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Embracing Creation

The Ray Evans Seminar, an annual event at the Alameda Church of Christ in Norman, Oklahoma, was held March 31-April 2, 2017.

The general topic was Embracing Creation, which is also the title of the book I co-authored with Bobby Valentine and Mark Wilson. The book is available here.

I gave six presentations as well as conducted a question and answer session.  You can download audio or video to your ITunes or listen online here.  You will need to scroll down to the appropriate date (March 31-April 2, 2017).

These are the titles of the presentations:

  1.  A Cathedral of Praise:  God, Creation, and Humanity.
  2.  The Joy of Creation: The Testimony of the Psalms.
  3.  Jesus: The Agent of Creation and New Creation.
  4.  The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth: The New Heaven and New Earth
  5.  Question and Answer Session
  6.  Creation and New Creation in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
  7.  Why “Go to Church?”- Joining Heaven and Earth in the Praise of God

Matt. 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matt. 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

  ; epi gēs on earth, opp. nerthe, S.OT416; kata gēs below the earth, A.Ch.377,475

enerthe  I. Adv. from beneath, up from below,autar nerthe Poseidaōn etinaxe

A.Pers.630;   Chorus

Royal lady, august queen of the Persians, pour these libations down to the chambers of the earth, [625] while we, in solemn chant, beseech the guides of the dead beneath the earth to be gracious to our prayers.

O holy divinities of the nether world, Earth and Hermes, and you, Lord of the dead, [630] send up to the light the spirit from below; for if, beyond our prayers, he knows any further remedy for our distress, he alone of mortals can declare how to bring it to accomplishment.

Aesch. Pers. 633 Chorus
Does our sainted and godlike king hear me as I utter, [635] in obscure barbaric speech, my dismal and dolorous cries? Or must I shout aloud the utter misery of my anguish so that it pierces the earth? Does he hear me from below?




625hēmeis th' humnois aitēsometha
phthimenōn pompous
euphronas einai kata gaias.
alla, khthonioi daimones hagnoi,
te kai Hermē, basileu t' enerōn,
630pempsat' enerthen psukhēn es phōs:
ei gar ti kakōn akos oide pleon,
monos an thnētōn peras eipoi.


Matt. 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matt. 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Matt. 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.


Zeph. 2:3 Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.
Matt. 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Matt. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.



Lastly, it is important because Jesus is the first born of new creation. 

Jesus was born in the FLESH 33 years before he became the firstborn of the CHURCH.

Col. 1:15 Who is the IMAGE [Forma] of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col. 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
         visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:
         all THINGS were created [Purchased] by him, and for him:

2Pet. 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the WORD of God
        the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pet. 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished
2Pet. 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now,
       
by the same WORD are kept in store,
          reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
The First Creation by the ELOHIM in Genesis 1
g2936. ktizo, ktid´-zo; probably akin to 2932 (through the idea of proprietorship of the manufacturer); to fabricate, i.e. found (form originally): — create, Creator, make.
g2932. ktaomai, ktah´-om-ahee; a primary verb; to get, i.e. acquire (by any means; own): — obtain, possess, provide, purchase
Col. 1:18 And he is the head
        of the BODY, THE CHURCH [g746 Arche beginning at the Cornerstone]
        who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead;
        that in all things he might have the preeminence [first in Rank]


When the Son became flesh, the Word joined HIMSELF  to creation and united God with creation. 

The WORD is not a god but in the class with LIGHT and other qualities of God.  The Word, Logos or Regulative Principle: it outlaws TWISTING The Holy Spirit revealed WORD to mean just the opposite to God's Word.  It outlaws personal opinions, rhetoric, singing, playing instruments or any HUMAN input beyond "Teaching that which has been TAUGHT for our LEARNING..
Rom. 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Rom. 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
        which was made of the seed of David according to the FLESH;
Rom. 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power,
        according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:


John 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
The INCARNATION means God secured the eternal existence of creation existence of CREATION because the son is forever HUMAN and thous forever shares our creaturehood as our elder Brother.   

Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted,
        and having received of the Father the promise [the thing promised] of the Holy Ghost,
       
he hath SHED FORTH this, which ye now see and hear.


In His GLORIFIED STATE Jesus was in the STATE of Holy (wholly) Spirit which he said means "without flesh and bones"

THE PROMISED MISSION IS

Epagg-elia A. command, summons, profession, undertaking, public exercise of a profession
tou agōnos gathering, assembly, main argument of a speech (b. Rhet., Opposite prooimion, epilogos),
Opposite Prooimi-on   A. opening, introduction; in Music, prelude, overture, Pi.P.1.4; in Ep. poems, proëm, preamble, Id.N.2.3, Ar.Eq.1343; in speeches, exordium, Critias 43 tit., Arist. Rh.1414b19, Phld.Rh.1.56S., Stoic.2.96, etc.; prooimiois hēdonēs with prefaces about pleasure, X.Mem.2.1.27
II. hymn or short poem, such as those attributed to Homer, “Apollōnos”  [Apollon, Abbadon, the "musical" Washer]  Th.3.104,

The approved PATTERN for the worship of the Devil
Thuc. 3.104 For they then came to see the games, with their wives and children, as the Ionians do now the games at Ephesus.
[4] There were likewise matches set of bodily exercise and of music; and the cities did severally set forth dances. Which things to have been so, is principally declared by Homer in these verses of his hymn to Apollo:

But thou, Apollo, takest most delight
In Delos. There assemble in thy sight
The long-coat Ions, with their children dear
And venerable bedfellows; and there
In matches set of buffets, song, and dance,
Both show thee pastime and thy name advance.
Opposite
Epilog-os , ho,
A.  reasoning, inference, only Ion., Hdt.1.27; tēs gnōmēs poieesthai epilogon give a reason for their opinion,  
II.  peroration of a speech, Arist.Rh.1414b12, Chrysipp.Stoic.2.96, Phld.Rh.1.202 S., Longin.12.5, etc.
2.  the concluding portion of a play, = ekthesis,Sch. Ar.Ra.1548: metaph., “e. tēs kosmopoiias 
3.  subjoined or explanatory sentence, Arist.Rh.1394b8, cf.a11.—In E.El.719 (lyr.), epilogoi is corrupt.

HE [Jesus as Holy Spirit] hath SHED FORTH this, which ye now see and hear.
Ekkheō
2. of words, pour forth, utter, Ar. Th.554; “molpasE.Supp.773; “pollēn glōssan ekkheas matēnS.Fr.929, cf. A.Ag.1029 (lyr.).
3. pour out like water, squander, waste, “olbonId.Pers.826; “ta pantaId.Ch.520, cf. S.El. 1291; “plouton exekheen eis dapanasAP9.367 (Luc.); “e. ta te hautou kai heautonPl.R.553b; spoil, “to pan sophismaS.Ph.13.
Plut. De Gloria 4 eloquence, gave him this admonition, that he was no poet, for that he never composed any fables, which was the chiefest office of poetry; in regard that strange words, figures, metaphors, songs, and measures were invented to give a sweetness to things. Which admonition Pindar laying up in his mind, wrote a certain ode which thus begins:
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself,
        The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Acts 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
        that GOD [Theos] hath made that same Jesus,
           whom ye have crucified, both LORD [Kurios] and Christ.

JESUS WAS NOT THE LORD UNTIL HIS RESURRECTION AND BEGINNING TO REIGN AT PENTECOST.
Rom. 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived,
         that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Matt. 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Matt. 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Matt. 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Matt. 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Matt. 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Matt. 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
Matt. 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
Matt. 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Matt. 17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.



Rom. 12:2 And be not conformed to THIS WORLD:
        but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
        that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


1Cor. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Cor. 15:23 But every MAN in his own order:
        Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Cor. 15:24 Then cometh the end, when
        he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;
        when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Cor. 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

1Cor. 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead.
        It is sown in corruption; it is raised in INCORRUPTION:
1Cor. 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in GLORY:
         it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Cor. 15:44 It is sown a NATURAL body; it is raised a SPIRITUAL body.
        There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Moreover, the Son transformed human existence--thus CREATION'S as well-
        through death when he was raised as the firstborn from the dead. 
        His resurrection is the beginning of new creation,

        and the BODY of Jesus is part of the new creation
        Just as our resurrected bodies will participate in new creation. 
Rom. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
        that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
        holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom. 12:2 And be not CONFORMED to this WORLD:
        but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
        that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans.12.Reasonable.Worship.Word.Opposite.Music.or Rhetoric
For NOW, the New Creation is the Holy Place or the Bride of Christ.  The new Creation is


Creation is important because it will make new in the resurrection, which include not only our bodies but the dwelling place of God as well, the new heaven and new earth.


The World or Kosmos is the Ecumenical or the Kingdom of the Devil.  This EARTH is the Home of all DARK FORCES engaged in a titanic battle with the FORCES OF LIGHT.  Those who are not OF the World are LOST SPIRITS.  They are the ELECT or small remnant of Israel who had not bowed to Baal.  In addition to the ELECT Jesus' mission was to call or elect Gentiles scattered throughout the world: they will not show up at the Church House of the WORLD which does not teach that which Jesus commanded.

Matt. 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house:
        and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Matt. 13:37 He answered and said unto them,
        He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Matt. 13:38 The field is the WORLD; the good seed are the children of the kingdom;
        but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Matt. 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil;
         the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Matt. 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire;
        so shall it be in the end of this world.

THERE IS ONE GOD THE FATHER AND ONE MEDIATOR JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEIOS.
God the Father made Jesus of Nazareth to be the only VISIBLE image (Forma) of God.  God the father inhabits the Kingdom or church now when it Rests, Reads and Rehearses the Word.  Anything being a School of Christ is a cult and OF THE WORLD.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life:
        no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
GOD IS TRIADIC ALL BY  HIMSELF: He THINKS, He BREATHS (Spirit) and He SPEAKS WORDS.
As the ANTITHESIS of all Pagan Trinity Families, God manifests HIMself in the Singular Jesus of Nazareth.
John 6:63 It is the SPIRIT that quickeneth;
        the flesh profiteth nothing:
         the WORDS that I speak unto you,
        they are
SPIRIT, and they are LIFE.
Neither Jesus nor anyone who HEARS are OF this WORLD.  The will SPEAK the WORD or Regulative Principle and be HATED and despised. Faithful preachers never get rich and famous by cobbling up books.
Heb. 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
1Pet. 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.


Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me,
        and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Eph. 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Eph. 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph. 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph. 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Eph. 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory,
        to be strengthened with might by HIS Spirit in the INNER MAN
Eph. 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;
        that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph. 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints
        what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph. 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
        that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
        according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph. 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

1Cor. 15:24 Then cometh the end,
        when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;
        when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

1Cor. 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Cor. 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Cor. 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet.
        But when he saith all things are put under him,
         it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

1Cor. 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him,
        then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him
        that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

1Cor. 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead,
        if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
Baptism now saves us.  Baptism of the LIVING is faith that those who obey the tupos or pattern of Jesus will now receive SPIRITUAL LIFE. 

Acts 7:46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
Acts 7:47 But Solomon built him an house.
Acts 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
Acts 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Acts 7:50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
Acts 7:51 ¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.


Bullet Points
The present earth will be RENEWED or TRANSFIGURED,  transfigured, the Resurrected saints will live upon it and God will descend to dwell with humanity.
The new creation model is an ancient understanding rather than a recent innovation by fringe groups Recent historical developments have blinded biblical readers to the biblical emphasis on creation CARE.


John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.


John 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.


Why are material resurrection and a RENEWED earth so important in a new creation model?

1Cor. 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
1Cor. 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Cor. 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Cor. 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Cor. 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Cor. 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Cor. 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Cor. 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Cor. 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Cor. 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.




1Th. 3:11 ¶ Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
1Th. 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1Th. 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God,
        even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

3952. parousi÷a parousia, par-oo-see´-ah; from the present participle of 3918; a being near, i.e. advent (often, return; specially, of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physically, aspect: — coming, presence.
1Th. 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1Th. 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
1Th. 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th. 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
        even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th. 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
        that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord
        shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
        with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
        and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th. 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain
        shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
        to meet the Lord in the air:
        and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th. 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

726. aJrpa¿zw harpazo, har-pad´-zo; from a derivative of 138; to seize (in various applications): — catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
138. aiJre÷omai haireomai, hahee-reh´-om-ahee; probably akin to 142; to take for oneself, i.e. to prefer: — choose. Some of the forms are borrowed from a cognate eºllomai hellomai which is otherwise obsolete.



528. ajpanta¿w apantao, ap-an-tah´-o; from 575 and a derivative of 473; to meet away, i.e. encounter: — meet.
529. ajpa¿nthsiß apantesis, ap-an´-tay-sis; from 528; a (friendly) encounter: — meet.

1Th. 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Th. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1Th. 5:23 ¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th. 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

1Cor. 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Cor. 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Cor. 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Cor. 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Cor. 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
1Cor. 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?