We’re examining the intermediate level, the 8 logical steps of creation and recreation. Looking at the key verses of Exodus 19:5-6, where God’s desire is to establish a kingdom of priests who will go out and help Him reclaim the world, meaning the hearts of people.
The process of the fulfilment of prophecy takes place through rebellion, destruction, and salvation. We looked at how that played out at the time of revelation. A people are established, they are destroyed by the beast, and people must flee once that realization is being spread.
God’s plan in both the past and the future involves parables. When God speaks about the past, He sometimes uses parables, just like when He speaks about the future. Jesus said, “Things have been hidden since the creation of the world.”
That’s why He speaks in parables. The beginning and the end are intimately connected. As we understand more about the end, we can now understand more about the beginning.
God’s plan of creation and recreation unfolds through 8 distinct steps that repeat throughout history until the end of Revelation.
First, God selects an individual to lead and guide His people. This leader then establishes a kingdom or community where God’s principles and laws are followed. God makes a covenant with the chosen people, promising to be their God and to guide them. However, sin and disobedience lead the people to break their covenant with God, resulting in judgment and destruction.
After the destruction, God elects a new leader to guide the people back to Him. God brings judgment upon the wicked and salvation to those who repent and turn to Him. A new kingdom is established, where God’s laws are followed and His people live in righteousness. Finally, God establishes a new covenant with His people, promising to forgive their sins and to dwell among them.
Understanding these eight steps provides a framework for interpreting the events of the Bible and comprehending God’s plan for the world. It reveals how God works through history to bring about His ultimate purpose of establishing a kingdom where He reigns supreme and His people live in peace and harmony.
The 8 Steps of the Logical Order of Creation and Recreation
Exodus 19:5-6, Isaiah 46:10, Genesis 2-3, Genesis 6 and Genesis 9
We’re going to delve into a profound lesson today. I know I often say that, but this time, it’s truly profound. I hope you are all prepared for the journey we will embark upon momentarily.
What are the crucial points we’ll be discussing today?
We’ll be examining the 8 logical steps of creation and recreation. What does this mean? When God creates and recreates, He always follows these steps. By understanding these steps, we will comprehend the roles and significance of the key figures who came before us in the Bible.
Our main reference chapters and verses are Exodus 19:5-6, which we know well: “If you obey me and keep my covenant, then you will be my treasured possession and a holy nation.” Isaiah 46:10 is a new one, and I’m excited to explore it. God essentially says, “I make known the end from the beginning.” Here, we have the beginning and end mentioned in Isaiah 46:10.
We’ll also be looking at Genesis 2 and 3, focusing on the time of Adam and some crucial understandings about him. Genesis 6 introduces Noah and the flood, while Genesis 9 concludes the matter.
So, those are the essential topics we’ll cover today: covenant, beginning and end, Adam, Noah, and covenant.
Our hope is to belong to the recreated kingdom at the time of the second coming.
1. Process of Rebellion —> Destruction —> Salvation
We’ll first start by looking at the process of rebellion, destruction, and salvation once more, and remind ourselves of how the prophecies of revelation must be fulfilled. It must happen in order. One thing we talked about in the last Q&A that I want us to remember or to mention for those who weren’t able to attend the Q&A is that fulfilment is not just one big event that happens, and then everything is over.
Actually, fulfilment is a process or a series of events. For example, we had Jesus’s birth. When Jesus was born, did he immediately die on the cross? No, he had to grow up, spend time in the temples, start his ministry, and then collect his 12 disciples. So there was his birth, and then one event was fulfilled, followed by another event being fulfilled, and he was fulfilling prophecy his entire life until he died on the cross. The fulfilment at the second coming also happens in this way.
Some of us might have thought earlier, “Well, none of revelation is fulfilled because Jesus isn’t here yet,” but that’s because we were thinking of the second coming as all collapsed into one thing when, in reality, the events of revelation play out over time. So there’s a process. Things can start being fulfilled, though Jesus is not clearly here yet, but we know that he’s getting closer because things are being fulfilled.
It’s like what Jesus said in Matthew 24, “You know the sign of the fig tree, that when its leaves become tender, you know that summer is coming, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” So, Jesus goes on to explain the signs. You should be waiting for the abomination to enter the holy place. You should be waiting for the appearance of this and the appearance of that, and the fall of the sun, moon, and stars, right? These things are events that take place, which then cue us that, “Oh, it’s coming. It’s close.”
ONE – The Testimony of that Fulfillment, 5W1H
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
The Apostle Paul tells us the process that the fulfillment of revelation must follow. The testimony of that fulfillment, the who, what, when, where, why, and how of how things were fulfilled, must follow rebellion, destruction, and salvation. Salvation being the day of the Lord that we are waiting for, the day of the Lord. So first, there must be a rebellion or a betrayal.
Then, there must be destruction. After that, salvation. That’s the flow of events. Any testimony that does not follow this flow cannot be trusted as a true testimony. And as Paul says, do not be deceived by such a testimony. So what is the testimony we’ve been talking about regarding rebellion, destruction, and salvation?
Well, we talked about the introduction of the seven golden lampstands in Revelation 1:20. Jesus is holding the seven stars in his right hand and walking among the seven golden lampstands. He then writes letters to them, saying, “Repent, for you have forgotten or forsaken your first love,” but they do not repent. Unfortunately, because they do not repent, they get judged. We see that the beast with seven heads and ten horns invades this tabernacle.
Those who lived in what was once called heaven, not heaven in the spiritual world, but a heaven that became a physical world, the first heaven and first earth, are consumed by the beast. The beast causes them to eat food sacrificed to idols, worship idols, and commit spiritual sexual immorality, destroying them for a period of time. However, one person witnesses these events and is the first to flee to the mountain, saying to everyone, “Come out, or you will be destroyed like that.”
This provides a little more detail than we’ve covered in the past, but hopefully, it’s not feeling too new, as it’s content we’ve covered so far. But that’s the flow of Revelation, from Revelation 1 to 22.
The 8 steps we’ll be talking about today as we’re looking at Intermediate Bible logic are:
A key factor that I want us all to write down:
The steps of creation and recreation are just rebellion, destruction, and salvation in more detail.
Rebellion, destruction, and salvation have been happening in the Bible since the very beginning. It’s the process of how fulfillment ends up getting fulfilled and has been repeating over and over again throughout the Bible.
We’ll look at an example in the book of Genesis that follows rebellion, destruction, and salvation by breaking it into 8 steps, so we can see those steps very clearly. Is everyone following so far? Hope not lost. All right, here we go.
2. God’s Purpose and Will
Let’s start by reminding ourselves about God’s purpose and will.
ONE – To be a Kingdom of Priests (Holy Nation, Chosen People) to reclaim the world!
Exodus 19:5-6
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
As a reminder, the world is in a fallen state because of what happened in the Garden of Eden. God needs people to choose him again. “Choose” being the optimal word, as God does not force or compel, but strongly encourages us to choose and obey him.
For the world to choose and obey God, he needs people to work through to spread the word about God – a word that either people have forgotten or have never heard before. God’s desire has and always will be for all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. But to achieve this, God needs a kingdom and priests.
He needs a people who have cleansed themselves and can help others be cleansed. Those who handle the word of the Lord respectfully and with care, having studied to show themselves approved, right?
That’s what God needs – a holy nation. So that’s been his desire from almost the very beginning. And he needs those kingdom and priests to do a very special job – to reclaim the world and help him reclaim it. That is your job, your purpose, and your duty.
God establishes a chosen people, and those chosen people go out into the world. But if a chosen people struggle with step one, they cannot do step two.
When a people cannot do step one and ultimately cannot do step two, God starts over. The cycle repeats like that. A kingdom and priests are what God needs so that he can use those people to reclaim the world – people who will go out and testify to who God is and what he is doing in our time.
Now, let’s look at how God set this up and some secrets that God had laid since the very beginning. I’m telling you, if you really understand this part, it will unlock more parts of the Bible for you that previously you thought you had mastered, but probably didn’t realize that there’s way more to it than that. This content is so, so important. I’m going to take my time here on this one.
3. God’s plan, Past and Future
Let’s establish a common understanding about God. Does God age? Can He die? How long has He been around? How long will He be around? Forever. So, is a being like that bound by time? No. But we, as mortals, are bound by time. To us, the past and the future are totally inaccessible. But to God, they are completely accessible. And because God has that ability, because God has the ability to create, He can set His plan that will be fulfilled in the future and tell us about it in the present.
Let’s turn to Isaiah 46:10 to understand some clues about how God talks about both the past and the future.
ONE – God Tells the End from the Beginning
Isaiah 46:10
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.
This is God speaking. And what does He say? “I make known the end from the beginning.” Then God mentions two things: ancient times and what is yet to come. When someone says “what is yet to come,” another way of phrasing that is prophecy. And in what language is prophecy spoken? Parables.
How do we know? Hosea 12:10 comes to mind: “I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.”
So that’s how God talks about the future. But what are ancient times? History, aka the past. Ancient times or the past. But God says, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times to what is yet to come.” He’s talking about these two things together.
Here’s a key concept we need to understand: When God speaks about the past, from the time the person is receiving and recording it, He sometimes includes prophecy. What does He also include when He talks about the past, similar to what He’s talking about in the future? Sometimes, He also speaks in parables about the past.
Let me give you an example. Moses was the writer of the book of Genesis, which spans 2,500 years. One book, 2,500 years. Was Moses around to see the events of Genesis? No. But yet he wrote about them in great detail, greater detail than can be passed down orally. So how did he do that? God gave him visions. Yeah, God showed him when he was on Mount Sinai, spending all that time with God. God was showing him the events of Genesis. And this was Moses, right? He was writing them down. “What? Abraham said this? Wait. Adam lived how long? We’re only living 70 to 80 years.” Psalms 90, right? So God showed Moses the past.
And some of what He showed Moses in the past was spoken in parables. So how do we understand this? The end and the beginning are intimately tied together. They speak to each other. And certain things that happen in the beginning cannot be fully understood until the end. And some things in the end cannot be fully understood until someone understands the beginning. They are intimately tied together, similar to how prophecy and fulfillment work.
The prophecy cannot be understood until it is fulfilled. Then everything makes sense. You’re like, “Oh, that’s what God was talking about.”
So what I’m trying to make very clear is that when God speaks about the past and when He speaks about the future, He uses the same language: parables. So there are parables spoken in the past. We often interpret the past literally in every situation, but that’s not actually the right way to look at it all the time. Let’s see how Jesus talks about this and how he makes that connection between the beginning and the end so clearly.
Reminder:
God Tells End from the Beginning:
1. What is still to come: Future
2. Ancient Times: Past
Both will be spoken in parables
TWO – Jesus spoke in Parables
Matthew 13:34-35
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”
This is so important, what Jesus just said here.
Remember why Jesus spoke in parables? There were two reasons. What were those two reasons why Jesus spoke in parables?
1. To protect the secrets of heaven from the evil one.
2. To fulfill prophecies.
So here, Jesus is saying, “I spoke to the people in parables. I will utter things hidden since when?”
When was the creation of the world detailed? In the beginning, in Genesis.
So what does that mean about Genesis? What does it contain? Genesis contains parables.
Some of Genesis is moral teachings. Some of Genesis is history.
But also, some of Genesis is prophecy and fulfillment. All four contents exist throughout the Bible. So what we’re going to look at today is one of the bigger parables.
And it’s going to, or at least I hope that’s how the lesson is understood. Does everyone understand what we’re discussing here? Is everyone following?
Because if you don’t understand this, this lesson will not make sense. So I want to make sure everyone has got it. Let me review it one more time.
The end and the beginning are intimately connected to God. And he speaks the same language in both the end and the beginning.
And when you are blessed enough to exist at the end, there are things in the beginning that now make sense to you, which could not have made sense to people before you because they did not exist at the time of the end. So the end better explains the beginning. And then you’re looking from the beginning to the end, and the story looks completely different.
It’s kind of like in a movie, right? When you’re watching a movie, and the director focuses on a book for a few seconds, and then you don’t see that book again until the end of the movie. And then you’re looking at that book completely differently at the end of the movie because that book holds special significance.
So you saw it at the beginning, but you’re like, okay, that must be important. And then you kind of forget about it. And then at the end of the movie, the book is critically important because it contains a secret letter from the father or something, you know, insert movie here, right?
So at the end of the movie, the beginning makes sense. Really good movies do this well. And they’re really fun to rewatch too after you know the secret at the end, right?
So God does the same thing. So what we’re going to talk about today, you will not have heard before, but that’s because we now exist at the time of the end. So this explanation could not have existed before.
Let’s now look at the 8 steps of creation and recreation. Oh, I’m excited for you guys. I remember the first time I heard this, I was like, no way.
Let’s go over it today.
4. Eight Steps of Creation and Recreation
Creation: 4 Steps
Step 1 – Selection of a Pastor
Genesis 2:6-7
6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground— 7 the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
So, God took some dust and formed it, then breathed into that man the breath of life.
This is a concept we have been familiar with for a long time. However, we have studied it further. What is the figurative representation of the breath of life?
The word of life.
We are reading about the past, which was spoken to Moses. So, God may be using figurative language here.
Why would God give someone the word? So that he can teach.
Let’s think about it. We talked about what it means to form a container, didn’t we?
Way back, I’m asking you to recall many months ago when we discussed the figurative container. What is the process to form a container?
What does it start as?
Clay, also known as dirt or dust.
Dust is just tiny clay particles. So, it starts as clay, and then you add water and mold it.
Then you fire it until it becomes a usable bowl. So, God took Adam, who was dust, and he gave him the breath of life. And then he became a living being.
But what came to life in Adam? What was he given by God? The word.
His spirit came to life. He became the first man who could understand the word of God.
Which means that Adam, in reality, was a priest. That’s right.
He was a pastor. God gave him the breath of life, which is the word of life. And Adam became a pastor.
But Adam can’t preach to no one. What’s the point of that? So, after God established his pastor, he now needed to give him a place to preach.
Reminder:
God: Breath (Word) of Life —-> Adam
Breath of Life = Word of Life
Adam = Pastor (King)
Step 2 – Creation of a Kingdom
What was Adam’s kingdom? The garden of Eden. And what did God tell Adam to do with that garden? He had to tend it, take care of it, water it, so that it could flourish. In that garden, there were many different types of animals and living creatures. And he was told to name them all.
Well, let’s understand this deeper, because we’ve also talked about the figurative garden, didn’t we?
Let’s turn to the book of Isaiah chapter 5. The title is “The Song of the Vineyard.” I want you to pay close attention to this passage as we read Isaiah 5:1-7.
Isaiah 5:1-7
I will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones
and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
but it yielded only bad fruit.
3 “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?
5 Now I will tell you
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall,
and it will be trampled.
6 I will make it a wasteland,
neither pruned nor cultivated,
and briers and thorns will grow there.
I will command the clouds
not to rain on it.”
7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are the garden of his delight.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
The vineyard figuratively represents the house of Israel, which is a people. The same writer authored both Genesis and Isaiah, though different individuals physically put pen to paper. However, the author is the same.
God’s logic is consistent from Genesis to Revelation. When God refers to a garden as His people, He is also talking about the first garden. So, what does the garden represent? In one word, the garden equals the house of a chosen people, a church.
That makes sense.
God established Adam as a pastor and gave him the breath of life, which is His word. He also gave Adam a kingdom to tend and instructed him to name or assign positions, titles, and duties to the people in that place, taking care of them and imparting the very word God had given him.
However, the story unfortunately takes a turn at this point. Before the turn, God gives a warning, a covenant.
Reminder:
Kingdom = Garden of Eden
Garden = Church, the house of the chosen people.
Step 3 – Covenant with the Chosen People
Genesis 2:16-17
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
God said, “You may eat from any tree in the garden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For if you eat from this tree, you will surely die.”
Did God say, “You will surely be fine. It’s really not that big a deal”? No. What did God say? “You will die.”
If you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it will not end well for you. This is the covenant. Hosea 6:7 says, “Like Adam, they have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me there.” Hosea 6:7 states, “Like Adam, they have broken the covenant.”
So, Adam received the covenant from God, and God takes His covenants quite seriously. However, Adam lived for a long time after this event, didn’t he? He lived up to 930 years, according to Genesis 5. But God said, “If you eat from this tree, you will surely die.” What is the explanation for that?
Adam’s spirit died immediately. The very spirit that God had just brought to life with His word was gone immediately. You can even notice this based on how Adam started to treat his wife. Instead of saying, “God, I repent. I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” what did he do?
He passed the blame, saying, “This woman you gave me did this.” And then the woman blamed the serpent, saying, “The serpent told me to do it.” Instead of taking responsibility and repenting, they did the opposite. You could tell they changed right away.
Instead of coming to God, they began to flee from God. Their spirit was gone. And when their spirit died, eventually their flesh also died, though they were supposed to live forever.
Reminder:
Eat from the Tree of Life, Don’t eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, this was a covenant.
Step 4 – Betrayal of the Covenant by the Chosen People and Destruction
Although the covenant was given to these people, there was a betrayal of that covenant.
So, step number four is the betrayal of the covenant by the chosen people and their destruction. Oh, are you starting to see rebellion and destruction? Since the very beginning, everybody. It has been happening since the start. And so, it started the whole thing – rebellion and destruction.
And since we’re going deep, might as well keep going deeper.
Was it a literal serpent that deceived Adam and Eve? A talking snake? No.
It represents a person who was like a snake being used by Satan. Who invaded their tabernacle and began to spread lies. A tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
We know what figurative tree is. John 15:1 says, “I am the true vine, and you, my disciples, are my branches.” Jesus had already told us that he was a tree of life. At the time of the first coming, the tree of knowledge of good and evil is also people who are being led by Satan, the ultimate serpent. And when Eve listened to the serpent saying things like, “You can be just like God, knowing good and evil,” they bought into what he was saying.
The way this is depicted oftentimes is with an apple, though Genesis 2 and 3 never mentioned any type of fruit. They just say “the fruit.” It does not mention an apple in the book, though it is commonly depicted as an apple.
But we know what a fruit really is. A spiritual fruit has two meanings. One meaning is what a person says. You can see and determine a tree by its fruit, as God was rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 12. But also, a fruit can be people too, or connected to a physical or spiritual tree, like James 1:18 says, “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.”
So, a man’s heart and actions are like their fruit. For whatever is in a man will come out, Luke 6:45 states. So, whatever is in there will come out. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve listened to the serpent-like person who spread lies to them, and they broke the covenant that they had with God.
And what happened? Their nakedness was revealed. They were clothed in animal skin, and they were kicked out of the garden. And they lost access to the tree of life.
And what happened? Satan, sin, death, mourning, crime, pain – all of these horrible things then entered the world. And it began a vicious cycle of a need to create and to recreate – a cycle that will end in the time of revelation by God’s grace. We’re understanding creation before we move on to recreation.
Reminder:
– Adam and Eve broke the covenant (Eating from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil)
– Satan, Sin, and Death entered
How is everyone’s heart doing? Who’s experiencing an internal earthquake? What? I happn to be experiencing one too, but trust me. I’m sure you’ll have many questions. We’ll go over those questions soon as well. I know you have questions, so just hang on to them for a moment.
Understand that in the process of creation, God picks a person and gives that person the word. That person is then given a kingdom, and they have to attend to that kingdom. To solidify this, God gives a covenant to those people.
But what is Satan’s job? To disrupt and destroy that covenant by causing the people to break it, because God will never break His covenant. God always keeps His promises, but it’s the people who break the covenant.
So when they broke the covenant, God had to pass them out. And then He told these things to Moses so that people are aware of what took place in the past. This way, they can learn from the mistakes of the past and do better in the future.
Recreation: 4 Steps
Step 5 – Selection of a New Pastor
Step number five is quite similar to step number one. What do you think step number five is? A new one. The selection of a pastor, the creation of a kingdom, and a covenant with those chosen people. But Satan invades and destroys, causing them to betray. Their hedge is gone, and they are destroyed. So God has to start again.
The selection of a new pastor. Who is the new pastor that God began to work with after Adam’s betrayal? Noah.
Genesis 6:5-9
5 The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
9 This is the account of Noah.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.
After the betrayal of Adam and Eve, what began to happen to the world? It fell into corruption. Corruption in what kind of measure? Increasing. Evil and sin began to steeply increase, and God’s heart was grieved.
So what did God decide to do? “I’m going to wipe them away. But not everybody, because I need to work through a new people.”
But before starting with the people, God needed to start with one first. With that one, from him, God would build something new. So God came to a righteous man named Noah.
We know him quite well. God told Noah what he is and what he intends to do in the future because Noah walked with God. God had to wait a long time for Noah. Noah was the ninth generation descendant of Adam. It took God nine generations, almost a thousand years, to find someone who walked with him. A very long time.
So what did God want to do with this righteous man? “I’m going to build something new. But first, the old has got to go. The world, the old has to go.”
Let’s read a little bit more about Noah to understand his position as the new pastor.
2 Peter 2:5
if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
Noah, a preacher of righteousness. Because what was Noah doing during the 100 years it took him to build the ark? Oh my gosh, everybody. What was he doing? He was preaching. “Guys, a flood is coming. I’m building an ark. Get on it.” That’s what he was doing for 100 years. 100 years. It took him forever to build that ark. 100 years. He was preaching. But did people listen? Seven out of the rest of Adam’s world.
So when God decided to work through Noah, step number 6, out with the old, in with the new.
Reminder:
Noah was a righteous man, 9 generations from Adam
Step 6 – Judgement and Salvation
Based on the story of Noah, what was the judgment? The Flood.
And what represented salvation? The ark. Out with the old, in with the new.
So, judgment and salvation. God, through Noah, judged the old with the Flood, and Adam’s world came to an end—the world that had become sinful and corrupt. Only eight people, including Noah himself, got on the ark.
But with the new ones who got on the ark, what was God intending to do with them? Recreate. To start again. So with the new that was saved, the old world, Adam’s world, was judged. And the new was saved.
This concept of the new and the old makes its way throughout the Bible too. They often go by a number of names: Remnants, Survivors, or the Penitent—meaning the repentant ones. You see these terms, for example, quite often in the book of Isaiah. You see this terminology used: Remnants, Survivors, Penitent. It means those who came out of the old world and followed the one that God was currently using. We see this pattern over and over again.
What are some other names that this concept has gone by that we’ve studied so far? Babylon. What else? The sea, Egypt, The field, Sodom. You’re seeing the pattern? It’s the same pattern. Come out of this world and come into the new world that God is building. Same thing. Same pattern. It just repeats itself.
God takes a few survivors out of the old world and begins to build something new with them. But first, the old must be judged. For the sake of time, we won’t read the full story about the Flood. But a few key reminders here: God said, “Make yourself an ark. I’m going to bring floodwaters to wipe away the old world, the world that had become corrupt.” And now, with those who survived this event, God could build something new with them.
Reminder:
– Old World (Adam’s) is judged
– New is saved (Escapes judgment)
New = Remnant, Survivors and Penitent
Step 7 – Creation of a New Kingdom
Genesis 9:1-7
With those who survived the event of judgment, God builds a new kingdom. Like that.
After the event of judgment, those who survived became God’s new kingdom. Noah’s ark came to rest on Mount Ararat, as described in Genesis 9.
Noah’s family of eight became God’s new kingdom, and God began to work through them. God gave them a very specific instruction for his new kingdom.
Let’s turn to Genesis 9 and see this instruction that God gives them.
Genesis 9:7, “As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”
God instructed them to multiply and increase in number. Why?
Why did they need to increase in number?
The kingdom needed people. The kingdom needed people who were like the survivors.
At that time, it was more physical, but the same logic applies spiritually today. What did Jesus tell his disciples in John 15?
When he said, “I am the vine, and you are the branches,” what was Jesus asking his disciples to do?
To make believers out of all nations.
That’s right. To evangelize. The logic is the same, both physically and spiritually.
Make others who are like you. It makes sense. Noah and his family were tasked with this by God.
And God confirmed this command with them by giving them a new covenant, sealing the deal and closing the cycle.
We’ve read this story dozens of times in church, but we didn’t understand it this deeply. And now you’re starting to understand God’s fingerprint, right?
That’s why Intermediate is sometimes, like when I talk to students who finish the course, Intermediate was my favorite. It was great. It explained so many things.
Glory to God. We just started. This is lesson three.
We just started, and we’re already going deep.
Reminder:
– Noah’s world (family) = New Kingdom
– Be fruitful and increase in numbers = John 15:1-5 —> Bear fruit (evangelize)
Step 8 – New Covenant
In Genesis chapter 9, God establishes a new covenant with Noah and his family. He tells them, “Be fruitful and multiply. And here is my covenant with you: Never again will I end the world with a flood.” God symbolizes this covenant with the rainbow.
The rainbow represents a signifier of God’s covenant with his chosen people.
What do you think God wants from this new covenant with the people? How does he want them to treat it? He wants them to keep it.
How can someone keep the covenant? By doing what God asks of them.
And how does one do what God asks? What must happen first? They have to hear it first.
Then what? They must believe it.
How does one believe something? It has to go into the heart, right? But can it leave the heart? No, it cannot. It must remain in the heart, right?
It must remain in the heart in order for someone to keep it. If it leaves the heart, you cannot keep it. It’s like working at a factory job. In your first two weeks, you’re given instructions on how to operate an important piece of equipment. Let’s say the next day, somehow, you forget how to operate that equipment. Will you be allowed to touch the equipment? No, because you’re likely to hurt yourself or someone else. You forgot how to operate the machinery, so you will not be allowed to keep that part of your job.
Similarly, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 and Hebrews 8:10-12, God is telling the people to put his law on their hearts and minds. This is what the Bible calls “sealing,” so that people can keep the covenant they have received.
Noah’s job was to seal that covenant on the hearts of his people, his sons and daughters, and his descendants.
Genesis 9:8-13
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
God established His covenant that He would no longer bring a flood, and it was signified by the rainbow.
Noah and his family were meant to be the people through whom God would work, living holy and good lives and teaching others to do the same.
However, we know that Satan was still present, waiting to cause problems. Satan thought, “Okay, how can I get to Noah’s family? How can I destroy them too?”
Did Satan succeed? Yes, unfortunately.
How? Everyone remembers the story of Ham, Noah’s second son. His first son was Shem, from whom Abraham descended. But Canaan, the land of Canaan, and all the “Ites” – the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Amorites – descended from Ham and his son Canaan.
What did Ham do, likely with his son? Noah tended a garden, very similar to his ancestor Adam. It was a vineyard, and he helped himself to its fruits, the fruits of his labor. He was naked in his tent. What happened then? Ham went in and saw his father. Instead of immediately covering him up and ending the matter, what did Ham do? He said, “Hey guys, guess what? Dad’s naked in the tent.” Shem and Japheth grabbed a blanket, walked backward, and covered their father without seeing his nakedness. When Noah heard about this, he said, “Cursed be Canaan, and you will be a servant to Shem.”
Oh, this starts the whole drama, doesn’t it? The splintering of families. Ham and Canaan went off, becoming the “Ites.” Shem led to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And now they had to go. It’s a whole thing, which we’ll cover in a later lesson.
But just to show you that the cycle does what? It repeats, like that. Until which time? When does the cycle stop? In Revelation, when the cycle stops. So just note that Satan will continue to deceive God’s people until he is put away in the abyss, at least for a thousand years. So let’s be diligent and not let Satan grab us.
The logical order of creation and recreation has 8 steps. Are we understanding? Did the lesson make sense?
So really, you only have to remember 3 or 4 because the others are just new additions.
It’s not very hard. Pastor, kingdom, covenant, betrayal, pastor, judgment, salvation, kingdom, covenant. Done. Very easy. Remember, just think about the story of Adam and Noah, and it will make a lot of sense. Again, this process repeats itself throughout the Bible until the end of Revelation, when Revelation is fulfilled.
Memorization
Exodus 19:5-6
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Let’s Us Discern
Discernment is still a work in progress …. Proverbs 14:15 (ESV)
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Analysis
Questions to Self-Reflect
Outline
Intermediate Bible Logic: The 8 Steps of Creation and Recreation
Introduction
- This lesson examines the 8 logical steps of creation and recreation, highlighting the recurring patterns of rebellion, destruction, and salvation throughout the Bible.
- Understanding these steps illuminates the roles and significance of key biblical figures like Adam and Noah.
Part I: Review & Foundation
- Review: God’s Will & ProcessGod’s will is to establish His kingdom on earth, mirroring the spiritual realm.
- God chooses individuals who have seen the heavenly pattern and tasks them with building it on earth, like Moses.
- This process culminates in the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth at the second coming.
- The Cycle: Rebellion, Destruction, SalvationProphecy fulfillment is a process, not a singular event, evidenced by Jesus’s life and the events in Revelation.
- This process follows a consistent pattern: rebellion, destruction, and then salvation, as outlined in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3.
- The 8 Steps: An Expansion on the Core CycleThe 8 steps of creation and recreation provide a detailed breakdown of the rebellion, destruction, and salvation cycle.
Part II: God’s Purpose, Plan, and Parables
- God’s Purpose: A Kingdom of PriestsGod’s purpose, as stated in Exodus 19:5-6, is to establish a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, to reclaim the fallen world.
- This kingdom will spread God’s word and guide humanity towards salvation.
- God’s Plan: Past and FutureGod transcends time, possessing complete knowledge of both the past and the future, as stated in Isaiah 46:10.
- He uses parables to communicate both past events and future prophecies.
- Jesus and Parables: Unveiling Hidden TruthsJesus spoke in parables to protect heavenly secrets and fulfill prophecies, as stated in Matthew 13:34-35.
- This suggests that the book of Genesis, detailing the creation of the world, also contains parables, revealing hidden truths.
- The Beginning and the End: An Interconnected TapestryThe beginning and the end of God’s plan are interconnected, with understanding the end shedding light on the beginning.
- Events in the beginning gain deeper meaning when viewed from the perspective of the end.
Part III: The 8 Steps of Creation & Recreation
Creation: Steps 1-4
- Selection of a Pastor: God forms Adam from dust and imparts the breath of life (the word of God), establishing him as the first pastor.
- Creation of a Kingdom: God creates the Garden of Eden, representing the church, and entrusts it to Adam’s care.
- Covenant with the Chosen People: God establishes a covenant with Adam, prohibiting him from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
- Betrayal of the Covenant & Destruction: Adam and Eve, deceived by the serpent (representing Satan’s influence), break the covenant, resulting in spiritual death, physical death, and expulsion from the garden.
Recreation: Steps 5-8
- Selection of a New Pastor: God chooses Noah, a righteous man, to be the new pastor, a preacher of righteousness.
- Judgment and Salvation: God judges the corrupt world with the Flood, representing destruction, while the ark, representing salvation, preserves Noah and his family.
- Creation of a New Kingdom: Noah and his family become God’s new kingdom, tasked with multiplying and increasing in number, symbolizing both physical and spiritual growth.
- New Covenant: God establishes a new covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the world with a flood again, symbolized by the rainbow.
Conclusion
- The cycle of rebellion, destruction, and salvation, detailed in the 8 steps, repeats throughout the Bible, including within Noah’s family.
- This cycle will continue until its final resolution in the book of Revelation.
- The lesson emphasizes the importance of perseverance, overcoming attacks, and remaining steadfast in the word of God.
A Study Guide
The 8 Steps of Creation and Recreation: A Study Guide
Quiz
Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.
- What is the main purpose of God establishing a chosen people, according to Exodus 19:5-6?
- How does Isaiah 46:10 suggest that God communicates about both the past and the future?
- According to the lesson, what is the figurative meaning of the “breath of life” given to Adam in Genesis 2:7?
- Explain the symbolism of the garden in Genesis 2 and how it connects to the concept of a chosen people.
- What is the covenant established in Genesis 2:16-17, and what are the consequences of breaking it?
- Who is identified as the “new pastor” chosen by God after Adam’s betrayal, and what is his role?
- What does 2 Peter 2:5 reveal about Noah’s actions during the time he built the ark?
- How does the story of Noah and the Flood illustrate the concept of judgment and salvation?
- What instruction does God give to Noah and his family in Genesis 9:7, and what is the significance of this command?
- What symbolic object represents God’s new covenant with Noah in Genesis 9, and what promise does it signify?
Answer Key
- God establishes a chosen people to serve as a kingdom of priests, a holy nation set apart to reclaim the world for Him and spread His word. They are to be a beacon of righteousness and lead others to knowledge of the truth.
- Isaiah 46:10 states that God makes known the end from the beginning, encompassing both ancient times (the past) and what is to come (the future). This suggests God communicates about both using a similar language, specifically parables.
- The “breath of life” is figuratively interpreted as the “word of life.” God giving Adam this breath signifies bestowing upon him the ability to understand and teach God’s word, effectively making Adam the first pastor.
- The garden in Genesis 2 represents the “house” of a chosen people, symbolizing a church. Adam, as the pastor, is tasked with tending to this garden, nurturing his people, imparting God’s word, and guiding them.
- The covenant in Genesis 2:16-17 forbids Adam and Eve from eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The consequence of breaking this covenant is death, signifying a separation from God and the loss of spiritual life.
- Noah is the “new pastor” chosen by God. He is a righteous man chosen to lead and preach to the people, warning them of the impending judgment and offering them salvation through the ark.
- 2 Peter 2:5 refers to Noah as a “preacher of righteousness,” indicating that he actively preached to the people for the 100 years he spent building the ark, warning them of the coming flood and urging them to repent.
- The Flood represents God’s judgment upon a corrupt world. The ark, built by Noah under God’s guidance, provides salvation for those who believe and choose to enter it, symbolizing a separation from the doomed world and a new beginning.
- God instructs Noah and his family to “be fruitful and increase in number,” emphasizing the need for the new kingdom to grow and expand. This parallels the Great Commission given to Jesus’ disciples, highlighting the ongoing mission to spread the word and make disciples of all nations.
- The rainbow symbolizes God’s new covenant with Noah and all living creatures. It signifies the promise that God will never again destroy the world with a flood, representing His mercy and faithfulness to His covenants.
Additional Questions
1. What is God’s purpose and will?
– Kingdom and Priest (Holy Nation)
– To reclaim the word
2. What is God’s plan; past and future?
– Tells end from the beginning (in parables)
– Hidden things (since creation of the world) in parables
3. What are the 8 steps of the logical order of creation and recreation?
1. Selection of a pastor
2. Creation of a kingdom
3. Covenant with the chosen people
4. Betrayal of the covenant by the chosen people and destruction
5. Selection of a new pastor
6. Judgement and salvation
7. Creation of a new kingdom
8. New Covenant
Glossary of Key Terms
- Chosen People: A group of people selected by God to represent Him and carry out His purpose, often tasked with spreading His word and leading others to Him.
- Covenant: A binding agreement between God and His people, often involving promises and obligations from both parties.
- Pastor: In this context, a spiritual leader chosen by God to guide, teach, and shepherd His people, often entrusted with the word of God.
- Kingdom: A realm or community under God’s rule, often symbolized by a garden or a specific group of people united under His authority.
- Rebellion: The act of defying or disobeying God’s will, often leading to consequences and separation from Him.
- Destruction: The consequence of sin and rebellion, often manifested as physical or spiritual devastation and judgment.
- Salvation: Deliverance from sin and its consequences through God’s grace, often associated with repentance, faith, and a new beginning.
- Parable: A story or figurative language used to convey spiritual truths and principles, often requiring interpretation to uncover the deeper meaning.
- Judgment: God’s act of holding humanity accountable for their actions, often resulting in consequences for sin and rebellion.
- Remnant/Survivors/Penitent: Those who remain faithful to God amidst widespread corruption and judgment, representing a new beginning and a continuation of His plan.
- Sealing: The act of firmly establishing God’s word in the hearts and minds of His people, enabling them to understand, believe, and live according to His will.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events:
Pre-Creation:
- God exists outside of time and conceives of His plan for creation and recreation.
Creation – Adam’s World:
- Selection of a Pastor: God creates Adam from dust and gives him the breath of life (word of God), establishing him as the first pastor.
- Creation of a Kingdom: God creates the Garden of Eden, a church and kingdom for Adam to tend and rule over.
- Covenant with the Chosen People: God establishes a covenant with Adam, forbidding him from eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
- Betrayal of the Covenant and Destruction: A serpent-like figure (representing Satan) tempts Adam and Eve to break the covenant, leading to spiritual death and the introduction of sin and death into the world.
Recreation – Noah’s World:
- Selection of a New Pastor: God chooses Noah, a righteous man, to be the new pastor and preacher of righteousness.
- Judgement and Salvation: God judges the corrupt world with the Flood, saving Noah and his family in the ark, symbolizing salvation and a new beginning.
- Creation of a New Kingdom: Noah and his family become the new kingdom, tasked with multiplying and spreading God’s word.
- New Covenant: God establishes a new covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the world with a flood again, symbolized by the rainbow. However, Satan continues to tempt and deceive, leading to further challenges and a repeating cycle of rebellion, destruction, and the need for recreation.
The Cycle Continues:
- The pattern of rebellion, destruction, and recreation continues throughout biblical history, with God establishing new chosen people and covenants, facing betrayal and the need to start anew.
- This cycle will ultimately end with the fulfillment of Revelation and the establishment of a new heaven and new earth.
Cast of Characters:
God: The eternal creator who exists outside of time, establishes covenants, and orchestrates the plan of creation and recreation. He seeks a kingdom of priests to reclaim the world for Him.
Adam: The first man and pastor, created from dust and given the breath of life (word of God). He is given dominion over the Garden of Eden but fails to keep God’s covenant, leading to the introduction of sin and death.
Eve: Adam’s wife, created from Adam’s rib. She is also tempted by the serpent-like figure and partakes in breaking the covenant.
Serpent-like Figure: A parable representing Satan or a person influenced by him, who tempts Adam and Eve to break the covenant.
Noah: A righteous man chosen by God to be the new pastor after the corruption of Adam’s world. He preaches righteousness and builds the ark, saving himself and his family from the Flood.
Ham: Noah’s son who disrespects his father, leading to a curse upon his descendants and further division among the chosen people.
Shem and Japheth: Noah’s other sons who act righteously by covering their father’s nakedness. Abraham descends from the line of Shem.
Jesus: Mentioned as the true vine and the tree of life, indicating the continuity of God’s plan and the connection between the Old and New Testaments. He is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan for salvation and recreation.
Evangelists: The speakers sharing their testimonies and highlighting the importance of perseverance and understanding God’s word in the face of challenges and attacks from Satan.
Overview
Overview: The 8 Steps of Creation and Recreation
Main Theme: This class explores the cyclical pattern of creation, rebellion, destruction, and recreation that runs throughout the Bible, using the examples of Adam and Noah. It highlights the importance of understanding biblical parables and God’s consistent logic from Genesis to Revelation.
Most Important Ideas/Facts:
1. God’s Purpose and Will:
- God desires to establish a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:5-6) who will help Him reclaim the hearts of people and restore the fallen world.
- This purpose requires a chosen people who are cleansed and equipped to spread God’s word.
2. God’s Plan, Past and Future:
- God is not bound by time and can speak of the future from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).
- God uses parables to communicate both past and future events, hiding truths until their appointed time (Matthew 13:34-35).
- The beginning and the end are interconnected, each shedding light on the other.
3. The 8 Steps of Creation and Recreation:
- Creation:
- Step One: Selection of a Pastor: God selects an individual (Adam) and gives him the “breath of life” (word of God) to become a pastor.
- Step Two: Creation of a Kingdom: God creates a space (Garden of Eden) representing the church, for the pastor to lead and nurture.
- Step Three: Covenant with the Chosen People: God establishes a covenant with His people (don’t eat from the Tree of Knowledge) to guide their actions and ensure their well-being.
- Step Four: Betrayal of the Covenant and Destruction: The chosen people (Adam and Eve) are tempted by Satan (represented by the serpent), break the covenant, and experience spiritual and physical death.
- Recreation:
- Step Five: Selection of a New Pastor: God selects a new righteous individual (Noah) to lead a new generation.
- Step Six: Judgment and Salvation: God judges the old world (the Flood) while providing salvation for the chosen (the Ark).
- Step Seven: Creation of a New Kingdom: God establishes a new kingdom (Noah’s family) and instructs them to multiply and spread righteousness.
- Step Eight: New Covenant: God establishes a new covenant (never again a flood) signified by the rainbow.
4. Cycle of Rebellion and Recreation:
- The pattern of creation, rebellion, and recreation repeats throughout the Bible, including Noah’s family (Ham’s betrayal) and beyond.
- Satan continuously attempts to disrupt God’s plan and deceive His people.
- This cycle will finally end with the fulfillment of Revelation and the ultimate victory over Satan.
Important Quotes:
- “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” – Isaiah 46:10
- “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable… “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” – Matthew 13:34-35
- “And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” – Genesis 2:16-17
- “Like Adam, they have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me there.” – Hosea 6:7
- “if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others” – 2 Peter 2:5
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the 8 steps reveals a recurring pattern in God’s plan throughout history.
- Biblical parables contain hidden truths that become clearer as we approach the end times.
- God is faithful to his covenants, while humans struggle with obedience and betrayal.
- We must be vigilant against Satan’s deceptions and strive to remain in God’s word.
- The ultimate hope is the fulfillment of Revelation and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.
Q&A
Q&A
1. What is the overarching theme of the 8 steps of creation and recreation?
The 8 steps of creation and recreation illustrate the cyclical pattern of rebellion, destruction, and salvation that repeats throughout the Bible. God establishes a covenant with His chosen people, they betray the covenant, leading to destruction, and God raises a new pastor and establishes a new covenant, starting the cycle anew. This pattern highlights God’s enduring purpose to build a kingdom of priests who will help reclaim the world for Him.
2. How does God communicate His plan across time?
God, unbound by time, communicates His plan using parables, both when revealing future prophecies and narrating past events. This means some historical accounts in the Bible, particularly Genesis, contain deeper symbolic meanings that can only be fully understood at the time of the end.
3. What are the first four steps of creation, as illustrated by the story of Adam?
- Step 1: Selection of a Pastor: God chooses Adam and gives him the “breath of life,” symbolizing the Word of God. Adam becomes the first pastor, tasked with spreading God’s Word.
- Step 2: Creation of a Kingdom: God creates the Garden of Eden, representing the Church, as Adam’s kingdom. Adam is to tend to this kingdom and name its inhabitants, signifying assigning roles and responsibilities within the Church.
- Step 3: Covenant with the Chosen People: God establishes a covenant with Adam, forbidding him from eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This covenant represents the agreement between God and His people.
- Step 4: Betrayal and Destruction: Adam and Eve succumb to temptation and eat from the forbidden tree, betraying the covenant. This leads to spiritual death and expulsion from the Garden, symbolizing the entry of sin and separation from God.
4. How does the story of Noah demonstrate the four steps of recreation?
- Step 5: Selection of a New Pastor: God chooses Noah, a righteous man, to lead a new generation after the corruption of Adam’s world. Noah acts as a preacher, warning people of the impending judgment and offering salvation.
- Step 6: Judgment and Salvation: God judges the old world through the Flood, representing destruction. Noah and his family, saved in the ark, represent the faithful remnant who escape judgment.
- Step 7: Creation of a New Kingdom: Noah’s family, saved from destruction, becomes the foundation for a new kingdom. God instructs them to be fruitful and multiply, signifying the expansion of the Church and the spreading of God’s Word.
- Step 8: New Covenant: God establishes a new covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the world with a flood again. This covenant is symbolized by the rainbow, representing God’s faithfulness and the continuation of His plan.
5. How does Satan attempt to disrupt God’s plan?
Satan consistently seeks to disrupt God’s plan by tempting God’s chosen people into betraying the covenant. In the Garden of Eden, he uses a serpent to deceive Adam and Eve. Similarly, he instigates division and sin within Noah’s family through Ham’s actions, highlighting the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil.
6. Why is understanding the 8 steps important for believers today?
Understanding the 8 steps helps believers recognize God’s consistent pattern of working throughout history and provides a framework for understanding biblical narratives. It emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to the covenant, resisting temptation, and actively participating in the mission of expanding God’s kingdom.
7. What is the ultimate outcome of the cycle of creation and recreation?
The cycle culminates in the book of Revelation, where God’s ultimate plan for salvation is fully realized. This final stage marks the end of rebellion, destruction, and the establishment of a new heaven and new earth, signifying the complete restoration of God’s kingdom.
8. How can we apply the lessons from the 8 steps to our lives today?
We can apply these lessons by:
- Hearing and believing God’s Word: Just as Adam and Noah received instructions from God, we must actively engage with Scripture and internalize its teachings.
- Keeping the covenant: We must strive to live according to God’s will and resist temptations that lead to betrayal.
- Participating in God’s kingdom: We must actively contribute to the expansion of God’s kingdom through evangelism, discipleship, and service.
- Standing firm against spiritual attacks: Recognizing Satan’s ongoing attempts to deceive and discourage, we must remain steadfast in our faith, relying on God’s strength and guidance.