Broadlands Bible Church
September 7, 2022
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Thesis: A "Creature of Eternity" means that our perspective in respect to ourselves is that we are constantly being affected by both the most basic "creation reality"; a "cause and effect universe".
Introduction: Thus far we have considered that the Bible is "The
Written Word of God" (in distinction from "The
Living Word of God", Jesus, as per
John 1:1-2 ). As such, the Bible is a basic source of particular truth given to us by God (in distinction from the Creation as a basic source of general truth about God). It is because we have the Bible that we are pushed in the direction of "faith" in the fact that God loves us. There does not seem to be any other reason for our possession of such a particular revelation concerning the Kingdom of God as a Relational Kingdom in which all participants are enjoined to live by a genuine love for everyone else. We also have considered that the most basic truth about us is that we are "creatures" (in a state of absolute dependence upon The Creator and not designed by Him to ever become "independent actors" in His creation), and that there is no end to our existence once we have been created by God. We are "creatures of eternity".
This evening we are going to push a little further into the reality of our being as "creatures". When God "created", both "Time" and "the principles of creature Life" were simultaneous creations. "Time" is, at its fundamental identity, a "medium of consecutive action" that creates both "past" and "future" considerations. As to "the principles of creature Life", the most basic is the Law of Cause and Effect.
It is this Law of Cause and Effect that we are going to consider in our study this evening.
- I. What We Have Already Seen.
- A. First, that it is this "Law" that makes men inexcusable before God in respect to man's participation in the "Law" by taking actions that generate "Death" for others as well as for themselves: Romans 1:20.
- B. And, second, that this "Law" is inviolate: Galatians 6:7-8.
- 1. Paul's insistence that his readers refuse to be deceived in regard to the function of this "Law" means that "deceit" is "in the picture" as a detrimental factor leading to "corruption".
- 2. That Paul made this declaration to include the "positive" issue of "reaping eternal life" also indicates that there might be some deception regarding that fact.
- 3. And that Paul wrote these words in THE New Testament book which has "the methodology of Life" in the cross-hairs is enormously significant; a "methodology" that pits "Law" against "Grace" with "Law" leading to Death and "Grace" leading to Life.
- II. What We Are Going To Consider This Evening.
- A. The realms of "influence" in which this "Law" operates.
- 1. There are three distinct realms in which our "experience" can be "corruption" or "Life".
- a. There is the physical realm: the body is affected in many ways by the outworking of this "Law" so that "corruption" or "Life" can be the outcome.
- b. There is the relational realm: the soul is affected in many ways by the outworking of this "Law" so that "corruption" or "Life" can be the outcome.
- c. There is the spiritual realm: the spirit is affected in many ways by the outworking of this "Law" so that "corruption" or "Life" can be the outcome.
- 2. Thus, it is a mistake to narrow the application of this "Law" to only one or two realms.
- B. The "significance" of this "Law" in terms of the external influences that impact the quality of a person's experience.
- 1. In a cause-and-effect universe, what one does, as an expenditure of energy, always sets certain results in motion, whether to improve one's experience physically, emotionally, or spiritually, or any combination thereof.
- 2. In a cause-and-effect universe, what others do, as an expenditure of energy, always affects more than their own personal experience; these doings invariably affect others either in a positive way, or in a negative way.
- 3. In a cause-and-effect universe, it is the doings that set responses into motion.
- C. The "significance of the "Law" in terms of the inner influences that impact the quality of a person's experience.
- 1. Personal values function at the heart level to influence the directions a person is going to take because of what is important to him/her.
- 2. Personal beliefs function at the mind level to influence that ways a person is going to seek to satisfy the goals of his/her "love system".
- 3. These two issues, Love and Faith, generate all of the external actions that will be taken and will, also, generate one's situation in life and the quality of experience that he/she experiences.
