Sunday, February 26, 2023 AM
THE GOSPEL OUR FOUNDATION: The Stages of Salvation
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. 6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. 9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. 14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. —Genesis 1:3-19
WORK OF DIVINE
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. —Genesis 1:3-5
–In the first day’s work we see the Divine Incarnation is set forth.
–Why is the Incarnation so important?
1. THE
OF THE INCARNATION
Consider the following Questions:
–If fallen and sinful men are to be reconciled to our great Holy God, what must be done?
–How can the infinite chasm separating God from humanity be bridged?
–What ladder shall be able to rest here upon here upon the earth and yet reach right into heaven itself?
–The initial step in the work of human redemption / salvation must be the INCARNATION OF GOD HIMSELF.
–This has to be the starting point. The Word must become flesh.
Let’s examine 5 things that indicate this Incarnation.
1. THE
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
2 “And the Spirit of God moved (Heb ‘brooded’) upon the face of the waters” —Genesis 1:2
–This is the first thing we see happening on the First Day of Recreation—the appearance of the Holy Spirit—God’s initiative to begin to move upon the ruin and chaos.
–So also was this order in the Divine Incarnation later for the promised Redemption of the World.
2. THE
COMES FORTH AS LIGHT
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. —Genesis 1:3
3. THE LIGHT IS
BY GOD
4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. —Genesis 1:4
–It is interesting that the word used here and translated “good” is also in Ecclesiastes 3:11 rendered “beautiful.”
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. —Ecclesiastes 3:11
–God saw the Light was good, beautiful!
4. LIGHT WAS
FROM THE DARKNESS
4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. —Genesis 1:4
–How intentionally did the Holy Spirit guard the types?
–How careful is He to call our attention to the immeasurable difference between the Son of Man and the sons of me.
–Through God’s infinite plan Jesus saw it fit to share our humanity, yet He did not share our depravity.
–The light of Christ was divided from the darkness (fallen humanity) of Satan.
5. THE LIGHT WAS
BY GOD
5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night. —Genesis 1:5
–So also was it with Him who is the Light of the World.
–It was not left up to Joseph and Mary to select the name for the Jesus.
THE
OF CHRIST IS SET FORTH
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. —Genesis 1:6-8
1. THE
OF THE CROSS
–What was the next thing necessary in the accomplishment of the Work of Salvation?
–The Incarnation by itself would not meet our need.
–The Incarnate Christ reveals the spotless and perfect life which alone meets the Divine requirements, but it does not help us bridge the awful gulf between a holy God and a ruined sinner.
–To span the gulf, sin must be put away, accounted for, redeemed, paid, and that cannot be done except death comes.
22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. —Hebrews 9:22
2. SECOND
SECOND
–In the second day’s work this second step in the accomplishment of human redemption is revealed.
–The prominent thing in the second day’s work is the division, separation, isolation.
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. —Genesis 1:6-7
–It is believed here that the “firmament, vault, separation, space” symbolizes the Cross, and sets forth its twofold aspect.
3. NOTE THE FOUR
:
- The firmament was purposed by God.
- The firmament was set in the middle of the waters.
- The firmament divided the waters.
- The firmament was designed by God.
4. ONE LAST
–It is also deeply significant that words, “And God saw that it was good” are omitted at the close of this second day’s work.
–Had they been included here the illustration would have been marred.
–The second day’s work pointed forward to the Cross, and at the Cross God was dealing with Sin.
–There His wrath was being expended on Jesus, the just One, who was dying for the unjust.
–Though He was without any sin, yet He was “made sin for us” and dealt with it accordingly.
–Does not then the omission here of the usual expression, “God saw that it was good” take on a deeper significance than had been before allowed?
OUR LORD’S RESURRECTION IS SET FORTH
Will be continued next week.
LIVE IT OUT
–What impact does it have on you that Jesus left the perfectness of heaven to come into our world to save us from our sins?
–Are you living your life as an expression of gratitude for His incarnation?
–What impact does the cross have on your life? Is it foolish or the power of God?
–What decision do you need to make today?