New Creation

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

What is it to be a new creation? What must we do to become entirely different entities, containing new vision, new understanding, new needs? In the book of John is the account of Jesus and His meeting with a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and lay leader among the Jews. Nicodemus, approaching Jesus under cover of darkness, asked the teacher: "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him". Nicodemus' reference both to Jesus as Rabbi and as one sent from God affirms his respect for and desire to understand the message taught by Christ.

Jesus replied, saying "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." What did Jesus mean when He said "born again"? Nicodemus wondered this precise question, asking further:

"How can a man be born when is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

If Nicodemus had listened just a little more closely, perhaps he would have perceived the spiritual meaning in Christ's words. The Greek expression gennethei anothen means literally "from above" or "from the beginning". It is certainly logical to see where Nicodemus misunderstood, however it is my own opinion that his confusion had an underlying purpose for the benefit of future literal thinkers. Indeed, how can one be born again once one is already old? Physically, it is impossible. Spiritually, it is necessary if one desires to see God's kingdom.

The theological doctrine of regeneration defines being born again as God's transformation of individuals, His giving of a new spiritual vitality and direction to their lives. Having been born into sin and darkness (Romans 3), mankind finds himself in a completely fallen and depraved state, entirely cut off from fellowship from God. If we are to partake of God and His kingdom, we must be born anew. There is no other way, as Christ affirms (John 14:6) to God, to eternal life, to purpose but through Him. What Christ was revealing to Nicodemus was a need felt by the nations for centuries, a need that could not be met through any act of humanity. When we take up the cross of Christ, believing upon is word and deeds of atonement and reconciliation, we are reborn and renewed (John 3). We are new creations.

As new creations, reborn by the Spirit and baptism, we are bequeathed a new heart, undivided, tender, and receptive to God's instructions and love (Ezekiel 11:19-20). Our supernatural transformation renders us new creations, born of God (John 1;12-13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2:29; 5:1). Rebirth involves the whole reversal of our natural or fleshly tendencies, as is attested to by Paul (Galatians 5:24-25). A necessity of new birth incorporates necessarily the death of certain aspects of ourselves. Just as the caterpiller, in a sense must let go certain characteristics of itself if it is to become a fully functioning butterfly, so must we put to death our sin nature if we are to fully regenerate into the new creation God intends us to become (Ephesians 2:1-10). Though our salvation and regeneration have naught to do with personal merit or works and are instantaneous and entirely the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must continually put down the Old Man. We are to be no longer conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). Regeneration is the birth by wchich this work of new creation is begun, as sanctification is the growth whereby it continues (1 Peter 2:2). Secure is our status as new creations, yet our growth is not guarunteed, as it is a process for which we are totally responsible. Our old self has beeb buried with Christ and our new self has arisen with Him. We must no longer revel in the grave, but strain to soar to new heights with the Savior.

Darkness into Light

You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. (II Samuel 22:29)

The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)

The Psalter declares his praise for God, establishing firmly in the minds and hearts of all who read it the eternal presence, protection, and love of God. But how could David speak so confidently of a salvation or light that had not yet manifested itself to mankind? If salvation is through Christ only, what kind of assurance did David have that allowed him to speak so of YHWH?

To David had been promised the begetting of a Son who would be a king, a priest, a prophet, a warrior, a savior--a light among the nations. He would be of David's own blood, yet would be a king greater than David, a prophet and a priest greater than Moses, and a savior such as the world had never known, a light in which existed no darkness at all. To David, God's Word was eternal, a "sure thing". There were no doubts in his mind that, although this Son would come after he had departed this life, that his life would be sustained by the Word of the LORD, as would the lives of all who set their eyes upon the great light of His person.

Jesus Christ was and is the fulfillment of the centuries-old promise made by God to the world.As both the Son of God and the Son of Man, Jesus personified and fulfilled the promise made to David and to the nation of Israel, through whom all nations would be blessed. John's Gospel opens with the proclamation that Jesus Christ is indeed not only equal with God, but completely indivisible from Him. Jesus Christ is the anthropomorphisis of God, which does not make Him any less omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent. According to John's protrayal of Christ, He has both the characteristics of God and of the foretold Messiah of the Old Testament:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:1-5)

One example of the many messianic prophecies presented in the Old Testament is that of Isaiah, who depicts the coming Messiah as "a great light" seen by the people "walking in darkness" (Isaiah 9). Matthew 4 echoes the words of the prophet as Christ fulfills the words spoken nearly 400 years before. He would be a light not only to the nation of Israel, but to all nations. He would be the salvation of the world--to both Jews as well as Gentiles. Jesus himself claimed to be the light about which the prophets spoke (John 8:12) who also fulfilled every one of statistically hundreds of thousands of preconditions associated with his coming.

As believers in Jesus Christ the Messiah, our hearts become at once imbued with his light (2 Corinthians 4:6). Anyone who continues to walk in darkness, does not know God, because God is the light, just as anyone who does not love his neighbor does not know God, because God is love (1 John 3:11-24).

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).

According to Scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments, we once walked in darkness (Job 12:25, 24:13; Isaiah 9; John 3:19; Acts 17:11; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Peter 2:9), but are now children of the light and cannot have any association with the darkness (Proverbs 4:18-19; 2 Corinthians 6:14).

But what does it mean to be in the light? I think a good start would be to define Light, its nature and function. Light illuminates, exposing everything, thereby eliminating darkness. Nothing that is of darkness can dwell within the Light, not only because the darkness hates the light, but more simplistically and scientifically because Light ELIMINATES darkness. Where there is light, there are no mysteries and now shadows; everything is out in the open. In the Bible, we are informed that God has exposed our sins or acts performed in the dark, hidden places (Psalm 90:8; 1 Corinthians 4:5). Jesus, the Light of the world, has revealed to us our own need for redemption by exposing the darkness we once revelled in. The work of the Holy Spirit is to expose sinfulness by shining His light in the hearts of those who have believed (John 16:7-13), whereby darkness in us is eliminated. But the function of Light is not purely negative; in fact, exposing darkness is not entirely negative in itself, either, for in its exposition and elimination we are cleaned and made to shine white. Light reveals the splendor of God's love for us and the greatness of His promises, glory, and power. Light reveals the truth behind mysteries and illusions we have concerning morality and destiny. Light enables us to see what was always there, what was always true, but obscured by the darkness within which we dwelt. The word for light used in Psalm 27:1 is or, meaning literally "to be luminous"; the other usages of the word include, but are not limited to "bright", "dawn", "to make shine", "enlighten/ed/ing", "illumine", "make a fire", "give light", etcetera. The word used in John 1:4 is the Greek phos or phaino, which can be used to mean a light (1), fire (2),to shine (3), become evident (4) to lighten (5), etcetera. Jesus at once makes to shine the light of His infinite glory. He is our bright hope, our new dawn. For the night is over now, and a new dawn has come, basking the universe in the light of truth. The Light of God serves to reveal, to expose, and to guide. As the psalmist wrote, His light is a lamp unto our feet, as is His Word (which has since been identified as Christ Jesus). As a guide, we are led in the direction that is best for us, having our path fully exposed/revealed. I think salvation might be presented as a three step prcoess: (1) our sin is exposed and made clean, (2) His love is revealed, as is His purpose for us, and (3) His Light guides us through life, convicts us, lights us from within, and embraces us.
This is decidedly a very cursory examination of light, its usage in the Bible, and its relation to GOD. What do you want from a seminary student? I suppose all I can really state concerning an understanding and application of light in the lives of believers is my own personal conviction regarding it. To me, God is light, He has brought from darkness into the light of love and understanding--from death to life. He has shown Himself in a dark place and replaced my dread, fear, and hatred with peace, confidence, and love. Light, to me demosntrates, not only the nature of God as Father, King, Savior, and Creator, but also what He desires of mankind, specifically those who have accepted Him as Lord of their lives. As Light, God tolerates nothing less than light; there cannot be pseudo-light or bright darkness. As He desires us to be either hot or cold, He also desires and requries us to be consumed by His light that we might represent it to a world sprawling in the darkness. If we are in darkness, we are not In Christ and cannot bring anyone into His luminosity. As Christians, we have become righteous through Christ's righteousness and--as new creations in Christ--are compelled to shine His light to the world (Matthew 5:14-15). As believers, we are encouraged and required to preach the Gospel to a perishing world, for "God who said 'Let light shine out of darkness' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). We are lit from within, set on fire that we might shine anew! We are not mere reflections, but have become representatives, like flickering candles symbolizing an infinite bonfire. As we shine, we must also seek and thereby grow brighter. As seekers of the Light, we must dwell in the Light; if we dwell in the Light, our reward will be eternal (Daniel 12:3).

Bird's Eye View

"Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them." (Matthew 6:26)

Behold, the Lion!

This is what the LORD says to me: "As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey--and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor--so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights. (Isaiah 31:4)

The LAMB

"Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

As prophesied, Jesus Christ typified the Old Testament role as a "guilt offering" for the sins of humanity. As was customary in the Jewish community, the sacrifice of lambs had its origins in Exodus when the Hebrew slaves in Egypt sprinkled the blood of a sacrificial lamb on their doorposts that their firstborn sons might be spared as the Spirit of God passed over them; this holiday is officially known as Passover. For centuries afterward, the sacrifice of unblemished lambs endured as both a prerequisite of the law developed under YHWH and as a symbol of YHWH's promise to bring salvation to the nations. "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, he did not open his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7)

Throughout the Old Testament, the hope for a glorious future that would be brought about by the advent of God's promised Son, the Messiah is expressed with restless expectation. Of His numerous typologies, the person of the Messiah embodied gentleness and humility--the popularly viewed characteristics of a lamb. The protoevangelum in Genesis, which promises the victory over the serpent, Satan, is promptly followed by the allusion to God's personal provision of the sacrificial lamb (Genesis 22:8) who would also be His own Son. As a symbol, the sacrificial lamb prefigured the imminent suffering of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7; Acts 8:32; 1 Peter 1:19).

In accordance with the sacrificial system of Israel, the Messiah would--just as the lambs were intended to do, but fell short--permanently remove the stain of sin from humanity by way of His sacrifice. Just as the blood shed of innocent animals was intended to pay the debts of Israel, so the Messiah's blood would forever erase the debts of all mankind. Because no man can redeem himself, there existed an inconceivable need for redemption. Because mankind is depraved, he required One who was entirely perfect and righteous to save him (Romans 3:23).

While Christ typifies the sacrificial Lamb of God, He is also called the Good Shepherd in both the Old and New Testaments. Ezekiel 34 presents the Messiah as the loving Shepherd ordained by God to watch over and tend Israel. In John 10:11, Jesus Christ decalres: "I am the Good Shepherd, the Good Shepherd gives His life for His sheep", thereby reinforcing the validity of Scripture through its fulfillment. As the sacrificial lamb, Jesus removes our blight of sin and obtains for us salvation and eternal life. As our Shepherd, Jesus guides us, loves us, protects us against our enemies, and gives up His life for us. The purpose of Messiah's incarnation, sacrifice, and resurrection was that we might have life eternally. Jesus Christ, who was and is fully God (John 1:1) and fully man (1 Timothy 2:5), did manifest himself on earth, he did suffer and die, he did rise from the dead, he did ascend to the Father, and he will return for those who believe on His name.
"And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." (1 Peter 5:4).

The LORD is my Rock

I love you, O LORD, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved... (Psalm 18:1-3)

What I See

Due to the fact that I am a full time student, part time phlebotomist, and unremitting, irksomely obdurate perfectionist, I feared for a long while that the things I capture on film would go forever unseen by the public, that specific aspects of the world would remain veiled in insignificance. My fear of criticism has prevented me from "putting myself out there" for far too long. Not until recently have I concluded by means of an internal and spiritual revelation that what I capture on film does not, in fact have anything to do with me or my talents. What I see may include more than what many see, but that does not eliminate the fact that whether I see or not, beauty will exist nonetheless. I simply seize that which entrances me, something that which my attention affects not a whit, but rather affects me through seeing. Beauty is absolutely everywhere, penetrating and saturating and illuminating everything. There does not exist a person who does not find some fascination in at least one aspect of creation, and I say creation because it is my conviction that everything we see and do not see has indeed been created.

All of my life I have witnessed the beauty and glory and power of the LORD in nature. He has seen fit to provide mankind with an eclectic and splendid assortment of color, song, shape, space, texture, width and breadth, disposition, mold, order, substance, and essence. In all things, God sought not only to please us, but to reveal Himself to us. His beauty, His greatness, His sense of order, His creativity, His love, and His wisdom radiate through everything, thereby elucidating His nature and love for us. Whether we look at a mountain landscape or seascape and see nothing but sky, water, and earth or we take notice of the most minute detail--a leaf, the composition of a peacock feather, or the translucence of a grain of sand--we see what is there, what is meant to be seen, what is meant to demonstrate God's love for us in the great as well as in the small.

It is because the heavens declare God's glory that I have finally decided to share some of what I see when I look out on the world. I bare my soul to you in hopes that they will see the One who has taken up residence in it. I hope that you are as astounded as I am and I hope that the love that God has for you is revealed at least a little bit as you view them. I hope that they bring you pleasure! I will periodically post photographs of certain of my very few travels throughout the country and abroad, and expeditions around my own neighborhood. Perhaps, at the very least it will inspire me to find the time to photograph more frequently. Who needs to study, anyway?