new creation, where the serpent is finally subdued, and a New Jerusalem, a new Eden without boundaries, becomes the dwelling place of all nations.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Recognize your role as God's image-bearer: Understand that, as believers in Yeshua, you are called to reflect God's character and presence in the world.
• Embrace the mission of reconciliation: Act as Christ's ambassador, seeking to reconcile others to God through your words and actions.
• Live not for yourself but for Christ: Allow Christ's love to compel you to live a life that honors Him who died and was raised again for you.
• Cultivate the "new creation" in your own life: Recognize that being "in Christ" means you are part of a new reality, leaving behind the ways of the old creation.
• Extend God's "sacred space": Through your life and witness, aim to bring God's presence and influence into every sphere of your life and the lives of others.
• Subdue the "serpent's" voice: Be aware of the temptations that lead to separation from God and actively choose to follow God's authority.
• Participate in the ongoing mission: Understand that the call to be fruitful, multiply (make disciples), and subdue the earth continues for believers today.
• Find hope in Yeshua: Regardless of your struggles, recognize that in Yeshua there is hope, forgiveness, rebirth, and the reality of the new creation.
• Be part of a fellowship: Engage with a community of believers for support, prayer, and encouragement in living out this mission.
• Focus on Christ's victory: Rather than being consumed by fear or speculation about future events, focus on the present reality of Christ's victory over sin and death.

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