Covenant Presbyterian Church

Sunday morning Foundations Classes
God's Positioning System (GPS)

Lesson #7

--the most current lesson is always on top
followed by earlier lessons posted below in descending order-- 

Point of information, you can magnify a slide by clicking on it.
And close it by clicking on the X in the upper right corner

Together we are God’s people with a common past, beginning with the Garden of Eden, and a common destiny yet to come: the New Heaven and New Earth. 

God used plagues in Egypt to rescue His people. Will He use the COVID-19 pandemic to turn people to Him, maybe even some that never knew Him? Definitely a call to prayer!  

Let this be our collective prayer as God’s Covenant people, and also for our communities, and Nation, that the virus may be defeated with God’s grace.

In Paul’s day the Judaizers insisting on their way, not the Gospel of grace preached by Paul. Even going back to the Fall of Lucifer and his angels, and Adam and Eve, all of whom fell because they wanted to follow their own desires instead of being faithful to God and His Word. 

Adam had just one restriction—not to eat a piece of fruit—but he chose to disregard it and do what he wanted to do. The consequences of which were both physical and spiritual death and to be expelled from the Garden of Eden and earn his own way in a now fallen world.  

Free will sounds good, but without God’s grace it doesn’t lead to holiness, just self-centeredness. 

The world God created is complex beyond our imagination. But we will do our best to understand it as best we can. 

Every aspect of creation, including the human being is carefully crafted by God.

We'll step back and review the first six lessons, which, as we learned in school or especially high school and college, repetition, is the cornerstone of retaining and learning. 

A point of information, earlier lessons are intended to serve as building blocks for later lessons, not perfectly but generally, at least that’s my intent. 

What God called “very good” was creation prior to Adam’s Fall. Did the entire universe fall due to Adam’s sin? Did it fall because of Lucifer’s sin? God gave angels and man free will, and they misused it to sin. God allowed Adam to sin, but God doesn’t condone sin, nor is He the author of sin. Nevertheless, God had something better planned—a new heaven and a new earth and all that it entails.

The New Heaven and New Earth will be an important part of our study. Was that always part of God’s plan even before He created Adam and Eve? We will explore that question as well. 

There are no secrets from God, past, present or future. All will stand before Him at the White Throne Judgment.

All part of God’s plan. The Jews weren’t unique. All of mankind have and do follow a similar pattern.

Man lays his plans for his own gain, but God will use it for His own purposes. 

 They even couldn't abide by one rule, don't eat a particular piece of fruit.

 Did God see Lucifer's plan to betray God?

]

We too will have glorified bodies!

From the far flung galaxies to the tiniest virus were created by God for a purpose. In His wisdom nothing is random, everything has a purpose.

Every human heart will stand naked before God. 

The final scene in this chapter of life for every human that ever lived, even Adam and Eve will stand with us. 

Just as Jesus rose with a glorified body, we too will rise with a glorified body.

END OF LESSON #7

Covenant Presbyterian Church

Sunday morning Foundations Classes
God's Positioning System (GPS)

Lesson #6
--the most current lesson is always on top
followed by earlier lessons posted below in descending order-- 

Point of information, you can magnify a slide by clicking on it.
And close it by clicking on the X in the upper right corner.

 In lesson #5 we temporarily set “Where are we going?” aside to look at “Where are we?” based on Jesus words in Rev. 22:13, being the Alpha and Omega—first and last letters of the Greek alphabet—the beginning and end of all creation--the basis for our study. 

Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  NIV

Blog format switched to Power Point slides intended for Heritage lounge, because of the time and effort that went into them. Questions, comments, suggestions are always welcome. 

Not all of mankind is destined for the New Heaven and New Earth at the final resurrection (Rev. 20:7-10) facing the final judgment of all unbelievers. Jesus referred to this event as the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:29). This takes place in the void between the end of the present age & universe noted in Rev. 20:11 and the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth described in Rev. 21:1. 

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. NIV

We are physical, unlike the angels who are spirit. Did Lucifer rebel before God decided to create Adam & Eve or did God’s creation of man lead to Lucifer’s rebellion? Something to ponder, but of course we can speculate, but we’ll never really know in this life. 

Angels were created all at once, while man procreates from generation to generation. Was Satan jealous that God gave man the gift of procreation?

We’re thinking in terms of the complexity of God’s creation down to the atom, the building blocks of all matter within the vast universe—from man to the farthest planet we have something in common—that it's all created from a careful assembly of atoms. 

Again we need to put it into perspective of God's creation. It also distinguishes the difference between angels and man. Man's physical side is formed from a collection of atoms, while angels are pure spirit. What we have in common is an immortal soul.

1 Corinthian 15:50

The bodies we have now are like the seed planted in the ground…the best is yet to come. 

(1 Cor. 15:35-38)

In the Bible “Stars” are often in reference to angels. There is such a thing as a spiritual body. Even angels are not a formless puff of smoke. They have shape and form just as we do, yet different. V41 gives reference to the different order of angels. Also we do not become angels when we die as many often give reference to.
 (1 Cor. 15-40-41).

All of the previous verses are a foreshadow of what is yet to come in our resurrected, glorified body. Again, angels were created with spiritual bodies. 

So, who are we? 

We are unique human beings, descendants of Adam and Eve.

The NIV says the same thing in fewer words. We will explore this further in our next lesson #7. I hope you are finding this study thought provoking and will join us next week. 

A place called heaven—which is where we’re going! So, where is it; what is it like?  Heaven is our next destination, but, there’s a New Heaven and New Earth yet to come. 

Yes, Heaven is our destination, immediately after death but there is yet more to come. 

God's plan is even a better Heaven and Earth, which will be a new creation more glorious than the first one in Genesis 1:1.  

There are a number of books that attempt to describe heaven; but it's like trying to describe a garden while looking through opaque curtains—we may get some insight, but it certainly falls far short of the reality. The reality is that the finite (us) can never fully imagine the infinite (God’s domain). 

God created man and placed him in a garden paradise on the earth (Gen. 1:26-27). A perfect environment with a perfect partner. Wow! The Bible also tells us Satan was cast down to earth (Rev. 12:7-9), but Scripture doesn’t tell us when. Was it before God created Adam? 

God created angels as spirit beings. He created man as a physical being. Angels, who reside at the very throne of God, were created before man, who was created to reside on earth.

Satan and his angels, were hurled from heaven to the earth. Being in the Garden of Eden to temp Eve, shows he was cast down prior to Adam’s sin. Did Satan’s fall have any impact on planet earth outside of the Garden of Eden? Or was the corruption of animals and plants due to Adam’s sin alone?

Hell is a place of eternal separation from God; a gloomy dungeon 
(2 Pet. 2:4), prepared for the devil and his angels 
(Matt 25:41). 

The sad part of the story of us, is that many openly and willfully reject God's Word--heard 24/7 on radio and TV, and consequently ignore His saving grace. More on that later in our study. Do they go to hell (for want of a better term right now) or does God have another plan for them? Is everyone's body--both saved and unsaved--resurrected? 
To be explored further in our study.
The White Throne Judgment is the final chapter of "Who are We?" "Where are We Going?"

Note: Prior to Sunday, blog may be subject to changes needed for clarification. 

END OF LESSON #6

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Covenant Presbyterian Church

Sunday morning Foundations Classes
God's Positioning System (GPS)

Because He lives!   Lesson #5
--most current lesson is always on top
followed by earlier lessons posted below-- 

Our study looks at the reality of "who are we?" as Christians and "where are we going?". 

Easter Sunday marked a new chapter in American church life. Easter is the holiest day in the Christian calendar, but because of a virus, we could not gather together for worship. Many churches across the Country, were even forcibly shutdown. But, thanks to modern technology we were able to "join together" via live stream. Even our Sunday morning Foundations classes are now on line. How different will church life and life in general be going forward, due to the COVID-19 virus?  

How can something so tiny and invisible to the naked eye have such a profound impact on our lives? Our national economy has come to a virtual standstill, with businesses, restaurants, and other amenities being forced to close down, putting most Americans out of work. Some will wonder, what does this have to do with our study? It may not be the essential part of it, but it is part of the world we live in. What kind of world, or "place" does God assure us of when we leave this world? What exactly is the New Heaven and New Earth in Revelation 21:1; 2 Peters 3:13; Isaiah 65:11, 66:22? Does God just wipe out the current world & universe, and even heaven itself and start over? We will look at this further in subsequent lessons, so stick with us. 

Because of its impact on almost every aspect of people's lives, what exactly is the coronavirus? The image describes how viruses are made. Is that important for our study? NO. But it is part of the world we live in. Most of us have been shielded from such threats over the course of our life, not until now at least, regarding everyday life and activities; but God was and still is our shield. 

In the Bible's first two books, Genesis and Exodus, in addition to creation, we see how God used 10 plagues against Egypt (Ex. 9:14) to bring Israel back to Canaan, the land He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 
Israel as a people, never would have left Goshen in Egypt if God didn't compel them to leave. From the Egyptians perspective, the plagues were seen and experienced as disastrous, but from God's perspective, they were an essential part of His plan to accomplish good. It was His plan for giving the world a Savior, which was predicated on Israel returning to Canaan, the Promised Land as His people.  


Regardless of the threat, even COVID-19, God is sovereign over all things and will use every adversity for good. The Bible tells us 365 times not to be afraid. Perhaps this virus is God's way of turning people away from life's distractions, and even a path leading to hell, to turn their minds and hearts to Him instead. 

As God's people, Romans 8:28 assures us that God "works all things together for good!" Not just some things some of the time, but all things all of the time. Should we view the coronavirus in the same way as the image showing Jesus casting out demons? Why not? The message here is that Jesus is God, and yes, He can drive out viruses as easily as He drove out demons. We definitely need to pray that a solution and a cure will be forthcoming sooner rather than later and a vaccine for future protection, similar to the annual flu shot. 

So, who are we? We are God's people, and the Bible is His book for us, yes, even the Old Testament promises to reassure and comfort us as in Isaiah 41:10 posted below. At some point the quarantine will end and life will return to some degree of normal. Just how normal and routine is still TBD.

God's message in 2 Chronicles 7:14 below, is clear. Pray, pray, pray. Only a return to God can truly heal our land.

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The Bible is clear in many places that prayer is a vital part of being the Church. Suppose every Christian in America took 2 Chronicles 7:14 seriously. Would God heal our land? He says He would.

 

I believe it's apparent that our Nation is divided between Left and Right, Blue and Red, Progressive-Liberals and Conservatives, pro-abortion and anti-abortion, and sexual orientation debates, like no other time in our Nation's history, except maybe the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.  Yet, this day of quarantine is a unique time opportunity when we are free of life's everyday distractions even loss jobs; a time like no other that we can focus on holding our church, our pastor, our family, our neighbors, and our Nation, up in prayer. God is listening. 

So then, Who are We? 

Where are We Going?

Lets look at where we are, before we delve into where we are going. Planet earth was where God put the Garden of Eden, a perfect place created for Adam and Eve. 
Yet, it is just a speck within the greater universe.  

   Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

God created man and placed him on planet earth; a small part of the solar system shown in the image; the center of which is the sun; which is actually just one of trillions of stars within the universe. Did God create the entire universe when He created man? Did He create it for man for some yet unseen purpose? Obviously, our study will not be able to answer that question. Nevertheless, we will look at what Genesis 1:1 is telling us as best we can. 

Our solar system is but a tiny part of the Milky Way galaxy, which is what we see when looking at a clear evening sky. If that isn't thought provoking regarding the full meaning of Genesis 1:1, then you haven't really thought about it. So, lets take a moment and look beyond the Milky Way galaxy. The million of stars we see from planet earth are contained within this galaxy, beyond which lies.... (next image)

The arrow in the next image points to what our Milky Way would look like within the nearest group of galaxies. The Milky Way itself is but a small part of the universe as we know it. How breathtaking is that? God didn't just create a small garden, He created a vast universe, the true scope of Genesis 1:1.

So our study will take a brief look at where we are as noted in Genesis 1:1, so lets step back for a moment and look at "where we are going" which from our perspective is beyond the scope of where we are, even beyond the entire universe as noted above. 

The Bible tells us that when death claims us, it is not the end of life, but that our soul is immediately destined for a place called heaven. I think we can all find comfort in that promise. 

END OF LESSON #5

God bless! Hope you will return for our next lesson #6. 

Earlier lessons #4, 3, 2 and 1 (three parts) follow below. 

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Covenant Presbyterian Church

 Sunday Morning Foundations Classes

God's Positioning System (GPS)

Easter Sunday April 12, 2020 lesson #4
latest lessons are always on top  

 “He has risen! … He has risen indeed!”

“Bless the Lord oh my soul, 

Bless His Holy Name!”

A few short weeks ago, daily life was routine and we anticipated celebrating Easter at church. The COVID-19 virus disrupted almost every aspect of daily life, including worshiping together. Thanks to live streaming, we can still “join together” for Easter worship, 10:15 A.M. via http://covp.org

The coronavirus has created a time of uncertainty and fear for many, but it also provides an opportunity to share Jesus Christ electronically by live streaming worship services with family and friends—it’s as easy as forwarding the COVENANT 411 email and/or posting the worship live stream link on Facebook, with an invitation to join us. Many may not, but perhaps some will. Pray for a fruitful harvest. 

Together we are the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:4-16)!

This blog-site provided an opportunity to continue our Sunday morning Foundations' class. Our current study theme remains the same, “Who are We?” “Where are We Going?” Who we are is the Church, the Body of Christ, composed of all believers who have put their trust for salvation in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:21-22). Jesus' Resurrection points to our own future resurrection with glorified bodies (1 Cor. 15:42-49)

1 Cor 15:21-22

21 For since death came through a man [Adam], the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man [Jesus]. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. NIV

Christians in Colosseum

As offspring of Adam 
and Eve we've come a long way from the Garden of Eden, with disasters and plagues of every kind being part of mankind's history. Each generation has endured and met its own challenges, such as persecutions of the early church, the 1918 Spanish flu, and WWII described as the “Greatest Generation.” Often such adversity and desperation turn people to God. Perhaps God is calling us to pray that the pandemic will turn people to Him who would not otherwise have done so. 

Perhaps the COVID-19 pandemic is this generation’s greatest challenge? During such times, with people yearning for hope, many turn to God. COVID-19 has swept aside the everyday distractions and cares of life, perhaps even turning hearts to God. Isaiah 41:10 reassures us that as His people, we can set our anxieties and fears aside by placing our hope and faith in Him.  

Isa 41:10 

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  NIV

Many if not most churches have risen to the challenge by live

streaming worship, which provides a unique opportunity to share Jesus Christ with family and friends. The Easter message is one of hope, not just for the Church, but for the world around us. For the people of God, Easter is truly more than chocolate bunnies and Easter egg hunts, it is one of hope. So, please share Easter worship with a neighbor or friend http://covp.org

Jesus’ resurrection is victory over sin and death, bringing us into fellowship with God, assuring us that He is our comfort and our strength always and under all circumstances.

The Church is the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1.22-23; 1 Corinthians 12.12-13; Romans 12.3-5; Colossians 1.24).

Our membership into the Body of Christ is through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12.13; Galatians 3.27-28).

The resurrection is evidence that Jesus is truly the Son of God, and His resurrection is evidence that being His Church, we too will rise from the grave on the last day, when our soul is united with our resurrected, glorified body, which is the theme of our study. It answers both questions: “Who are We?” and “Where are We Going?”

Jesus’ bodily Resurrection from the grave is only the beginning of the full significance of His Resurrection. Acts 3:21 tells us that He will restore everything to its original beauty, and Romans 8:22-23 assured us of the redemption of our own bodies.

Restoring everything is to bring it back to its original perfect condition before the Fall and sin contaminated and perverted God’s original creation described in Genesis chapters 1& 2. Yet it will be taken a step further, being united with the New Heaven (Rev. 21:1).

Acts 3:21

21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. NIV

Let’s reflect once again on the attributes of God: He is immutable (unchanging), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful). We know that Satan is a created being. But one created with splendor as Lucifer the morning star, with great intellect and prowess, so much so that even though Adam and Eve were created perfect and complete in every detail, he was able to deceive and mislead them.  Suppose we didn't have Jesus as our Advocate and had to deal with Satan on our own? 

Even with the Fall, Romans 8:28 reassures us that God’s plan for man will always prevail, even during times of tragedies and plagues, even when man fails, God is faithful. 

Rom 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. NKJV

The significance of Jesus’ Resurrection extends beyond Easter. It’s also a promise of what lies ahead as stated in Rev. 21 

Rev 21:1-4:

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  NIV

COVID-19 is a Challenge but not the End!

We do not know where the COVID-19 virus will take us as a Nation, or what impact it will have on our culture and lifestyle, or how long it will last, but our hope is in Jesus Christ as we celebrate His Resurrection as His people! 

Though we are His people, nevertheless, we are sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus' Resurrection is the fruit of our salvation. The Fall of Adam and Eve demonstrates that no creature, no matter how perfect, could indefinitely sustain personal and perfect holiness on their own merits. 
God’s plan wasn’t just to create man, but to adopt man to be united with Jesus Christ, Himself—not otherwise possible before the Fall. I have no doubt, that just as 1/3 of the angels rebelled and fell from grace, it was equally likely that mankind, left to their own merits, would have inevitably fallen, as well. Then what? Rescue us one at a time? God, in His wisdom, dealt with the issue "once and for all.--i.e., the final settlement.

God’s ordained the Fall to occur— but, it’s important that we don’t confuse that with causing Adam and Eve to sin (God is not the author of sin) (1 Jn 3:5; Gal 2:17). Because of His great love for His creatures, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Redeemer and Savior. Not just to die on the cross and return to heaven, but to spend eternity being spiritually united with us through the Holy Spirit, and physically united with us in the flesh with Jesus--being 100% God, and 100% man. Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer.

We know God created the angels as spirit beings, having spirit

Angels announcing Jesus' birth to the shepherds Luke 2;8-20

bodies with both form and substance—described as being seen “like a man” in Daniel 8:15; 10:16, 18. Just as man has distinct physical bodies, in the Bible angles are described as having distinct spiritual bodies, also as we are told in Revelation 12.
Rev 12:7-9
7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.  NIV

Jesus, the Son of God, before becoming man, resided in heaven as Spirit. Had there not been the Fall, there would be no need for a Savior or for Jesus to become Man.

This raises a question:Would God have created us with physical bodies designed to reside on planet earth, and then, because of the Fall, have us now reside in a distant, none-physical realm forever? Since we are physical beings created out of the dust of the earth, why would God resurrect our earthly bodies only to relocate us to a distant spiritual realm? Why would Jesus, Himself retain His human body? It appears inconsistent with the creation account of Genesis. We know God is immutable (unchanging). If He relocated us to a spiritual realm, wouldn’t it imply then, that He changed His mind regarding the destiny of man? He created us from the earth and Jesus took on the very same body, why then would He transport us away from the earth as our new home? I believe the answer lies in the following Scriptural verses.

Isa 65:17-19…17 "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new

earth.

The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,

for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.

19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people;

the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. NIV

... and 2 Peter 3:11-13…11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. NIV

Note: “Destroyed” can be described as: shattered, cracked, smashed, damaged, ruined. It doesn’t mean obliterated; which by contrast means: wiped out, eliminated, eradicated, annihilated, reduced to nothing. In the same way, our bodies will be resurrected and restored, being super-natural versus natural, but physical never the less, as demonstrated by Christ in His resurrected body. For as He is, so shall we be (1John 1:7). I believe the same is true for the earth.

For an illustration of the “destruction of the heavens and earth” we can look at gold ingots thrown into a blast furnace being destroyed by the intense heat; where they are melted down and purged of all impurities, with only pure gold remaining. It would seem that the same is true regarding the “destruction” of the heavens and the earth. They do not disappear, but rather are purged and cleansed of all impurities—all traces of the Fall and sin that marred and contaminated God's perfect creation is totally eradicated.

What then, lies ahead?

END OF LESSON #4

Our next Lesson #5, to be posted next Saturday, will explore that question further. God bless!

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