Chapter 7 - Degenerated Earth

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The justice of God demanded the judgment of humanity for its rebellion against His authority. Consequently, mankind was banished from His presence. Separated from the highest source of life (zoe), the entire human race and its habitat, the renovated earth, experienced spiritual death.

The human rebellion against God did not again lead the earth to be transformed into a state of chaos. Rather than destruction, its separation from God led to reduction.

The rebellion of humanity caused the renovated earth to be reduced to a state of degeneration and darkness. However, it remained capable of accommodating fallen humanity.

A mere shadow of its former glory, the degenerated earth was unsuitable to exist in the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, God ensured His influential presence would remain on the degenerated earth. By the redemptive work of Christ, His kingdom (authority) was manifested within elect human beings. Its presence within them has allowed for the uninterrupted revelation of the attributes of God’s nature on earth. (cf. Romans 1:20; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12)

According to plan, the fallen human race has been privileged to witness the revelation of God’s nature throughout the ages. Therefore, it has had the opportunity to recognize His existence, receive the redemptive benefit of His shared life (zoe), and repopulate His kingdom. (cf. Romans 1:19-20)

The angelic host has also benefitted from the revelation of God’s nature on earth. Witnessing a seemingly endless number of demonstrations of the divine nature on earth, they are given more than adequate opportunity to view His selfless love, unfailing mercy, and absolute justice in action.

The presence of God on the degenerated earth has served in the fulfillment of His eternal plan. His nature has continued to be vindicated and His kingdom repopulated.

Kingdom Revelation

Like God, His kingdom (realm of authority) is heavenly and spiritual. It remains so when revealed on the degenerated earth.

Although heavenly and spiritual, the kingdom of God is sometimes manifested on the degenerated earth in a manner that is recognizable. For example, God’s authority during the Israelite Age was recognized by visible instruments of worship such as a tabernacle, lampstand, table, sacred bread, the golden altar of incense, the Ark of the Covenant, etc.

In contrast, the heavenly, spiritual authority of God during the Gentile Age has not been accompanied by visible instruments of worship. “… for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) As a result, the kingdom of God (realm of authority) manifested on earth during the Gentile Age is invisible not only to the Israelites but to the unbelieving world.

Kingdom Citizenship

Mankind on the degenerated earth is not naturally qualified for citizenship in the kingdom of God. In his fallen state, he is without the necessary holiness, spirituality, and immortality.

Despite the natural state of mankind, God has graciously provided the fallen on the degenerated earth with the opportunity for citizenship in His kingdom. The covenantal death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided the means. It allowed the Father the legal and moral freedom to convert fallen human beings to a state necessary for kingdom citizenship. In addition, it has served as a stunning demonstration of selfless love, unfailing mercy, and absolute justice.

While the sovereignty of God extends over all creation, He does not compel mankind to accept His offer of kingdom citizenship. Privileged with freedom of choice, many fallen human beings simply choose to remain in a rebellious state of separation from God and His kingdom.

For the fallen human beings that choose the gracious provision of Jesus Christ, kingdom citizenship necessitates conversion to a state of holiness, spirituality, and immortality. The conversion of mankind into such a state occurs only by gracious means of justification and regeneration.

Justification is a legal transaction. It provides fallen humanity with a new legal status. Because of the sacrificial blood of the Eternal Covenant, willing human beings have the privileged opportunity to receive the forgiveness of all transgression of divine law and a legal declaration of righteousness. As a result, God provides them with the holiness, spirituality, and immortality necessary to enjoy kingdom citizenship.

In contrast, regeneration is an organic event. It is a gracious act of God whereby He reforms or recreates degenerate human life into a new and improved state. Shared with God, the new life is suitable for kingdom citizenship. (cf. John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; Romans 4:17; 5:17; 6:4; 8:2; 11:15; Ephesians 2:1-7; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:22-23; 1 John 5:11-12)

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Scriptural Consistency

Since the fall of the human race, the divine standard for citizenship in the kingdom of God has remained consistent. It requires conversion from the fallen state by justification from sin and regeneration of life.

In the Old Testament era, the fallen state of humanity required justification from the transgression of divine law (sin) in the same manner as in the New Testament era. The words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah revealed the possibility of justification for the people of ancient Israel. “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.’” (Isaiah 1:18) Isaiah later added, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul clarified that the Old Testament saints David and Abraham were justified by grace through faith alone. (Romans 4:1-25)

Old Testament saints also experienced regeneration of life like the saints of the New Testament era. Moses clarified to the ancient nation of Israel that they had the opportunity to receive new life. He said, “So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. The Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul (psuche - LXX), so that you may live (zoe - LXX).” (Deuteronomy 30:1-6) The circumcision of the heart requires regeneration of life.

The Hebrew word for “heart” in Deuteronomy 30 is lebab (lay-bawb’). It is used over 800 times in the Old Testament. According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, “…heart (lebab) became the richest biblical term for the totality of man’s inner or immaterial nature. In biblical literature it is the most frequently used term for man’s immaterial personality functions as well as the most inclusive term for them since, in the Bible, virtually every immaterial function of man is attributed to the “heart.” Consequently, “….heart expresses the totality of a man’s nature and character, both inner and outer.” (1 Kings 8:23; Psalm 9:1)[1]

As indicated by Moses, fallen human beings cannot love God with heart and soul apart from the acquisition of new life. “People can love God with all their heart only after the heart itself has been radically changed to a Godward direction. When that happens, not only is obedience possible but so is life (so that you may live). Here more than physical life on the land is in view. There is a glimpse of life that does not end, life that comes to birth with the supernatural work of grace that alone is sufficient to account for all of these aspects of Israel’s future restoration.”[2]

Many of the noteworthy accomplishments recorded in the Old Testament could only have occurred in human beings who had experienced regeneration of life. For example, the leadership of Moses, the redemption of Job, the psalms of David, the prophesying of Jeremiah and the incredible sacrifices of all mentioned in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews.

New life received by the divine act of regeneration alone can account for the works of the Old Testament saints. They could not have been orchestrated or achieved apart from a form of life above and beyond fallen human life.

The Old Testament standard for citizenship in the kingdom of God for Noah, Abram, Moses, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah did not differ from the New Testament standard for John, Peter, Paul, Titus, Timothy, and James. After the Fall, entrance into the kingdom of God has consistently required the conversion of mankind through means of legal justification and organic regeneration.

While the standard of citizenship for fallen human beings has never changed, there are two fundamental differences between the saints of the Old and New Testament eras. They are related to the indwelling and baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit indwelled the regenerated saints of the Old Testament. However, it was temporary, congruent with the will of God for specific occasions. In contrast, the regenerated saints of the New Testament era have been privileged to enjoy the permanent indwelling of the Spirit of God. He indwells at conversion, never to leave again.

The second fundamental difference between Old and New Testament saints is related to spiritual baptism. The saints of the Old Testament era were not baptized by the Spirit. Therefore, unlike the church of the New Testament, they were not joined as one heavenly, spiritual body. Instead, Old Testament era saints were an earthly assembly of people united by God through mutual conversion. Relative to regeneration, they possessed an inward desire to pursue God. However, the permanency and intimacy associated with spiritual baptism was absent.

The saints of the Old and New Testaments are significantly different. Nevertheless, justified and regenerated, they are both members of the family of God and citizens of His kingdom.

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