Page 118 - Bible Writers Theology Original

102 ♦ Bible Writers'Theology Chapter Five
liberate sinners from their bondage. God so loved the whole world that He sent His Son to negotiate peace between Himself and humanity, suffering «md dying on the cross to pardon us that we might not die for eternity. He is our propitiation. His everyday call is "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" Qohn 3:16). (See John 10:9-16; John 1:12-13,29;Titus 3:4-8; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-20; I Peter 1:18-25.)
The source of human redemption is God. Ever since the fall of man, God has been kind and merciful to help and save man. When Adam disobeyed God's commandment, God's predicted punishment came upon them and exposed them to their nakedness. Not only did the awareness of their nakedness come to them, but also since the grace of God departed from them, fear, shame, and sorrow fell upon them.
The action Adam and Eve took to cover their nakedness was to sew fig leaves, which only proved their shame. Their next action was to hide them selvesfromthepresenceofGodinthetreesofthegarden. Neitherthesin- ning, nor the nakedness, nor the hiding of Adam and Eve prevented God frorri approaching them in love. God's love towards Adam was seen first by God s benevolence. God did not immediately cut off His mercy, but went lookingforAdamandEveandfound asolutionfortheirproblems.Goddid a great miracle to help Adam and Eve in their first crisis of life. He killed an animal and clothed them with the skin. This was indicative of the grace to come in the New Testament day (Genesis 3:21; Galatians 3:27).
The skin God provided was very comfortable, durable, and warm com pared to the aprons of fig trees leaves that Adam and Eve tried to make for themselves. Thesacrificeofananimalwiththesheddingofitsblood,and clothing them with the skin to cover their shame, had a prophetic shadow of
God s redemptive plan of salvation.
Paul uncovers the mystery by declaring the putting off the old man with its sinful nature and the putting on Christ's nature, the righteousness of God (John 1:12-13; 3:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27; Titus 3:4-8; Colossians 2:9-14; 3:9; I Corinthians 15:31-50; I Peter 1:23-25). Millions are i^prant of God's new covenant Sadly, they shut their eyes to the clear doctrine of the Apostles
and continue to build up their own righteousness. Zeal alone is not enough. Zeal without the knowledge of God's way of salvation will end in hell (Romans 10:2-4; Galatians 1:6-12; I John 4:1-6; John 1:12).
D Fig-leaf Like Doctrine
We cannot be saved by our fig leaf like doctrines; human effort and man
made philosophies cannot stand against the bright shining light of our holy