INTRO: Our subject is living by faith. Our first main point was the purpose of creation. We looked at the creation of the angels, and that they are spirit beings and were created in the non-physical realm. We saw that sin took place in the angelic realm, and because they are in the presence of God and see Him, they cannot be saved. We considered that God had to deal with evil in a way that left the angels that remained with God in such a way that they serve Him of their own free will, without fear of judgment should they decide not to do what they were created to do. And yet, God, to remain just, must deal with Satan.
I have recommended that this is where the creation of man comes in and that God created man in a material universe in which he could not see God. Man, like the angels, was created a free moral agent and was also created to worship God.
Let me cautiously suggest what may have happened before God created man. Turn to the book of Job. In the book of Job we are given some fascinating information that gives us a window into the spiritual world, and the communication between God and the devil. You know the story. Look at verse 1 (read). Now look at verses 6-11. This is an amazing window into the other side. Now here is Satan’s position. “God, Job only serves you for what he can get out of it. If he did not get all this good stuff from You, mark it down God, he would not serve You. But touch his wealth, his health, his family, and he will curse you to the face!” There is a revelation of the thinking of Satan. |
