Big Picture Answers for America's Big Problems -
Rebuilding on America's Original Worldview
by Leonard Ransil
Section 1: Biblical Christianity
What an absolute mess. One third of God's mighty angels established the Kingdom of Hell; Satan seduced noble Man into eternal slavery; earth's perfect order was destroyed by the flood. Fellowship between God and man was severed. Rebellion became the norm, moral and physical chaos reigned. Satan, now "the god of this world,” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and “the spirit at work in the disobedient” (Ephesians 2:2), was elated. This deceiver knew that God always honors His own word. So he used God's gift of delegated authority, stolen from Adam, to lock God out of guiding and enjoying His own creation.
But the mess was not absolute after all. This Omniscient God was not surprised by this turn of events. He hinted the day Adam rebelled that He would crush His adversary's head. Noah agreed with God to keep the drama afloat. Abraham accepted a covenant from God by faith in His word. His cooperation enabled God to regain a legal foot hold on the earth so that He could once again bless mankind.
Moses reluctantly accepted God's commission to lead Abraham's seed out of Egyptian bondage and broker the Sinai covenant between God and Israel. Finally, His Holy Presence was welcomed by a people He called His own - even though their hearts were still in Darkness. Obedience to His laws constructively reformed their lifestyle to reflect His loving guidance, protection, order and blessing. Israel, ever the prodigal, provided God with constant opportunities to demonstrate His patience, mercy and faithfulness.
But the Best was yet to come. Through that fickle nation would arrive the fulfillment of the Garden promise - a triumphant redeemer - to defeat the Serpent and rescue the human race. The selfless, sacrificial love of God's fatherly heart required infinitely more of Himself than of helpless mankind. For, only God Himself could overcome the curse of man's Slavemaster and fully pay the just debt of all Sin. Only the God of heaven could defeat the god of this world.
Yet, only another Adam - the last Adam - could invalidate Satan's legal dominion over mankind and reconnect mankind with God. Only a submissive Son of Man could undo Adam’s prideful rebellion. But who could meet such impossible requirements?
Jesus, the Christ, fully God and fully Man, was God's eternally planned solution to resolve this monumental deadlock. Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of David, the legal heir of Abraham, born of a virgin, was God in the flesh, the prophesied Messiah, the Garden Promise. Yet, so great an Answer to so great a problem, conquered by obedience, not by power. And the problem was far larger than it appeared. Man's nature, not just his thoughts or behavior, was Darkness (Ephesians 5:8). Man's evil core, allied with Satan, made oneness with God impossible. But fortunately with God, all things are possible.
Victory through DefeatA new spirit and a new heart, promised in Ezekiel 36:26, would make intimate fellowship with this Holy God possible again. But on what legal basis - that would satisfy the Justice of God - could such a miraculous transaction happen? One bible verse says it all: "He (Jesus) became sin who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Yes, Jesus agreed to the unthinkable! In order to legally eradicate all sin and kill death forever, the spotless Lamb became sin, with all its hideous and insidious consequences. This ultimate act of sacrificial submission was an infinitely worse punishment than the physical horrors of scourging and crucifixion. Jesus Christ's eternal, covenant-fellowship with His Father was broken. In despairing anguish, He cried out "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). The torturous answer: Light can't fellowship with Darkness.
Yet, the cross was the wisdom of God, His divine trap, which lured Satan into his ultimate demise. By orchestrating the crucifixion of mankind’s Scapegoat, Satan crucified sin itself. God’s ingenious trick ended Satan’s diabolical death grip on every sinner who, by faith in Christ's atoning death, is crucified with Him. Jesus was mankind’s promised Way out of bondage - when there seemed to be no escape.
But is any human being worth such an extravagant ransom? God thought so. He paid it for mankind in general and for you in particular. But the best was still to come for He did not leave us to rot in the tomb!
