The Message That Gives Life: Genesis through Revelation Stephen R. Lewis, Ph.D. President Rocky Mountain Bible College Rocky Mountain Seminary drslewis@rmbc.edu

The Golden Rule of Interpretation Dr. Stephen R. Lewis September 2011 The Golden Rule of Interpretation “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.” [David L. Cooper] RMBC/RMS

The Gospel--The Greatest Message that Gives Life It is wise that when we share the Gospel/the Message that Gives Everlasting Life to remember these three things: 1) It (the Message) is always about Him (who He is and what He has done) and not about us. 2) It is always simple enough for a child to understand. 3) It must be consistent from Genesis through Revelation.

I am not sure what to call the “life” that Adam and Eve possessed in the Original Creation—But Adam and Eve did lack everlasting life after the fall. They lacked it before the fall too. But the difference is that before the fall they did not need it.

When Adam and Eve ate of fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden, God did not declare them “sinners” (although they were and we are); God declared them “DEAD.” The result is that every human being is estranged from God--"alienated from the life of God." Ephesians 4:18.

It appears that Adam and Eve started dying physically the moment they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is possible that they did not die spiritually then. If they did, that means that they had everlasting life before the fall. Then they lost it? Before the fall Adam and Eve were not sinners and didn't have or need everlasting life. If they had not sinned, they never would have had everlasting life, nor would they have ever died.

Once they sinned, they put themselves in a predicament Once they sinned, they put themselves in a predicament. Now they were going to die physically. If they died physically without everlasting life, then they would spend eternity apart from God. So now they needed everlasting life. It is not that they died spiritually when they disobeyed. It is that they became sinners when they sinned. Before they sinned they met the condition of sinlessness. After they disobeyed they did not.

Therefore, what man has needed since that time is not only their sins forgiven [think about someone who has been shot and killed—even though they may remove the bullet (the cause of his death) he still needs life.], but more importantly, they have needed “LIFE--Everlasting Life.” At the Great White Throne Judgment, the lost are judged and cast into the Lake of Fire. Why? Because their Names are Not Written in the Lamb’s Book of LIFE (Revelation 20:15).

Unbelief is the cause for the unsaved not having everlasting life Unbelief is the cause for the unsaved not having everlasting life. Not having everlasting life is the reason they are condemned to the Lake of Fire]

At the cross the righteous justice of God was satisfied for all humanity (2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter 2:24). Jesus Christ is the Propitiation for the Sins of the Whole World (Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews 9:26—10:10; 1 John 2:2). It is by Grace alone, through Faith/Believe/Trust alone, in Jesus Christ (based on His Death and Resurrection) alone that we receive the free gift of everlasting life (the remedy for everlasting Death).

Therefore, the person comes to God through believing in Jesus Christ Therefore, the person comes to God through believing in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in His role as Mediator bestows everlasting life on the believer, thus introducing him/her to God. God in response accepts the believing person and pronounces him/her Justified.

The Message That Gives Life: Genesis through Revelation The Promise (Who?) Genesis 3:15 Genesis 4:1 Genesis 12:1-3, 7 Genesis 22:15-18 Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah 11:1-2 Isaiah 53 The Promised One = Jesus Christ The Message That Gives Life: Genesis through Revelation The Great White Throne Judgment—Why cast into the Lake of Fire? Because their Names are Not Written in the Lamb’s Book of LIFE (Revelation 20:15) Unbelief is the cause for the unsaved not having everlasting life. Not having everlasting life is the reason they are condemned to the Lake of Fire. LIFE (Everlasting Life) John 3:16 Life Sin* *When Adam and Eve ate of fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden, God did not declare them “sinners” (although they were and we are); God declared them “DEAD.” What man has needed since that time is not only their sins forgiven, but more importantly, they have needed “LIFE--Everlasting Life.” [Think about someone who has been shot and killed—even though they may remove the bullet (the cause of his death) he still needs life.] Need At the cross the righteous justice of God was satisfied for all humanity (2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter 2:24) Death** **The result is that every human being is estranged from God— “alienated from the life of God.” Ephesians 4:18) The Lamb that was Slain before the Foundation of the World (Titus 1:2; Revelation 13:8) Jesus Christ is the Propitiation for the Sins of the Whole World (Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews 9:26—10:10; 1 John 2:2) Therefore, the person comes to God through believing in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in His role as Mediator bestows everlasting life on the believer, thus introducing him/her to God. God in response accepts the believing person and pronounces him/her justified. The Issue is believing in Jesus Christ for the Free gift of Everlasting Life based on Jesus Christ’s Death and Resurrection. [“Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (cf. John 20:30-31) as the only One who can give the free gift of Everlasting Life to those who believe/trust/place their faith in Him alone. This can only be a legitimate offer if He is the Lord God. “. . .no other kind of savior can save except a God-Man. Deity and humanity must be combined in order to provide a satisfactory salvation...He must be God in order that that death be effective for an infinite number of persons.”(Balancing the Christian Life p. 175)] © Stephen R. Lewis, Ph.D.

Dr. Stephen R. Lewis September 2011 The Free Gift of Everlasting Life[Salvation/Justification] has always been by Grace alone, through Faith alone, based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ alone—throughout all dispensations. No one has ever been saved any other way! RMBC/RMS

Dr. Stephen R. Lewis September 2011 Saving faith (believing) is being persuaded that, based on His finished work (death & resurrection), Jesus Christ delivers from condemnation and guarantees everlasting life to all who simply believe in Him. RMBC/RMS

Concluding Principles: Dr. Stephen R. Lewis September 2011 Concluding Principles: Our salvation (past, present, future) is protected by the power of God. If you have believed in Jesus Christ for everlasting life, you have everlasting life. We should persevere in our faith and good works, but it is not necessary for everlasting life. RMBC/RMS