God Is Still Creating Through His Word
- His Servant - Rob McKee
- Oct 14, 2021
- 13 min read
The Bible talks about the creation in different places throughout. In the book of Genesis we find what God’s design for us and this world is, and how He carried out the details of creating all that we can see. In the book of John, we can see more of the why. It tells us how, or through what means He created these things.
And then, within the New Testament, we find the plan on how He intends to recreate us In Christ Jesus as a new creation. A creation that is more spiritual, if you will; less to be seen with the eye, more to be seen without the eye.
In essence, we were separated from God in the first transgression. Once the earth was then corrupted, everything made of it was also tainted and therefore impure in the sight of God; and separate from Him. His will of us now is to be recreated to become a part of Him again.
In the physical:
Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
In the Spiritual:
Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Psalms 31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Let’s talk about this scripture for a moment. It happens to be very popular in the secular church:
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
If you were ever shown this scripture, chances are that the person quoting it quickly pointed out verse 9 where it says, “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” This is because it is not “our work” that accomplishes God’s will, but His. It is not our righteousness, but God’s own righteousness that will recreate and save us.
Here is what our idea of “doing what is right” will accomplish:
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
So, God is saving us from this world by recreating us again in His image, just as He did Adam in the beginning. The difference is that Adam did not have a choice to be created that way. What I mean to say is that Adam did not choose to be create “good”, in God’s likeness, as he was.
Genesis 1:26a And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Adam therefore could not ‘choose’ to be created with evil thoughts, to carry out evil actions, because he had no knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
How does God then perform His work of recreating us? Well, the scripture told us: it is by Grace through Faith. But Faith in what? Faith in His Word, of course! Now, I want to help all understand here about this word “works” within the context of this scripture. Why don’t you all judge for yourselves what this is saying…
If grace is by faith in His Word (and it is), then the “work” is performed by His Word! Make sense? Now, you didn’t create God’s Word, did you? Some people have re-written it to fit what they want it to say though, I’m afraid. That’s why mankind seems to think that we need all of these many different bible “translations” that you find on the shelf. The carnal man and woman just generally do not like what His Word says.
Let’s talk about “grace.” A lot of people seem to have the misconception that when we are to “put on grace”, as the bible tells us to do, that we are imaginarily putting it on as a physical robe. However, the idea of “putting on grace” is merely a metaphorical statement used to describe to us that being clothed in God’s Grace is a process, much like the process of putting on a robe.
I don’t know about you, but when I get dressed, I do not imagine that my shirt is on my back and then it magically appears. Do you? Of course, I do not believe in magic, but I do know that putting on my shirt is a process. A rather small and sometimes simple process, but a process none-the-less. Not a tough process, but it does require effort on my part. If the shirt is a bit smaller and does not fit well, it might take a little more effort, right? But I have to perform the actions that are normally required to put that shirt on, like picking it up, lifting my arms, etc., or I will be naked, right?
Did you know that God’s Word instructs us to not only “put on” His righteousness, but to also grow in grace?
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Did you ever see an infant grow up overnight? Start driving a car the day after they cut their first tooth? No! What happens then when we grow in grace? We become adults, grown in the fulness of grace. We become full of it (grace I mean); we become “graceful” !
Here is a definition of what it is to be “graceful”:
“Graceful” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graceful
Displaying grace in form or action : pleasing or attractive in line, proportion, or movement
Like a graceful ice skater: they are full of grace and beauty, because they have grown in the grace of that art. When we say that they perform “gracefully”, we mean that it appears to be effortless, and is flawless in action. Do you think that any “graceful” skater was flawless the first time that they stepped into the rink? Of course not, but it was through grace that they became graceful.
You see, they allowed themselves grace to become better as they also allowed themselves to go through the pain and suffering that it takes to learn ice skating. They never gave up.
Sure, they made mistakes along the way. They stumbled, hit the ice a few times early on, but through it all, they believed that it was possible (that they possessed the power within) to become a great skater. What is it to be a “great skater”? Well, the ability of executing a flawless delivery in their performance. Many times people might say, “well they have a God-given talent.” Why do they say that? Hmmm.
Remember that the “power” to become a Son of God, recreated in His image, saved from a life of sin - is His Word! To unlock this power, we first have to get into His Word to find out the details of how it works. Once we get this information (The Truth), we now have to believe what it says, and that it will work to yield the results that God promises within it.
Remember that this promise is to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” in the sight of God. Yes, we have to believe what it says. Then, and only then, will it begin to work in our lives. But wait! Does this mean that there is nothing for us to do? That’s certainly NOT what I said!
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The grace that we need to accomplish this work in us, my friends, is found within God’s Holy Word. His Word performs that work in us. How does The Word do it? Again- it’s through our faith in God’s Word. In what again? Faith in the plan that is revealed within His Word; “faith of the operation of God.” “The plan” reveals that operation of God and how it is to take place on us.
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Colossians 2:12 Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.
By grace, we find the power of God and the operation that it can and will perform in our lives if we are faithful. By His Grace (or you might as well say His Word) we are recreated in Christ Jesus; we are recreated in His Word, in His Will, in His Truth, in His Kingdom, in His likeness… shall I go on? I hope that all “get it”!
So, assuming that a person does find grace in the sight of The Lord, how do they “grow” in it to become that “flawless skater” in God’s Kingdom that He so desires for us to be?
Have you ever heard of a “grace period”? Here is how it works: you have a loan on your car with a bank. The bank says that your payment is due on the 1st of every month. If you fail to make any of the payments by the 1st, you have defaulted on your agreement to pay for this car.
Once you break that agreement, the bank has right to repossess your car, right? However, because they know that things happen, and that you could potentially have something unforeseen arise, they extend a “grace period” to you on this agreement. They say that, the payment is due on the 1st, but we will give you grace if you pay it before the 15th.
So, if something comes up, and even though you have tried your hardest to make the payment on time, it is the 2nd and you have yet to make this payment; it is late. The bank will act accordingly and start sending you reminders that you are in direct violation of your agreement. They are attempting to warn you of the correction that is ahead if you do not follow through with your end of the agreement.
Remember now, that you are still under grace with them, so if you make the payment before the 15th, they will stop all collection activities and move on just as if you had never been late. But, if your period of grace with them runs out, and you did not make good on the payment beforehand, you will suffer loss of that car! Even so, if you make it to the last payment and have paid all, you have fulfilled the grace that they placed in you, and your car’s fate is now sealed to be whatever you choose. You can keep it forever, or trade it in on something else, but no one can take it from you!
Friends, we have just described God’s plan of grace in our lives. Did you catch it? Did you force the bank to extend grace unto you? You will not force God either. Once they placed grace in you, who could remove it? Only God. When might you be deemed unworthy of the grace extended? When you did not live up to your end of the agreement and God says, “time is no more” for you. When is that exactly?
Mark 13:31-33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
You know what else you do not know? The day, nor the hour when you might take your last breath.
Now, I know what the scripture says… we quoted it at the beginning. I am not saying that we are to perform our work, but I am saying that we are to perform God’s work! This is faith. Remember, we are “saved by grace through faith”?
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Abraham found grace in the sight of God. Do you know how he did it? God gave him instructions and he believed and had faith that God was telling Him “right” things, and he feared God and followed His direction. Through Abraham’s obedience, he found grace in the sight of God. And what did God do? He spared Isaac, that’s what He did. If we truly have faith (believe and trust) in God’s Word, then we will do what it says. It’s that simple!
Now Abraham did not decide on his own that it would be a good idea to offer Isaac upon the alter to God, but God told him to do it. If God had not told Abraham to offer Isaac, but Abraham had said to himself, “I’ll show God how much I love Him by sacrificing my son, then He’ll see”, it would have been Abraham’s righteousness t do so, Abraham’s works and not God’s that he was following.
Romans 4:2-5 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
But no, Abraham had faith in God’s Word; he followed God’s instructions when he took Isaac up that mountain.
James 2:21-24 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Now, the deceiver would have us all to believe that we should “do nothing”, and this includes keeping God’s Word, but he has convinced many that this is much harder and more complex than it really is… We read God’s Word, we pray about what we read, asking God for wisdom. We then do what He has revealed to us through His Word. That’s simplicity.
We do not have to put that much thought into it. We Should not even put that much though into what we are going to say concerning God’s Word when we are put ‘on the spot’:
Matthew 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
However, we better be careful to seek Him in all things and consider His Word before doing anything:
2 Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. 16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
Again – its’ not always hard to do what God says, if He is in the arrangement. He even made a way of escape for Abraham when he was willing to do whatever the Lord commanded, right? Many times it is very simple to follow God’s Word if we just follow it with a child-like faith, doing what it says. An example might be to repent and be baptized, for instance. Of course, the New Testament scriptures that were delivered to us (the Church) are comprised of much more than one sentence or even more than a paragraph, right? There is therefore many more instructions that these. However, He does instruct us in…
In doing so we will have works, right? Repenting is doing? Taking yourself to the water and consenting to baptism is doing, correct? BUT – we did not author these works. God instructed us to do them. So there is nothing here for us to brag about, is there?
Let me remind you of this passage:
Luke 3:12-14 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto Him, Master, what shall we do? 13And He said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14And the soldiers likewise demanded of Him, saying, And what shall we do? And He said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
So, what is God up to these days? The same thing that He is always up to, He is creating through and by His Word. Everything that we can see is and was made by God’s Word. You can read about this in many places.
Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
God sactify’s us, saves us, rebirths us, and recreates us: by the grace found in His Word, through our belief, fear, trust, and obedience in His Word, which is otherwise called “faith”.
John 1:11-13 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. 12But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Think on this: we are not living “gracefully” if we are stumbling around in sin. Would you say that a skater is “graceful” if they are tripping, stumbling, and taking falls?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth.
Ephesians 6:23-24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Comments