Paradise is a place on earth

A summary of the Bible Hour presentation at the Christadelphian Hall, Blackpool Street, Burton-upon-Trent on Sunday 21st March 2010.

This blog uses Bible references. If you don’t have a Bible, you can find the Bible text online.

‘Paradise’ in the Old Testament

The word ‘paradise’ is of Persian origin, it means an enclosed garden.

In Genesis 2:8 we read of the Garden of Eden. In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) this is the word ‘paradise’.

Some things we learn about the garden of Eden:

• It contained all kinds of trees (Genesis 2:9, Ezekiel 31:8-9)
• It was well watered (Genesis 2:10, Ezekiel 31: 4, 16)
• It contained gold and precious stones (Genesis 2:12, Ezekiel 28:13)
• It was a place of joy, gladness, thanksgiving and melody (Isaiah 51:3, see Genesis 3:8 which says literally ‘the sound of God walking in the garden’).

Paradise restored

In Acts 3:19-20 the return of Jesus Christ to the earth is referred to as "times of refreshing" and "times of restoration of all things". In Matthew 19:28 it is referred to as the "regeneration" or ‘rebirth’.

What is it that will be restored?

The future Kingdom of God is described in many places, e.g. Isaiah 35; Isaiah 54:10-14, 60; Jeremiah 31:10-14; Ezekiel 36:33-36. Notice how the Kingdom will have the characteristics of the Garden of Eden which we noticed earlier.

‘Paradise’ in the New Testament

The New Testament mentions ‘paradise’ three times:

1. 2 Corinthians 12:3, which seems to be a vision of the Kingdom of God

2. Revelation 2:7, again looking forward to the Kingdom (compare Genesis 3:22)

3, Luke 23:43. In response to the remarkable confession of faith of the thief who was crucified beside him, Jesus said "Verily I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise" (note that the punctuation is put in by the translators and was not in the original text). It is sometimes suggested that this means the thief went to heaven that day. This can’t be the case because:

• As we’ve seen, paradise will be on earth, not in heaven
• the Bible is clear that Jesus died and was buried, was raised, and only after 40 more days ascended to heaven. So what does it mean? The dead are unconscious (Ecclesiastes 9:5-10). When believers die they are said to be asleep (Mark 5:39, John 11:11-14). The thief died that day, and his next waking moment will be in paradise.
  

The Kingdom of God

In Revelation 21 & 22 we are given a picture of the Kingdom: God dwelling with people; joy and happiness; precious stones and gold; the river of the water of life; the tree of life; no more curse. All references back to the Garden of Eden.

If we show faith in Jesus like that of the thief on the cross, the promise of paradise can be ours too.

Green leaves and rainbows

The Bible is our guidebook from God and we are told in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God (or God-breathed), and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness". The Bible must therefore be understood as a whole. Each part forms a different "piece of the jigsaw" which when viewed in total provides us with a picture of God’s plan and purpose.

Creation
The account of creation in the first few chapters of Genesis tells us that God created the earth in seven days:

Day 1 creation of light
Day 2 separation of the water into sky and sea
Day 3 creation of life on land (plants)
Day 4 creation of the sun, moon and stars (light)
Day 5 creation of fish and birds in the sky and water
Day 6 creation of animals (life)
Day 7 God rested

A pattern seems to emerge within the order of creation shown above. Light, water and life appear to be important here. Patterns and themes emerge throughout the Bible and this being the inspired word of God, these must exist to teach us something. A similar pattern exists within nature (God’s creation). Photosynthesis is the process by which plants acquire their food and energy and is denoted in the following equation:

water + carbon dioxide + light -> sugar + oxygen (life)

Lessons from Noah and the flood
The pattern of water plus light resulting in life is seen again in Genesis chapter 9 verses 13-17. Here God used a rainbow, which is created when sunlight shines through raindrops, to symbolise his promise never to destroy the world by flood again. "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me an the earth… the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh."

Teaching of Jesus about light, water and eternal life
Jesus taught His disciples that He "is the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." John chapter 8 verse 12. He and his disciples also taught that baptism is essential for salvation. Baptism as described in the New Testament always involves full immersion in water. Romans chapter 6 verses 3 to14 explains why this is so important. The act of being fully immersed in water symbolises the believer associating him/herself with Christ’s death and his/her sins are symbolically buried with Christ. On rising out of the water the believer associates him/herself with Christ’s resurrection and is symbolically raised to a new life as a disciple of Christ. Through Christ’s sacrifice and faith the believer also gains the hope of eternal life in God’s Kingdom which will be established upon the earth when Christ returns. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John chapter 3 verse 16.

Green leaves and rainbows
Faith is explained in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". We cannot see God but we can see evidence of His creation all around us. Every spring when green leaves rise from the "death" of winter can remind us of the death and resurrection of Christ. Each time we see the beauty of a rainbow we can be reminded of God’s promise of eternal life through faith in His son "the light of the world" and baptism in water.

Sin - the human disease

A summary of the Bible Hour presentation at the Christadelphian Hall, Blackpool Street, Burton-upon-Trent on Sunday 7th March 2010.

This blog uses Bible references. If you don’t have a Bible, you can find the Bible text online.


What is sin?
If you go back to the original languages in which the Bible was written you’ll see that ‘sin’ literally means ‘missing the mark’. Imagine you’re an archer doing target practice. You aim for the bullseye, but you miss. So when you know what you should do but you fail to do it, or when you know you shouldn’t do something but you go ahead and do it anyway – that’s ‘sin’.

The first sin was when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6). (Incidentally if you compare this verse with 1 John 2:16 you get a comprehensive summary of sin.) Sin happens when we fail to resist temptation. (The process is described in detail in James 1:12-15.)

We’re living under the curse that Adam and Eve brought on the world. We are all prone to sin and we all sin.

Where does sin come from?
Within us. No one is responsible for our sins except ourselves – Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 15:19-20.


The effect of sin
Death. James 1:15.

How depressing is this!

The battle against sin
The Bible contains inspiring accounts of the lives of great and faithful people, who devoted their lives to God’s service. But all of them, somehow and at some time, ‘missed the mark’. Except one …

Jesus Christ was the one human who has never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). By his death he defeated the curse that Adam and Eve brought upon humankind; and if we belong to him, we can share in his victory (Romans 8:1-4).

Christians are not perfect. We still miss the mark a lot of the time, however hard we try (e.g. Romans 7:23). But we have confidence that if we belong to Christ, any and all of our sins will be forgiven – all we have to do is genuinely ‘repent’ (say we’re sorry and mean it).

Where will it end?
Romans chapter 6 is all about baptism. This is how we come to belong to Christ. Verse 23: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

God-centred living in a godless world

A summary of the Bible Hour presentation at the Christadelphian Hall, Blackpool Street, Burton-upon-Trent on Sunday 28th February 2010.

This blog uses Bible references. If you don’t have a Bible, you can find the Bible text online.

First question: do we live in a godless world?

The 2001 UK census showed that 71% of the population say they are Christian, and a small percentage say they belong to other faiths. The same census showed that only 60% of the population actually believe in God. 18% are practising members of an organised religion, while 24% describe themselves as spiritual but not belonging to an organised religion. 12% are atheists and 14% agnostic.

A different survey indicated that 58% of the population believe in ghosts and aliens, and for 37% of the population this belief is the basis for their belief system.

It’s safe to say that this is a largely godless world!

It could be said that many of our society’s problems are due to its increased godlessness – for example social inequality, unrest and strife. But we’ll concentrate on just one aspect of current social hardship – the financial crisis.

Recessions are cyclical, but this one is different, it’s the result of a unique set of circumstances. It originated in the United States, where for years it had been Government policy to encourage home-ownership at all costs, even for people who couldn’t actually afford it. While house prices were rising this was OK (for the banks at least), because if householders got into trouble with their mortgage the houses could be sold and the banks got their money back, but when house prices stopped rising the banks found that they could no longer get their money back on defaulted mortgages. These mortgages became the so-called ‘toxic loans’.

Who was to blame? The US Government, for encouraging borrowing among people who couldn’t afford it (because it was good for votes)? The bankers, for happily lending to people who couldn’t afford it (because it was good for bonuses)? Or the borrowers, for taking out loans they knew they couldn’t afford (because it’s easier than saving up the hard way)? The answer is, everybody was to blame. It’s human nature!

In contrast to the human greed that got the world into this particular mess, consider the Bible’s teaching on how we should live.

Matthew chapters 5, 6 & 7 is Jesus’ ‘sermon on the mount’ – rules for Godly living. Read it through, and you’ll see that if society had been living by God’s rules, the financial crisis would never have happened. For example chapter 6 verse 19: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

To live by God’s rules is to find contentment and peace of mind. For example Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Those who are living a God-centred life in this godless world will be seen to be different. For example Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

A God-centred life is not just about peace of mind now – it’s about looking forward to the joy of the Kingdom of God.

Finally, look at Jesus’ parable about the judgement that will happen when he returns, Matthew 25:31-46. Not all those who follow him will see the joy of the Kingdom of God – it will only be those who have really lived God-centred lives in this present godless world.