One of the main mistakes we make about the biblical history of the Fall is to consider it only as a tragic historical event that occurred in the past, similar to the 2004 Christmas tsunami, but with biblical proportions The problem with this way of thinking is that we are used to getting our lives back and recovering from such obstacles. It took a lot of time and effort, but Chicago grew after the fire of 1871; And the same thing happened in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after the 2004 tsunami. However, the fall is not just a tragedy that has occurred, although this is certainly a historic event, the fall is a permanent reality that continues to develop and affect our Like a disease that begins at some point, but advances and continues its course , the Fall has a trajectory, a goal that has not yet been achieved and to awaken us from the illusion that the worst has already happened, You must understand the course of the Fall.
To begin with, the Fall is gradual, not static. This is one of the reasons why the story of the Fall is so important. As we move from the first envious murder of Cain to the petty murder of Lamech to the culture of violence among Noah’s men, we see things get even worse. They do not park and they do not improve. However, despite Sin’s progression and the Fall widely recorded in human history; it is despised by the human heart. As Paul says in Romans 6, our slavery leads us to dedicate our bodies to continual and increasing wickedness. Paul says it in Romans 1:21: “Because knowing God, they did not glorify him as God, nor gave him thanks; on the contrary, they have become empty in their own reasoning, clouding their foolish hearts. And then Paul said three times in devastating succession: “Is this why God has given such men over to filth, for the desires of their hearts?” ? Therefore, has God given you over to evil passions? And, because they despised the knowledge of God, did God Himself give them up to a reprehensible mindset? (Rom. 1. 24, 26, 28).
- At this point.
- None of us is as bad as it could be.
- But abandoned to our mercy.
- Without the hand of God or the grace of Jesus Christ in the gospel.
- Sin would continue to progress in our lives.
- He never backs down.
- He’s still advancing.
- Because the Fall has a goal.
- This goal is our death and our eternal condemnation.
- Sin will lead us to ever greater wickedness.
- This is one of the reasons why addiction is such a powerful force and such a powerful image of sin.
- By definition.
- An addiction is never satisfied.
- He always wants more.
- Idolism is like an addiction.
- Idolism never gives what it promises.
- Yet.
- As an addiction.
- She simply says.
- “Try again?And a little more.
- Maybe this time you’re satisfied?”As the addict abandoned to his addiction.
- It is a terrible thing to be abandoned by God in our sin.
- Because our sin.
- Apparently domesticated at this time.
- Plans to devour us.
This is one of the reasons God gave us the law: to restrict sin in its unbridled progress. As believers, we should not fear the law. While we can misuse the law to try to look better before God, we can also receive the law as a good gift from God. Having been delivered from the power of sin by the gospel, the law no longer condemns us, but shows us how to live a life that reflects God’s holy character. We must do more than use the law to bring people to Christ. We must also teach the law so that Christians know how to live in a rebellious and unforgiving world.
As citizens, we must not fear or oppose the action and exercise of the law; and as Christian citizens, we must actively promote good laws. Romantics like Rousseau and his modern heirs, left-wing or right-wing liberals, are unfortunately wrong. The state of nature does not come close to the state of innocence. Nature is close to dependency and brutality. God gave us the law to restrict such a step forward. Thus, as Paul reminds us in Romans 13, government and its laws are good gifts from God, to reward what is just and remember what is wrong.
However, even if the Fall is gradual, it will not be forever; the day will come when the fall will be punished. Because sin is never satisfied, but always demands more, it is ultimately a provocation against a holy God. God describes Himself before Moses as patient and merciful. However, as Peter warns us in 2 Peter 3, we should not confuse God’s patience with indifference. Does God also say he’s not innocent of the culprits?(Exodus 34. 7). Regardless of what we would like to think, the development of the Fall does not end in gradual rehabilitation or transformation, as things get better and better. According to Revelation 18, the Fall ends as it deserves.
Jesus says that the Day of Judgment has already been put into God’s thought, and the vision of that day revealed in Revelation 18 is terrible. Characterized as a great city, sinful creation is subject to God’s judgment never to be resurrected again. On several occasions, the chapter echoes the phrase “Never again”?Never again will music be heard from you, workers will never meet in you again, the light will never shine on you again. You’ll never hear from the bride and groom again. This vision of judgment is so definitive and definitive that the angel declares that the city “will never be found again”.
Not only end, but this trial will be correct. The same chapter tells us that God will remember the crimes of this idyllic world and reward him for his crimes; it will give each of us exactly what we deserve. In an attempt to describe this terrible day of God’s vengeance, of his punitive judgment, The Bible uses several images: external darkness, endless crying and cracking of teeth, a lake of fire, eternal death. What is evident in all these images is that the righteousness of God’s judgment is expressed in the eternal punishment he imposes. Sin against an infinite and eternal God is an infinite offense, so the punishment deserved, correctly, never ends.
Here’s the mistake of thinking of the Fall simply as something that happened in the past. The story of the Fall is a story of despair, like an incurable disease that inevitably leads to a painful death or as madness that drives its victim away from reason. and the reason. For us, it is our story; the history of our past, but also the history of our uninterrupted future. In our preaching and teaching, it may seem more comfortable to alleviate this aspect of the Fall. No one likes to think of their loved ones and friends in eternal torment. ignoring the truth doesn’t make her disappear. This simply leaves eternal souls unmotivated and devoid of means to deal with questions with eternal consequences.
This article is part of the 9Marks Journal
Translation: Paulo R. de A. Santos Review: Vinicius Musselman © 2014 Faithful Ministério All Rights Reserved Website: MinisterioFiel. com. br Original: The Fall of Humanity: Advance (4/5).
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