In the beginning...The Gospel of Grace

Starting something anew is special and rejuvenating. It is particularly poignant when the commitment to that something new is the decision of a group to support one another. Taking the matter into focus, dear reader, one can see how the feeling is so much more driven to a personal application when we are framing ourselves within the context of eternity. With such a weighty matter, why not start at the beginning of it all?

The local congregation I am a part of, alongside my wife, three sons, and my mother was led by the Senior Pastor to commit to completing the One Year Chronological Reading Plan, from Genesis to Revelation in 365 days. The reading challenge is not novel, but it stirs several reactions within each reader. By now, the reading plan has the congregation reading the complete book of Genesis, some of 1 Chronicles, and parts of Job. Before long, the reading plan will lead us into the book of Exodus. True to form, knowing the story, as best as our memories will allow, increases the excitement, while it also increases the awareness of little details that one might have forgotten or had not noticed before.

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The Beginning reminds us of our place in Jesus Christ, as well as humanity's plight without Him.

The real sense of humanity's struggle with sin, temptation, and selfishness is evident from the offset of the redemptive story given to us in the Bible. Not breaking past the single digits into the book's chapters, the reader will see how pride, selfishness, narrow-sightedness, and malicious attempt to overcome the magnificent creation God designed. While Satan utilizes the serpent to tempt, divide Adam and Eve, and sow confusion in God's purposes, od remains faithful and steady.

A point that never ceases to amaze is how readers make themselves like the heroes of the faith while making God a second-string starter in the redemption story in a cursory reading of the Bible. We may not desire or choose to do so, but if each reader places themselves in the place of the protagonist in place of God, then God is shifted to a lesser-than position of which He is worthy. When the story is the one making the pronouncement about God and humanity, there are a few things that come into sharp focus:

1. Because of sin, humanity cannot see just how mired the waters of life are without God. As a result, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob constantly lie to save their lives. Their actions have real implications for themselves, their families, and those around them along their journey to the land God promised to the Patriarchs. The family unit is compromised, as each of the patriarchs takes multiple wives and out of their multiple conjugal relationships emerge not only the tribes of the Middle East and the clans that would populate the world but the 12 tribes of the House of Israel (Jacob). Even more so, the violent tendencies humanity displays, especially as family members resort to killing to solve problems in fits of rage and anger. No, God does not condone the actions taken by these individuals; he redeems them to testify to whom we are as broken vessels and who He is as the creator, sustainer, and sovereign over all creation.

2. The ups and downs of life are part of a journey that God redeems along the way (without violating our free will). Genesis gives readers the picture of how God allows life to go forward, and in His gracious mercy, acts in time to display His justice in all perfection. Yes, God is justice and perfect love, which cannot and should never be separated. The judgment on the world at the time of the flood indicates that he is both patient, merciful, and just. The ark gives readers a fit indicator for God's character of his concern for His holiness, while he also shows the love of humanity. When evil overruns creation, God cleanses humanity and gives hope by maintaining a remnant of people that will hold fast to Him, as he also holds them fast (even though humanity's failure and sinfulness). YHWH is the hero who slays the enemy while rescuing those who oppose him to call them his own. God allows society to choose life or death, sin or holiness, faith or faithlessness. Through it all, God is the one that holds those that are led by the Spirit.

3. God constantly gives us glimpses of the future redemption of all who trust in Him. First, the sacrifice Abraham is asked to perform by offering Isaac on Mount Moriah. Second, the name change is given to Jacob after he wrestled with God (Israel). Third, the story of Joseph and his brothers, as God uses the evil intent the brothers display toward him. Then through the words of Judah, once Joseph is the governor over all Egypt, as he offers himself for the wellbeing of his father and his house (a glimpse to the work his descendant, Jesus, son of Joseph, will perform for all humanity). Finally, the narrative from the beginning points to the perfect person of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten, the eternal second person of the Trinity. The beauty of the Gospel is present in its complete sense in Genesis as from the cosmic beginning to the end of Joseph's life. We see God is working every detail out to set the stage for the perfect time when Jesus Christ is to enter humanity and transform the course of history, with everything pointing to Him, YHWH, as the all in all for humanity and all its needs.

This is the Living God, who desires for you and for me to be transformed into the likeness of His Son. The only question we must answer is: are we willing to be part of the redemption story He has been writing from eternity past as either an ally to his kingdom or an enemy of His grace? May the Spirit lead you into His marvelous light.