The Jesus Christ of Old Testament History

Learner objectives: (1) To be able to name all three divine personalities that were present at the time of the creation; to name at least one event of each day of creation; to contrast the walk man had with God before sin and after sin came into the world.

Narrative: It is easy to conclude that in the Creation, only God the Father was at work. But the Holy Spirit was there also, as was Jesus Christ the son. In looking at the Jesus of the Old Testament History, let us see the part he had even in the creation. In viewing Jesus in this way, Jesus no longer takes on the appearance of a Asurprise@ divine figure that showed up Amagically@ during the first century; rather, he was always part of the Godhead, and his arrival on earth was at a carefully appointed time.

Time: (also see time line in the classroom): possibly 4000 B. C.The Bible Story:

I. In the beginning . . .

A. Genesis 1: 1-2: 3.

B. The Genesis story sets a beginning point for man; God needed none.

C. The word for AGod@ in Genesis is AEloihim@ or Agods@; in the

Hebrew it is undeniably plural. A partial explanation is in verse two; the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters is the Holy Spirit.

D. See John 1: 1-5. Also John 8: 56-59.

E. The unanswerable question to the Jews: AIf David thus calls him Lord, how is it that he is called his son?@Bsee Matthew 22: 41-46.

II The creation story itself.

A. The first dayBlight

B. The second dayBfirmament (heavens) light from darkness.

C. Third dayBdry land and vegetation

D. Fourth dayBstars; greater light. For day, lesser light for night

E. Fifth dayBbirds and fish

F. Sixth dayBmammals and man

G. Seventh dayBrest

II See the communion of man with God in Genesis 2? See how God provided for man=s physical, material, and spiritual needs?

A. When man needed food, God created a garden.

B. When man needed exercise, God gave him constructive and satisfying work to do in the garden.

C. When man needed a companion God gave him a helper Ameet@ (suited) to his needs.

D. Question: Why don=t we live that simply today? See Matthew 6: 25-34.

E. Note elements of this ideal existence that reappear only at the end of time:

1. River of (with) lifeBGen. 2: 10; Revelation 22:1.

2. Tree of lifeBGen 2: 9; Revelation 22:2.

3. Unfettered access to GodBGenesis 2: whole chapter; Revelation 22: 4.

4. Innocence: Gen 2: 24-25; Rev. 22: 3.

Questions and activities:

1. Both Eden and Heaven were places of innocence. What kinds of behaviors won=t be there? Point out several Ahit lists@ of sinful activities in the New Testament.

2. Both Eden and Heaven are/were places of unrestrained access to God. a. Why don=t we have access to God like this now? Why can=t we see his face? Scriptures please. {Hints: Isaiah 59: 1,2; Exodus 33: 17-23.

3. Some people think the earth is many millions of years old. Scriptural study would calculate us to believe that the earth is about 6, 000 years old. How do you deal with this?

4. Why can't God allow sin into Heaven?


Evaluative activity: Turn to the person next to you in class and

 

1. Name at least one event that happened on each of the days of creation.

2. Name the three spiritual personalities that we present at the creation.

3. Tell how man=s walk with God is different now, since there is sin in the world, compared to the walk that Adam and Eve had with God before the sin. Tell also how this walk will be restored in Heaven some day.

4. (Optionally:) Quote Genesis 1: 1; Quote John 1: 1.

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