EXTREME

Westwood Bible Fellowship Issue 5

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In the beginning,
God...

CREATION & SIN

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1

THOUGHT CENTRAL IDEA EMPHASIS

God creates, but is not present in the workings of

Deism God’s transcendence
His creation.

Pantheism God is part of His creation. God’s personal immanence

Panentheism / Monism All in God. All is one. God’s transcendent nature

Process Theology / Open God is in process, growing in knowledge with

God’s personal nature
Theism His creation.

Matter comes forth from natural processes, Matter is either eternally existent,
Naturalism without aid from any supernatural entity. In this or it comes into effect ex nihilo
worldview, matter and life are created by chance. (out of nothing).

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How did the world come into that is in it. The law of
existence? causality demands that all

This question is foundational to all effects (Matter) need a

other questions that shape one’s c a u s e , a n d t h a t t h e s e
worldview and corresponding views of changes take place in the
God and human life. While a myriad of current space dimension in
opinions exist on this matter, the chart which we live. God is eternal
on the previous pages represents the ( P s . 9 0 : 2 ) a n d i s
five most predominant non–Christian subsequently apart from His
categories of thought creation as the necessary

These views of creation fail both first cause.

p h i l o s o p h i c a l l y a n d b i b l i c a l l y. Evolutionary theory
and behold, it
Pantheism/Panentheism both have a recognizes that man was very good
god that is part of the creation, making came from matter already
it impossible for Him to be the creator. existent on the earth, but it
entire creation “very
Their god remains either transcendent is unable to determine how
good” (Gen. 1:31). This intended
(Other) or immanent (Personal), but not that process took place. Biblically, we
state of perfect beauty in all things is
both. He is unable to rule the creation realize that God’s power was able to
described in the Old Testament as
he is part of. Matter is usually an do what is naturalistically impossible:
“Shalom” (Isa. 2:2–4, 11:1–9, 32:14–
illusion; matters of evil and good are bringing forth life from lifeless matter.
20, 43:1–12, 60:1–22, 65:17–25; Joel
seen as relative, and part of the same God created the substance (matter) of
god nature. the universe ex nihilo. The Hebrew 2:24–29, 3:17–18).
Surveying the condition of our
Other systems of belief struggle word BARA (arb) is used, while the
planet and human life (including death,
with how the universe is created. word ASAH (hvu) is used for the
suffering, injustice, boredom,
Naturalism and/or Materialism leave us creation of man. Genesis 2:7 uses the
annoyances, miseries, fears etc.), it is
with an infinite regress of cause and word YATSAR (rxy) meaning “formed”,
obvious that something has gone
effect, or the incredulous doctrine that depicting the formation of a substance
terribly wrong.
everything we see came out of nothing already present (i.e. the earth or dirt).
Thus, man’s first name is ADAM (mda), Scripture teaches that God clearly
with no causal force or purpose.
commanded the first man and woman
The biblical creation story tells us meaning red clay or ruddy.
that an eternal, necessary first cause T h e c r e a t i o n n a r r a t i v e s o f not to eat from the tree of knowledge
of good and evil or they would die
(God), created the universe, and all humanity all have similar elements to
them, highlighting God’s revelation of (Gen. 2:16–17). The man and woman
Himself to all men of all cultures disobeyed God. The fall was the
through the course of time (Ps. 19:1; descent of the human race and the
“All have sinned and fall John 1:9; Rom. 1:18–25). It also is a rest of God’s creation (Rom. 8:18–27)
short of the glory of byproduct of oral tradition passed on into a state of rebellion against God.
God...but God shows his from generation to generation (Gen. Because Adam was the head of
love for us in that while we 11:1–11). the human race, when he sinned
were still sinners, Christ died everyone who would ever live (other
for us.” What is the Fall?
than Jesus Christ who had no earthly
God created this world in a perfect
Romans 3:23; 5:8 father) was implicated in his sin (Gen.
state and upon the creation of the
3:1–6; Hosea 6:7; Rom. 5:12–21; 1
man and woman God declared His
Cor. 15:21–22, 15:45–50).

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Is everyone totally sinful? What are the consequences of sin?

UNFORGIVEN
Ye s , w h i l e p e o p l e a r e n o t Genesis 2:16–17 And the LORD God
absolutely sinful (they could do evil commanded the man, “You are free to
things with greater degree and eat from any tree in the garden; but
frequency) all people are totally sinful you must not eat from the tree of the What is the unpardonable
in that their every motive, word, deed, knowledge of good and evil, for when sin?
and thought is for their own glory you eat of it you will surely die.” This question has
baffled scholars since
rather than God’s (Ps. 29:2; Rom. 3:23, Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is
the days of Jesus and
11:36, 16:27). death, but the gift of God is eternal life we see this sin
There is a vestige of moral sense, in Christ Jesus our Lord. mentioned only once in
the Scriptures in
however, in people because of the 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message
Matthew 12:31–32. This
conscience that God gave them (Rom. of the cross is foolishness to those sin appears to be the
2:14–15). However, even the seemingly who are perishing, but to us who are rejection of the Holy
good deeds done from the moral being saved it is the power of God. Spirit of God. Man’s
proclivity is towards
conscience are mere filth to God if Colossians 2:13 When you were dead this rejection, and in
done apart from loving obedience to in your sins and in the uncircumcision need of regeneration in
Him, because they are attempts at of your sinful nature, God made you order to “choose” God
(Acts 16:14). Man
meriting our own righteousness which alive with Christ. He forgave us all our
freely chooses to
is the heart of pride. These attempts sins. reject God. When the
are an enemy of the humble grace in How should we deal with our sin? Pharisees were
confronted with the
which one receives the righteousness Conviction – recognizing our sin
choice to attribute
of God as a free gift (Isa. 64:6). Christ’s miracles to
through the ministry of the Holy Spirit
Where does sin come from? and truth of Scripture (John 16:7–11) the Holy Spirit or
Satan, in their
God does not tempt us to sin, but Confession – agreeing with the Holy disbelief they chose
instead the temptation arises from Spirit and Scripture regarding our sin Satan. Their choices
within our own hearts. Therefore, mere (1 John 1:5–9). were in line with their
belief (cf. Heb. 6:4–6,
behavioral change is not sufficient to Repentance – a turning from the sin 10:29). It is the Holy
remedy the human condition, but and to God and obedience to Him out Spirit who testifies on
instead we need a new heart and of love (Luke 17:3; Acts 3:19, 5:31, behalf of Christ (John
15:26, 16:14, 15),
nature if there is to be any true victory 11:18).
therefore any rejection
over sin in our lives. Restitution – seeking to make of Him is a rejection
James 1:13–15 When tempted, no amends as much as possible for our of Christ and the only
sin that cannot be
one should say, “God is tempting me.” sins (Ex. 22:3; Prov. 6:31; Ezek. 33:15).
forgiven is unbelief in
For God can not be tempted by evil, Forgiveness – asking for grace from Jesus Christ.
nor does he tempt anyone; but each those you have sinned against, or
one is tempted when, by his own evil giving grace to those who have sinned Application: If you
keep ignoring God and
desire, he is dragged away and against you (Matt. 6:12–14, 18:35; saying “no” to belief
enticed. Then, after desire has Mark 11:25; 2 Cor. 2:10; Eph. 4:32). in Jesus Christ,
conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, Reconciliation – once all parties have eventually the Holy
Spirit will stop
when it is full–grown, gives birth to resolved their sins they can be
calling you and you
death. reunited (Matt. 5:24; Eph. 2:14–16; 2 will be lost forever.
Cor. 5:18). End Game.

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How can I stop committing a sin?
Rom. 8:13–16 For if you live
according to the sinful nature, you will
die; but if by the Spirit you put to
death [mortify] the misdeeds of the
body, you will live, because those
made possible by His power. (1 Cor.
10:13).
Worship – I have a plan to change. A
realization that virtue goes beyond
merely changing a vice to repenting
and doing good works.
Discipline – I am working my plan.
Perseverance – I am never going
back. Use any failures as learning
o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o g ro w i n y o u r
sanctification.

who are led by the Spirit of God are
sons of God. For you did not receive
a spirit that makes you a slave again
to fear, but you received the Spirit of
sonship. And by him we cry “Abba,
Father.”
Mortification is Spirit–enabled
conviction that man needs to change
based upon God’s word that results in
repentance and grace–centered living
(Hebrews 4:12–13).
Repentance – I want to change.
Based upon the good, perfect, and
acceptable nature of God’s will.
(Rom. 12:1–2).
Faith – I can change. Based upon
God’s faithfulness to His promises
• Clearly identify your goal of Does God Cause Sin?
replacing a sinful habit with a godly
The Bible is clear
one. (Eph. 4:28–31). that God is Light and
• Clearly identify your resources (i.e. in Him is no darkness
at all (1 John 1:5).
prayer, Holy Spirit, Scripture, elders,
The Bible is also clear
Christian friends, books, etc.). that God does not find
• Clearly identify your plan for using any pleasure in sin
(Ps. 5:4), He hates and
your resources:
detests sin (Prov.
1. Recognize how sin is birthed
6:16; Zech. 8:17), He
external stimulus (world and hides His face from
Satan) + internal reaction sinful people (Isa.
59:2, 64:7). Therefore,
(flesh) = sin.
God does not in any way
2. Recognize how obedience is cause sin and sin is a
birthed –>reduced external privation of His good
creation and a
stimulus (world and Satan) +
contortion of His
reduced internal reaction beautiful and glorious
(flesh) = obedience. perfect works.

Why God Why?

If God is so good
and all knowing, why do
bad things happen?
That is the wrong
question to ask. The
correct question is,
“If God is so good and
all knowing, why am I
still alive?”
The answer is His
unimaginable patience
and mercy.
If we’re honest with
ourselves we’ll realize
that none of us is good
all the time and
deserved to be punished
for the pain we have
There, but for caused others.
the grace of God
go I... Amazing grace, how
sweet the sound...

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