GREAT SALVATION

LESSON 1

We are speaking of what Christ has done by The Cross, and that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), and we are going to use that thought to begin a study on GREAT SALVATION.

The TRUTH of our Salvation far surpasses what most Christians think - it is above all that we can understand in our own minds, and even consider. Yet, it is real NOW - today - secure in the heavens (spirit), waiting to be revealed to us. (1 Peter 1:3-5) So we must lift up our eyes - out from the earth realm, self, flesh, old, religion, man’s teachings, and allow The Spirit to teach us The Truth as it is in Christ. In Christ we are not living in types, but in Truth. The Lord has brought us to this place - In Christ.

Look in the book of Joshua - what has happened? Moses is dead, those in unbelief died. Now a NEW people are to go over Jordan and enter the land. (Joshua 1:2) Now they are to come to UNDERSTANDING. Joshua 3:1-4 - Three days (death, burial, resurrection) passed; when you see the ark, you leave your place and go after it. ...you have not passed this way before. Now what was hidden (the Ark = God’s plan in Christ - Christ in you, The New Creation) can be seen! ** This is a big change - The Ark was always covered, but NOW it is made known, and it was in seeing this (God’s Eternal purpose in Christ) that they entered into the new land.

But this brought big changes to the people. (Joshua 5)

1. They were circumcised the second time (vs. 2) - Greater work of the Cross.

2. Manna ceased, now they eat the old corn of the land (vs. 11,12) - growing up

3. Captain of the host of the Lord is seen (vs. 13-15) - Christ is now the Head.

** When we come into Truth it requires changes in us!

And in Christ, we have been brought into this Truth - that we live it!

Hebrews 2:1-4. " Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so GREAT SALVATION; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? "

We must make the Truth of what Christ has done the constant focus of our attention (don’t let them slip). GREAT SALVATION = exceeding, abundant = MUCH MORE. Our Salvation is much more than our natural mind thinks, much more than the types of it. It is above what we can see on this earth, above the old and the first, but yet it is real NOW.

Let’s look briefly at some scriptures on the "much more" of our Great Salvation.

John 10:10 - I am come that they might have life...more abundantly. That is not "my" life for ever, but His Life - abundant, above - greater than me, earth, flesh. (Salvation is not "me" going to heaven, but His Life in me - now.)

Matthew 6:30 - God clothes the grass (first creation), but MUCH MORE He clothes you (His New Creation). He doesn’t just dress you, but clothes you with Himself! That’s much more Salvation!

Matthew 7:11 - Your heavenly Father is MUCH MORE than an earthly Father: His good things are greater than anything earthly - we are His!

Romans 5:9,10 (read vs. 6-11) - MUCH MORE being justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath... MUCH MORE, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Vs. 15 - MUCH MORE the grace of God hath abounded.

Vs. 17 - MUCH MORE they that receive grace shall reign in life by Jesus Christ.

Vs. 20 - Where sin abounded, grace did MUCH MORE abound.

By the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been brought into this Great Salvation, which is MUCH MORE than our natural understanding. This Salvation is great because Christ is great and MUCH MORE than all the types and prophecies of Him. Since we have not passed this way before, we must ask the Holy Spirit to show us the hidden Truth in Christ so we can walk in the understanding of God’s plan in Christ - revealed in us!

LESSON 2

So as we begin this study on GREAT SALVATION we see that term in Hebrews 2:1-4, and the word "great" means "exceeding, abundant - much more". This is much more than we realize by our natural minds (1 Corin. 2:9-14), and the fulfillment in Christ by His death, burial and resurrection is much more than the types and shadows of it. May the Lord open the eyes of our understanding that we can behold the length, depth, breadth and height of our Great Salvation. And it takes The Holy Spirit, The Spirit of Truth to teach us the truth as it is in Jesus.

Here is our problem: Mark 12:24. The Sadducees were reading the law and interpreting it as they saw fit - in the earthly realm. "Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God." (Read through verse 27. They were defining the resurrection in earthly terms (the death realm) and our Salvation is MUCH MORE than that. (Reference Romans 7 - the law was their husband, but by Christ they are dead to the law and married to another. This truth is MUCH MORE than our earth marriages.)

** We all read the Bible, but we don’t know (understand) the scriptures.

Genesis to Malachi = scriptures = SALVATION IN TYPE. They Testify of Christ. (John 5:39, "Search the scriptures...these are they that testify of Me.")

Genesis to Malachi is known as the TESTIMONY (Old Testament, Old Covenant) - it is God speaking in many ways. (Hebrews 1:1 - God spake in time past at sundry times and in diverse manners). But we must come to know that ALL the scriptures speak of Christ - what He is and what He would do.

These are not "Bible stories", but an ORDERLY setting forth of what Christ would FULFIL. It is The Word of God, but all of it comes to be fulfilled in The Person of Christ. Our Salvation is great because it is fulfilled by Christ and in Christ who is GREAT - much more than us!

Salvation in Type Salvation in Person

(Shadow) (Fulfillment)

Re: Salvation in Person = Christ ALL. We focus Salvation in "me" - "I’m saved, but the fulfillment of Salvation is Christ - not me. His name means "Saviour". (Luke 2 - Simeon said "Mine eyes have seen thy Salvation." Psalm 118:14 - "The Lord... is become my Salvation.") Now that we are "saved" our interest should be in learning Him and to allow His fulness to fill us. (Colossians 3:4, "When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye appear as one with Him - in glory.")

But since He is the fulfillment of all the types and shadows, He will be known as what the types spoke of. Because we do not know the scriptures and what they mean, we do not know what He has fulfilled. So we must search the scriptures to see Him!

Luke 24:27 - The disciples "thought"... but after the resurrection, beginning at Moses and all the prophets He expounded unto them in ALL the scriptures the things concerning HIMSELF. They all come to be fulfilled by Him and in Him!

But how would they be fulfilled? How did Salvation in Type (The Old Covenant, the Testimony) become Salvation in Person (fulfilled in Witness)?

Hebrews 9:15-28 - "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the DEATH of the testator.".... Note: vs. 23, "better sacrifices"... vs. 28, "So Christ was once offered..."

** The Testimony only came to be fulfilled when Christ died - He is the Testator. Then all that was promised - the inheritance, the covenant, was made true - not in the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true (vs. 23, 24) but into heaven itself.

So The Cross is the means of bringing the fulfillment. The Cross completes the picture. And if we refuse The Cross, we only have Salvation in type - not the fulfillment in Christ.

The Cross is a Great thing, bringing about a Great Salvation - which is THE GREATNESS OF CHRIST!

Salvation in Type Salvation in Person

LESSON 3

We are considering our Great Salvation that is spoken of in Hebrews 2. We need to take heed to all that entails: it had been spoken of in the scripture, by the law and the prophets, and is NOW fulfilled in Christ. And this Great Salvation is MUCH MORE than types, more than man’s natural understanding. (Isaiah 55:8-9- God’s ways are not man’s ways; they are higher than our ways and thoughts - much more!)

** Never forget : Great Salvation is determined (and was pre-determined) by THE CROSS. (Not when I die, but Christ’s death, burial and resurrection).

Romans 1:16 - Paul was not ashamed of the gospel OF CHRIST (not me and you!). And that gospel was Christ crucified (The Cross); for it is the POWER of God unto Salvation. Without Christ’s Cross there is no power to Salvation. Salvation is MUCH MORE than me "going to heaven" when I die. Salvation means deliverance, preservation, safety, healing, soundness - it is The Greatness of Christ! Ephesians 3:16-19 - Paul’s prayer for The Church: that we would COMPREHEND (understand, know, experience) the breadth, length, depth, height...that ye might be filled with the fulness of God. That’s GREAT SALVATION!

Christ has finished The Work by His Cross. By believing on Him we are brought into that Work, but now we are to comprehend it so we can live in it and walk in it - that the world may know Who He is. Where do we go to see the types of Salvation that are finished in Christ? To the SCRIPTURES - they testify of Christ (John 5:39), and set forth types and an order that was fulfilled by Christ through His Cross. We must comprehend our Salvation in this same order.

We will begin to look at three TYPES of Salvation in the Scripture. (Note: 3 is the number of a Spiritual Work unto fulness. The number is important, but also the ORDER of these types. In each of these types there is a different dealing of God, a different promise, a different work, but there is a progression to the work that is important, because these types are fulfilled - MUCH MORE - by The Cross of Christ - to us.

ADAM - ABRAHAM - ISRAEL

NOAH ISAAC

Gen. 1 - 9 Gen 12 - 22 Ex. 4:22

We will focus now on the first type - ADAM TO NOAH. The issue here is CREATION. Adam is the first and Noah is the last. It is the first, man, mankind.

**If our eyes could be opened to comprehend this first type of Salvation it would correct a lot of our "doctrines" about "heaven" and Salvation. For instance: Does Adam "go to heaven"? Will this man live forever? What really is Adam’s destiny? Would the first creation live forever?

Consider: Romans 5:14b - Adam is a FIGURE of HIM that was to come (a type of Christ)

1 Corin. 5:46-47 - first is natural, NOT spiritual; after, that which is spiritual. Vs. 45 - first Adam was a living soul, the last Adam a quickening spirit. Vs. 50 - flesh and blood does NOT inherit the kingdom of God.

** What was God’s promise to Adam? Genesis 2:16-17 -"...you shall surely die." There was a DEATH appointed unto man. (Hebrews 9:27) Did God make good on that promise in the type? Yes - by Noah. Noah is the end of this type of Salvation. Hebrews 11:7 - he prepared an ark to the SAVING of his house; he condemned the world, and became heir of righteousness.

In the type - Genesis 6 and 7, especially 6:13 - The end of ALL FLESH is come before me... I will destroy them with the earth. (Our "Bible stories" focus in on the animals "two by two", rather than God was bringing an end to that whole first creation.) That’s because we have still believed the same lie the serpent told Eve - "You shall not surely die." (Genesis 3:4). But that whole creation was destroyed by God! Noah is a type of Christ who became the last Adam - came through the judgment and brought forth eight (the number of new beginnings) souls (1 Peter 3:18-22) unto Salvation. In Noah we see the end of the first and the beginning of the second. ** But this is NOT the first creation again, the first man, but speaks of a New Creation that comes forth. (Genesis 8:8-12 - dove released after the flood = Holy Spirit with the new creation.

So in the first type of Salvation - Adam, the first, flesh creation dies. Christ fulfills that by His Cross, but it doesn’t end there. Salvation is MUCH MORE - He brings forth a New Creation - not many men, but One New Man - from above, Spiritual Man, not earthy - here all things are NEW. Have we comprehended that first type of Salvation - that all man is dead, and that Only ONE NEW MAN lives? Lord help us to do so. This must be settled before we can go on to experience greater aspects of Great Salvation.

LESSON 4

We are speaking of our Great Salvation - what God has done in Christ by His Cross. He has FINISHED that work, but now we must comprehend it and experience it. Our Salvation is greater than we really know because of the Greatness of Christ. We are looking into the scripture to see the types of Great Salvation, and then how they are fulfilled in Christ. Why should we study the types? Because too many people "get saved" or "come to the Lord" and then - it doesn’t work; their lives aren’t changed, they have no peace. They live like everybody else, but they "go to church"; and they think it will be better "on the other side". Now, God didn’t fail, Christ didn’t fail - but WE have failed to COMPREHEND what Salvation is. ** Too many of us have gotten "saved" according to man’s traditions and a church’s doctrines - but not according to Salvation as presented in the scriptures. God works according to an order, and if we follow that order - in comprehension, in experience, we can live in the greatness of our Salvation - NOW.

So the first type of Salvation in the scripture is from Adam to Noah, and this deals with the first creation - man, all that it natural, earthy. ** Adam was a living soul, but he never came to God’s kind of life. Our problem in comprehending this is we have believed Satan’s lie - Genesis 3:4 - "Ye shall not surely die" - and we don’t want to die! ** But we must understand this is not just physical death - but separation from God. God promised that to Adam, and that death was appointed to ALL MEN. Adam represents all men, and all of the first creation.

Romans 3:23 - All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (life).

Romans 5:12 - by one man sin (rebellion) entered into the world and death by sin - death passed upon all men.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 - in Adam (as Adam) all die, even so IN CHRIST shall all be made alive.

** The first type shows God’s judgment on the first creation - ALL died, ALL was destroyed. NOTE: Why didn’t God tell Adam to build an ark? Adam wasn’t saved - he died, and God brought forth a NEW creation - they found grace in the sight of God. (Noah = rest, there is a man of God’s rest)

** God’s promises and blessings can’t go on a dead man! That’s why Salvation doesn’t work for many Christians - we are asking God to bless what He has already cursed!

Genesis 9: 7,9,11 - Noah comes out from the judgment. He represents a NEW creation, new life. "I will ESTABLISH (the second is always to be established) my covenant with YOU." The Covenant is to be made with the New Creation - not the old.

**GOD HATES MIXTURE! (He is One) In the type you couldn’t mix wool and linen in a garment (Lev. 19:19); in the fulfillment do you really think it’s going to be "me and Jesus", the old AND the New? No - that’s God’s judgment in the first type - the death of the first creation (put away from God)

We think we get saved, stay as an old creation; then when we die, we go to heaven, and become a new creature, but the scripture doesn’t support that. Adam doesn’t get "saved" - Adam dies, and a New Creation experiences Salvation - in Christ, by Christ, through Christ - NOW - because we are dead to the first but alive unto God in the second (which is Christ).

Noah speaks of Jesus coming as the Last Adam - He suffered Adam’s judgment, and in Him ALL MEN died, but by His obedience a New Creation experiences Salvation. (Adam = disobedient; Noah/ Christ = obedient)

Romans 5:19 - by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One (Christ) shall many be made righteous.

** What was Christ obedient to? THE CROSS! Adam didn’t want to die; Christ died in perfect obedience to God’s Will.

So what does the first type of Salvation show us? This is what Christ fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - if one died for all, then were ALL DEAD, and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him, which died for them.

Our Great Salvation firstly means that we are not an old man made better; we are not "me - on my way to heaven"; but (vs. 17) IN CHRIST we are a TOTALLY NEW creature; old things are passed away (dead); behold, all things are become New.

That is the first comprehension of OUR GREAT SALVATION!

LESSON 5

We are speaking of the first type of our Great Salvation that is found in the scriptures in Adam to Noah - the first creation. We must come to comprehend what Christ in His death HAS ACCOMPLISHED with regard to this first man, first creation. ** We will never go on to experience Full Salvation except we comprehend this order, and allow God to WORK it IN US.

Hebrews 9:26-28 - (Hebrews is an excellent contrast between the types and fulfillment in Christ. The word used often is "better" - our Great Salvation is better, much more than the types.) Vs. 26b - notice "once". Jesus’ work by the Cross was done ONCE - A Finished Work! **End of world = the consummation of the ages. The physical world didn’t end, but by The Cross all things were summed up and completed; the end of one age and manner of God’s dealings, and the beginning of another. ** To put away sin = cancellation. Notice "sin", not "sins" (acts). Sin = to miss the mark. The whole first creation missed the mark God set - ALL fell short of glory, of life. This whole creation was put away (God was done with it) by the sacrifice of Jesus. Vs. 27 - God appointed men (sinful man, first creation) to die. This death was RESERVED for them. Die = to die away, to die off, separated from God. God promised this to Adam in Genesis 2:17, but man had to wait for the judgment to be carried out. (Type - Adam put out of garden, to live tilling the ground he came from - Genesis 3:23)

**But when was the judgment fulfilled for Adam? Vs. 28 - So Christ was once offered... THE CROSS was where God’s judgment regarding the first man took place. We now must come to AGREE with God’s judgment at The Cross. (2 Corinthians 5:14 - we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead)

**God’s judgment has three parts to it, and we must comprehend what this judgment meant to man, the first creation.

1) To bring something to have a decision given to it - man, first creation was to have this decision. (In type with Noah - God looked upon the earth, that it was corrupt, He saw the wickedness of man - Genesis 6)

2) Put it in its proper category - it is sin, misses the mark, flesh, corrupt. **This is why we don’t like judgment - we don’t want to call it what it is! Paul came to this - no good thing in my flesh!

3) Pronouncement and execution of sentence - you die, put away from God. (You can see these three parts of judgment in Daniel 5 - Belshazzar was weighed in the balances and found wanting - judgment: your kingdom is divided)

JUDGMENT TO FIRST MAN : all put away - this is settled - over all of the first creation God has written - DEAD! Mankind (not just the individual person) was appointed to this death. The Cross executed the judgment of it. 2 Cor. 5:14 - One died (vs. 21 - He made Him to be sin for us) for all - then were all DEAD.

So the first type of comprehending Salvation is: all are dead - good, bad - all of first - DEAD. Now it makes sense what Jesus said to Nicodemus - John 3:3-9 - You must be born AGAIN; but this is NOT a birth like the first one. Now you are born from above. This is a MUCH MORE birth - not born of flesh, but of Spirit. Now you must be born of God. (The first man was made from dirt, but second man is birthed by God’s Own Spirit - born as from the origin, as if you never sinned. And this man is NOT appointed to death, but has Everlasting Life - He never dies! This Man is a New Creation - higher, greater than the first. THIS creation experiences Salvation as life. (Hebrews 9:28 - unto them that look for Him, He appears a second unto (full) Salvation).

We must comprehend this first type of Salvation - death to first - and allow this to be worked in us. Romans 6:1-13 - In Christ we are dead TO sin - that was the judgment by His Cross. Vs. 3 - we were baptized into His death (taken into death). In the type Noah went through the judgment, but they were in faith, they believed God’s judgment on mankind was right. Vs. 6 - our old man IS crucified with Him, that the body of sin be destroyed, that we should not serve sin. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE FREE FROM THE FIRST CREATION (OF SIN) IS BY HIS DEATH. Vs. 11 - We are not waiting to physically die to face the judgment, but we must RECKON by God’s judgment at The Cross that we are dead to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (We face this daily!) Vs. 13 - This is Great Salvation: WE ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD! Now our members are instruments of righteousness unto God. Sin and death have NO dominion over me! Vs. 14-23 - wages of sin is death; the gift of God is eternal life - He IS THAT GIFT!

What is the understanding that first must WORK IN US? Salvation is not for when I physically die, but NOW - Now is the day of Salvation. Galatians 2:20 - I (as first creation) AM crucified with Christ...not I, but CHRIST liveth in me - and He is MUCH MORE than Adam, MUCH MORE than the first. He is Life - all things! By the Cross the first creation is put away from God, and the second is reconciled to God and One With Him. THIS IS GREAT SALVATION!

LESSON 6

(Ecc. 3:14-15 - Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever...that man should fear before him...that which has been is now...and God requireth that which is past.)

We are speaking of our Great Salvation in Christ which is according to The Eternal Purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph.3:11). And all things of God are working together for the good of that purpose. We are NOT the purpose or end of it - but Christ is, and we are to be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28) God planned it, brought forth one creation that spoke of it, the law and the prophets testified of it, and Christ fulfilled that plan by The Cross. We are PARTAKERS of that Eternal Purpose, but man’s doctrines and religions will not change it to make us the focal point of it. It is all summed up in Christ, and God REQUIRES it to be so in us. (How shall we escape if we neglect so Great Salvation?

Let’s look again at the term "MUCH MORE" that describes our Great Salvation. Romans 5 - we will be comparing the old man, first man and the New Man, and the New Man IS and HAS MUCH MORE than the old man ever did or will. Note: Romans 5 has the phrase "much more" five times! 5 is the number of grace. Our Salvation is by His Grace! Vs 8-10 - while we were sinners, Christ died for us. ** It is done by HIS death. Vs. 9 - much more Vs. 10 - when we were enemies we were RECONCILED to God by the death of His Son. Reconciled means "to change thoroughly from". His death brought about a change in God’s relationship to man. Man was sin, an enemy to God. Jesus’ death brought that man to his proper judgment and set him aside - Adam died. Now Christ brings forth a New Creation that is at peace with God (reconciled to Him, because The New Man has the Life of His Son. **Your physical death doesn’t assure you peace ("rest in peace" at funerals), but by believing in HIS death does - the old man dies. He changes you, and the New Man is at peace with God. (Ephesians 2:15,16 - by The Cross He makes peace). Vs. 10 - MUCH MORE being reconciled... ***THE OLD MAN IS NOT RECONCILED TO GOD. - he dies and One New Man comes forth reconciled - saved by His Life. **This New Man is HIS LIFE - manifested in a people - One, New, Much More. This is what His death HAS done. Colossians 3:9-11 - we are to put off the old man because we HAVE put on New Man...CHRIST IS ALL! Eph. 4:22 - Put off the life of the old man who is corrupt, and put on New Man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. This New Man is Christ, and we are members of Him, His Body. We are only a New Creation because The One New Man dwells in us. Jesus said, "Behold, I make all things new." (Rev. 21:5)

Let’s look in the scripture to compare the old man and the New Man. This New Man is "much more" than the old, He’s much more than me! So, what was the first man, and what was his relationship with God? Is God returning us to that relationship, or one that is "much more" than that? Gen. 2:7 - man was formed out of dust of ground...became a living soul. He breathed, he was a soul in a body - had a mind, will, emotions, but Adam did NOT have God’s life, was not born of God, did not have spirit. Gen. 3:3- dust you art, unto dust you shall return. This first man did not have spiritual life. 1 Cor. 15:45-50 - first is NOT spiritual. The soul desires to have a relationship with God, and will deceive itself that it does, but the natural man CANNOT receive the spiritual things of God. (Flesh is flesh, spirit is spirit). Notice: the second man is THE LORD FROM HEAVEN - not a "spiritual" man, but The Lord! When we are born again, we receive His Life (much more saved by His Life) and that Life is Spirit. Natural man thinks he can be spiritual, but The New Man is Spirit! Because The New Man is One Spirit, One Body, One Lord, One Faith, One God and Father. We are to bear the image (exactness) of the Lord as our Life. Now - on this earth as The Church, the fulness of HIM.

Look at the difference in relationship with God in the old man and The New Man.

Genesis 3:8 - before Adam sinned God visited man at times; they were not one, man didn’t know God. SEPARATION - God one place, man another. **Most Christians today still know God this way. But as The New Man our relationship to God is MUCH MORE than Adam. ** God never spoke this to Adam! 2Corin. 6:16-18 - I will dwell in them (as One with them) and walk in them. I will be their God, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters.

This New Creation is NOT formed out of dust with God just as the creator, using something different to Himself to form him; but this is a New Birth by the VERY SEED OF GOD giving us HIS Life, being One with Him. Now because we are One New Man, reconciled to God, and He is our Father, He can dwell in us and walk in us! This is the MUCH MORE of our Salvation as a New Creation!

1 Peter 1:23-25 - Being born again (anew, from above, by Spirit) NOT of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible (HIS LIFE- Christ), by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. (His Seed brings forth His own kind). Man and flesh fall away, but The Word of the Lord endureth forever! Great Salvation!

LESSON 7

We are considering our Great Salvation and what makes it Great.

Psalm 118:14 - THE LORD... is become my salvation.

Vs. 21 - I will praise thee... and art become salvation.

** Ultimately our Salvation has to become THE LORD - the emphasis can not be on me, but on HIM. HE makes our Salvation great, and we experience the greatness of our Salvation when HE becomes all things to us.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - no flesh should glory in His presence. We are born of God in Christ Jesus and HE is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. He doesn’t give "us things", but He becomes all things to us. We only have these things IN HIM, and because He is these things, we have them as part of our Salvation.

** All things are gathered up in Him - He fulfills all things and fills all things with Himself! (Ephesians 1:10, 4:10) - not with me and you! HE IS MUCH MORE!

I want to look at a few more comparisons between the first and second creation. ** Remember - everything the first spoke of comes to be fulfilled in Christ, but I want to point out some principles established in the first creation. They will be "much more" in the second.

Genesis 1 - the story of the first creation. Note: God’s name here is Elohim = The Strong One Who is Faithful. When God starts to deal with man the name now is LORD GOD = Jehovah Elohim. He is The Self Existent One Who reveals Himself. This is His relationship with man in redemption. (In Old testament He reveals Himself as Jehovah-jireh, Jehovah-shalom, Jehovah-nissi, etc. - to man). ** Christ ultimately fulfills that revelation of God as our Salvation.

Vs. 1,2 - GOD created heaven and earth, but earth was void and dark. Spirit moved.

Vs. 3-5 - What comes? LIGHT! ** God DIVIDED the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. This was the order in the first creation - physical, temporal, natural; but this is MUCH MORE in the second creation.

Light = Day ; Darkness = Night - GOD DIVIDED! Earth = flesh, heaven = spirit

** If God divided that in the first creation, why do we think that in the second, New Creation we can mix light and dark, and live in shadows?

** LIGHT HAS TO COME BEFORE LIFE** Bring this into Christ - the scripture continues to make this division between light and darkness.

John 1:3-5 - All things made by Him (Light). In light was life. Darkness could not comprehend the light.

Vs. 9-13 - TRUE light...New Creation is born of God - not old.

John 3:19-21 - Light came into the world but men loved darkness. (Read Romans 1:18-32 - God made Himself known to man, but they worshiped the creature more than the creator, so God gave them over to a reprobate mind.) ** The first creation prefers darkness - they live in night - no life.

John 8:12 - I AM light of world ...not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.

Ephesians 5:8-17 - Ye were sometimes darkness (darkness is a state of no light) but NOW are ye light in the Lord: WALK (live) AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT!

1 John 1:5-7 - God is light, in Him is NO DARKNESS AT ALL! We have fellowship if we walk in the light as He is in the light.

**In the first creation there was day and night, light and darkness, but in the New Creation (In Christ) there is only day. Revelation 21:22-27, but we must see that this city is The New Creation, the Bride, the Wife. No earthly light - only the glory of God and the Lamb, No night, No darkness there. These are a people living in the Light and Life He is! And He is made unto them all things!

** The Light of the second Creation is MUCH MORE than the first light, because this Light now shines IN US as the New Creation - no night now - only DAY - The Day that HE IS! ( this is not a temporal period of time) We have Christ now Who is that Eternal, Everlasting Day - in us.

2 Peter 1:19 - Let the day (light which He is) dawn and arise in our hearts. As His Light fills He will continually divide the darkness and do away with it unto the FULL dawning of Him - where there is NO darkness at all - Not I, BUT CHRIST!

LESSON 8

We have been comparing the first creation to the New Creation in Christ to help us to see the greatness of our Salvation. We saw how in the first creation God divided the light from the darkness and called the light, day, and the darkness, night. But in the second creation, The New Creation there is only light, and CHRIST IS THAT LIGHT.

Proverbs 4:18 - the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the PERFECT DAY. This is not a temporal day of 24 hours, but the fulness of light - which is Christ. As He is revealed in us, we walk more and more in Him, His Light, Life. This Day dawns IN US. 2 Corin. 4:6 - in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of Christ.

Jesus told them of the perfect day - fulness of light in John 14:20 - "In that day you will know (experientially) I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you." That sums up our Great Salvation!

** Let’s not forget God has established His principles in creation.

2 Corin. 4:18 - things which are seen are temporal (first creation - all of it); things that are not seen are eternal. The first spoke of the second, which is MUCH MORE. ** You can not take temporal things and make them eternal - they are different creations. This should help us to correct our thoughts about heaven!

We want to look now at another principle that was set forth in the first creation, but fulfilled in Christ in The New Creation.

Genesis 1:11-12 - fruit tree yielding fruit AFTER HIS KIND, whose seed is in itself. God saw that this order was good. Vs. 21 - creatures after their kind. Vs. 24,25. God was establishing the order of different kinds - each would bring forth what it was because of THE SEED that was in it.

Now man was created by God as a representative of Himself, but the words "image" and "likeness" in Genesis 1:26, 27 only mean a shadow, an illusion, no substance. Adam was formed from the dirt, and the Bible never says he was of God’s kind. So what would Adam bring forth when he yielded fruit? Genesis 5:3 - Adam begat a son in his own likeness. All in Genesis 5 begat of themselves - then die. ** Flesh begets flesh - then dies. That is the order of the first creation.

But now in the New Creation this same principle is fulfilled in Christ, by Christ, and we are involved in this in our New Birth.

THE NEW MAN - John 1:12,13 - born not of blood or flesh...but of God.

How? The key is THE SEED - The Seed brings forth its own kind. And in the New Creation that SEED is CHRIST!

1 Peter 1:23-25 - Being born again not of corruptible seed (first creation) but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Man dies and his seed, but THE SEED OF GOD LIVES FOREVER! ** This is how we are children of God, sons of God - not by our first birth in Adam who was created BY God, but in Christ, by Christ, that Seed in the New Creation, we are sons of God because He brings forth His own kind. In Christ we are not after the first, but after Him.

Galatians 3:26-28 - sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus (by believing into His death, burial, resurrection. But look at what we are - "neither... nor (the first, in flesh), but ONE IN CHRIST." He is The Seed, He brings forth His own kind. So the New Creation is not I, but CHRIST!

Why should we care about this principle of everything bringing forth its own kind? Because God has put His Own Seed - His Son, His Life - in you - for a PURPOSE. We are not "born again" so we can go to heaven and live forever as me - in a better place with no problems. WE are NOT the focus of our Salvation - HE IS! God brought forth a New Creation that would bring forth after The Seed that is in us - and that Seed is CHRIST!

Ephesians 2:10 - "We are HIS workmanship (not as Adam, but as a New Creation) created IN CHRIST JESUS unto good works, that God before ordained that we should walk in them."

My question to us is: in us, is God seeing His Seed bring forth after Himself? In the first creation God saw that was good. Is He saying that about us? The Father is looking for His Son, His Seed to be manifested in us. We are to grow up into HIM, into the perfect man, so we must let that Light shine unto the PERFECT DAY!

LESSON 9

Colossians 1:25-27 - There is a mystery of God that had been hid, but NOW is made manifest to his saints. Note: not mysteries, but One Mystery (many aspects to it). The mystery is CHRIST IN YOU. A mystery is a truth hidden, and can only be revealed by God. So - where was the mystery hidden? In the scripture, in the Testimony, and it can only be understood in the revelation of Christ: until you see HIM, the mystery remains hidden and you do not understand the scripture.

Luke 24 - the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus died and was resurrected, but they still didn’t understand. Vs. 27 - Jesus expounded in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself - then they could understand.

2 Corinthians 3:14-17 - A vail can remain upon our hearts so that our minds are still blinded to the truth. The heart must turn to the Lord.

So, we must search the scripture and look for Christ in order to have the mystery revealed to us. (John 5:39 - scriptures testify of Him). The Apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened (Eph. 1:17,18) and that we would comprehend Christ - the length, breadth, depth, height - (Eph. 3:17-19) - our Great Salvation!

We look in the Old Testament for a type of what Christ would do, but remember, Our Salvation is greater, exceedingly MUCH MORE than the type. Look in the first creation, the natural creation. Genesis 2 - God made a garden and put man in it. Vs. 10 - A river went out of Eden to water the garden. The four heads went all over the land. That’s the first creation. There are many references in the Old Testament to this river. Ezekiel prophesies of a river coming out of the temple bringing life. (Ezekiel 47)

Now, in the New Creation - is there a river? Is it natural? No - it is MUCH MORE!

John 4 - Jesus tells the Samaritan woman the water He gives shall be IN US a well springing up IN US into everlasting life. John 7 :38 - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Revelation 22 -One pure river of water of life - coming out of the throne.

** THE NEW CREATION HAS A GREATER WATER-CHRIST IN YOU!!

We lessen our Salvation by thinking that things in The New Creation are the same as the first. No - they are higher, greater - and they are all found IN CHRIST. If you look for everything in Him, you will find the mystery revealed - IN YOU - and that will conform you to His image. Remember - the New Creation is not you - but Him, and we are members of His Body, with His Life.

Look at the mystery hidden of Christ and The Church in Genesis 2:18-25, when God made the woman out of man. Remember, this is speaking of more than just a man and a lady getting married in the flesh. Vs. 20 - The helpmeet could not be of a different kind, so God took the woman out of Adam when he slept. She was bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh - they were one. But this only happened when God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam. (This foreshadows Christ’s death, and the birth of The Church, His Wife out of that). Notice she is the completement of Him, and now she is called His Wife. She is birthed of Him, then given back to Him as One with Him in husband/wife relationship.

Why? Genesis 1:28 - so they could be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and have dominion over it. Their union and the fruit produced were to fill the earth and have control of it. Did Adam and Eve fulfil God’s plan for them? No, but God’s mystery that was hidden then is fulfilled by Christ and The Church.

Ephesians 5:23-33 - Christ is the head of The Church. Vs. 25 - He gave Himself for it - He died. Vs. 27 - He is cleansing The Church to present it to Himself (as Himself), a glorious Church. Vs. 31 - they two shall be one flesh. Vs. 32 - This is a great mystery - CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.

But look again at the type in Genesis where man is to multiply, and bear fruit of this union (every seed after its kind). And Adam has filled up the first creation with himself! But what is to come forth in the New Creation? More of me? No - This Seed will bring forth after its own kind, but that Seed is CHRIST. Now our union is of Him and to Him, and it is His fruit that we will fill The New Creation with.

Romans 7:4 - We are married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

That is the mystery made manifest - CHRIST IN YOU - that’s GREAT SALVATION!

LESSON 10

We are continuing to search the scriptures to see the types of Salvation in the Old Testament, and how they have been fulfilled in Christ. These are all speaking of RELATIONSHIPS we have with Christ. And the first relationship we will face deals with us as a CREATION - as the first creation (of the earth, flesh). Because IN CHRIST, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are a New Creature; old things are passed away, and all things are become new. (Galatians 6:15 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.)

** There are fundamental issues that must be SETTLED in us regarding this before we can continue to know Christ in deeper relationships. And this is NOT a mental knowing, but this knowledge affects everything we do. Do we live as an old creation - on our way to heaven - when we die? Or do we live as The New Creation, His Body, seated with Him in heavenly places - NOW?

Let’s look in the type to see how God dealt with Adam, the first creation. My question is - did God forgive Adam? No - in the scripture there is NO reference to forgiveness in God’s dealings with Adam through Noah. The first reference to forgiveness is with Israel. (Israel is a type of The Church.) Look at God’s dealing with Adam after he sinned.

Genesis 2:14-24:

Vs. 14-15 - serpent cursed, but SEED PROMISED that would bruise him.

(The seed of woman promised was Christ.)

Vs. 16-19 - woman and man given sorrow all their days; they will return to dust

Vs. 21 - God made coats of skin for them. (Speaks of Christ as sacrifice)

Vs. 22-24 - God now sends man out from the garden. God did not want man to eat of the tree of life in his sinful state and live that way forever. He sent man out to the earth, but He kept the way of the tree of life.

Now, what was the Tree of Life? THE CROSS! Adam wanted life in himself - to know by himself, to be an independent soul, and he was put out of Eden (= pleasantness), but God kept THE WAY. Does Adam (the first man) find forgiveness, find the way and come back to the garden? The scripture never says he does! The type of that whole first creation is summed up with Noah and the ark (Genesis 6-9) when all flesh is destroyed, and God makes His covenant with a New Creation.

So, Adam was not forgiven; was sent out from the presence of God. That is the state of the first creation. But God’s answer by Christ is a NEW CREATION.

Ephesians 2:11-13 - mankind were aliens from Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having NO HOPE, but NOW IN CHRIST JESUS ye... are made nigh by the blood of Christ. But - who comes nigh? A Jew? A Gentile? Vs. 14-18 - He makes One New Man - BY THE CROSS, and now both have access by One Spirit unto The Father.

When Christ came and died The Death of The Cross, He opened up the Way unto Eternal Life with The Father. God had always kept The Way, but Jesus fulfilled it by His death and opened it - not to the old man, but One New Man. This New Man is not the old man forgiven, but born anew of the Spirit - as if he never sinned! This is the Greatness of Our Salvation - the old is passed away; New in Him!

One last thought: Ephesians 2:13 - "ye...are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Re: The Blood - there is a depth to the blood of Christ most Christians have never known, and there is a special relationship of His blood to the first creation man.

Genesis 4 - Cain slew Abel ( Cain = earthy man, Abel = spiritual man)

Vs. 8-12 - Abel’s blood cried to God from the ground for vengeance.

When Christ died, His blood avenged the blood of righteous Abel, but since the fulfillment is MUCH MORE, He brought death to ALL of the first man. When One died (Christ), all were made to be dead! The blood of Christ avenged the blood that was shed in the first creation, and passed judgment on mankind - ALL DEAD!

Do we know Christ in that relationship? Now by that blood, and what it has done, as The New Man, we have access unto the Father, and have life in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:15 - but now we live not unto ourselves, but unto HIM, who died and rose again. May the Lord open our eyes that we may see our Great Salvation and walk in the reality of that now.

LESSON 11

(An example: a church "Passover" dinner that serves lamb and chicken, because some people don’t like lamb!) That seems like a silly thing, but we have done the same thing spiritually - trying to make a "religious" way TO the tree of life, rather than understanding that God has kept THE way OF the tree of life. The Death of The Cross (in attitude and finality) is the only way that brings us to The Father - in Life.

Let’s just look at a few instances in The Testimony of how the way of the tree of life was kept - until Christ came.

Genesis 6-9 - God told Noah to prepare the Ark. Noah accepted God’s judgment on mankind and he went through the flood (judgment of the world). He believed God and in a type came unto New Life.

Esther - Haman the evil one plotted to kill all of God’s people. Esther decided to go into the king for her people. "If I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16) Esther found favor with the King and Haman was hanged on the same gallows he had prepared for Mordecai - and God’s people lived and they destroyed their enemies!

Daniel 3 - The three Hebrew boys wouldn’t bow to the golden image. Vs. 17 - God is able to deliver us. They were thrown into the furnace, but the fire did not harm them. They came forth in Resurrection Life!

Daniel 6 - Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, but no harm was done to him - because he believed in his God.

The way OF the tree of life is believing God and submitting (laying down) your life. Only through that heart and mind set can we truly walk in the power of His Resurrection, in Newness of Life.

** Just remember - who is it who is on The Throne? Revelation 5:6 - The LAMB as it had been slain. He opens the book. Vs. 9,10 - He was slain and redeemed us by His blood...and we shall reign on the earth (with His Life).

He is The Way OF the tree of Life !

LESSON 12

We are still dealing with our Great Salvation and what Christ has done by His Cross. And we are still considering the first creation vs. the New Creation, and there are some basic understandings we must come to, and live in so that we will manifest our Salvation.

Romans 6:1-11 - the old man is dead, we were baptized into His death.

Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ... not I, but Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17 - One died - all dead. In Christ, a New Creature.

** God brought judgment on that whole first creation - reckoned them dead, but in Christ He brought forth a New Creation by New Birth unto Newness of Life.

- There are many truths to this that are typed in the scripture concerning this. Noah was the end of the first creation, but also the beginning of The New. (Speaks of Christ and the judgment of The Cross.)

Hebrews 11:7 - Noah...prepared an ark to the saving of his house; whereby he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Ultimately now we live by the faith of The Son of God.)

Noah was a vessel used by God to keep the way of the tree of life. (Gen. 3:24) He believed God and obeyed Him - unto life; Adam didn’t - unto death. Man was wicked, but (Genesis 6:8) Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. ** There would be a man who found God’s grace. Jesus comes FULL (Much more!) of grace and truth (John 1:14). Jesus fulfilled what Noah spoke of. Noah = rest.

Let’s look at some key phrases in the scripture concerning Noah and the flood to help us see what Christ fulfilled by The Cross concerning the first creation:

Genesis 6:17-18 - I (God) bring a flood to destroy all flesh...everything that is in the earth shall die, But WITH THEE will I establish my covenant. ** God’s established covenant is with the man Noah spoke of - not Adam. Come into the Ark. (The Ark is how one man dies, and one man lives - type of The Cross)

Genesis 6:22 - Noah did ALL that God commanded him. ** Jesus did the Father’s will; obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.

** Disobedient unto death - obedient unto life.

Genesis 7:15 - They went in UNTO NOAH into the ark - they followed Noah into the place God told him to prepare. ** We must be planted in the likeness of His death, buried with Him.

Genesis 7:23 - Every living substance was destroyed from the earth...and NOAH ONLY REMAINED ALIVE, and they that were WITH HIM IN THE ARK. ** Not just along side of him, but were as one with him - they only lived. - You can’t come into Christ by The Cross seeking to save your own life. You accept God’s judgment on the first creation, and only look to Christ for your life and AS your life. A great comfort; we are not alone, but with HIM - and only He remains alive!

Genesis 8:1 - God remembered Noah and what was WITH HIM IN THE ARK. ** This was for those with him in The Cross - in a truth you can’t be with Him and not be baptized into His death (Romans 6:3)

Genesis 8:4 - The Ark RESTED in the seventh month (a completed, finished work) upon the mountains of Ararat. ** Through Christ’s death and resurrection we are quickened, raised, and seated with Him in heavenly places. (Eph. 2:5,6) ** Judgment on the first is completed. Those in the ark went through the death, but they were with him in the ark. Now they come forth OUT OF that death, into newness of life.

Genesis 8:16-19 - Go forth of the ark...bring forth EVERY LIVING THING THAT IS WITH THEE. (Now they that live by Him; they have passed from death unto life - John 5:24) This New Creation is to be fruitful and multiply upon the earth. They went forth OUT OF THE ARK, and Noah made an altar to God of the clean beasts (vs. 20,21) and God smelled a sweet savour. ** What comes out of the Ark is pleasing to God. We go through His death and burial, and come forth in the power of His Resurrection!

Genesis 9:9-11- I will ESTABLISH (the second only is established) my covenant with you...from all that go out of the ark.

The way of the tree of life is through the judgment of The Cross - destroying all flesh, and out of The Cross bringing New Life. That was God’s plan. His Son became that last Adam, that Noah. We must go unto Him in The Cross in order to come to life - Eternal Life - in Him - partakers of The Tree of Life!

LESSON 13

We want to try to summarize the understanding of our Great Salvation as a New Creation that we must come to as believers. ** We are NOT an old creation waiting to go someplace, someday - and then we will be different. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says if we are in Christ we are a New Creature - NOW. Ephesians 2:10 - we are His workmanship CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS unto good works...we should walk in them.

By The Cross Jesus has brought forth a New Creation. Those in Him are born from above, born again by the Spirit, having Eternal Life. This is true by The Cross; now we have to walk (live) in that truth. How?

Romans 6:11 - RECKON ye ALSO yourselves TO BE (not going to be, supposed to be) dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ. How can we do that? Vs. 10 - because we are in Him, Who is that. When He died, He died unto sin once, but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. ** We must comprehend that IN CHRIST we are dead to the first (the whole realm of sin) but alive unto God - AS HE IS - not as ourselves.

**The Cross is God’s means of judging (separating) the living from the dead. And as the fulness of The Cross continues to work IN US, this dividing of what is dead and what is alive unto God will continue. This is the way of the tree of life.

We want to look at three examples of this dividing of dead/living in Genesis and see how they are fulfilled in Christ and worked in us in our Salvation. These three are areas we have to reckon ourselves dead to.

1) Our own religious ideas of a bloodless sacrifice - Genesis 4. Cain and Abel (note: first is earthy, second is spiritual) Vs. 3 - they both offered to God. Cain did not reject God, he was religious, he offered what he grew, but would not acknowledge his sin. Abel knew he was not worthy and brought a blood sacrifice - "I must die". Cain’s offering was from the cursed ground. ** Our religious efforts are NOT acceptable to God - not of works lest any man should boast! Vs. 4-7 - God respected Abel and his offering, but NOT Cain. He talks to Cain. Vs. 7 - God calls it sin, and Cain still refuses to give God the proper sacrifice. So it ends in death. (James 1:5 - lust brings forth sin, and sin when it is finished brings forth death.) Abel came to life through the blood sacrifice, and Cain (Genesis 4:16) goes out from the presence of the Lord = death. Cain multiplied, but he was away from God.

**However, God kept the way of the tree of life open through Seth. Through Seth the Spiritual Seed was renewed. Now there were two civilizations: Seth = spiritual, Cain = rejected of God. And look what happens: Genesis 6:1-3 - godly line chooses the ungodly.

2) We must reckon ourselves dead to mixture - Genesis 6: sons of God= of Seth, daughters of men = of Cain. They CHOOSE TO MIX themselves in marriage. God would not tolerate this mixture, so He determined to destroy all flesh. But He would raise up a New Seed (New Creation) where there would be no mixture - New Life out of death.

** This has very important applications in our relationships.

3) We must reckon ourselves dead to our carnal religious ambitions - Genesis 11:1-9. After the flood man is of one language - the whole earth. Vs. 4 - Let US build... a tower...unto heaven, and let US make US a name. God saw what the children of men built and He was not pleased or impressed. ** The way to heaven is not by man’s strength and oneness. God scattered them abroad and named that "confusion", and unfortunately God’s people have a long history of going into Babylon when they gather together in their own strength to reach God.

So even in the first creation God kept the way of Life open, but He divided the way of death from the way of Life. His Son fulfilled that Way in Himself. May we realize this is not by the sacrifice of my efforts, not by mixing what is of God, and what is not of God, and not joining fleshly forces to do something for God. We need to reckon ourselves DEAD to all of that.

The Way of Life is by way of His death, His burial and His resurrection. Jesus Christ is that way - and God has not kept any other way!