Ultimately God is in control and
determines the final outcome of all things. But he normally works *through - not
outside of or apart from - normal/natural means in bringing about his sovereign
purposes (i.e. The supernatural will of the Creator is usually executed by
means of or through the natural/created world).
Why is this? God values the natural or physical world (so much so he fully embraced it in the incarnation). After all he created all material things and said it was all very good (Gen 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31).
He also desires the full participation and interaction of the natural with the supernatural i.e. He values and enjoys our participation and interaction with him as physical, not just spiritual beings.
He also desires the full participation and interaction of the natural with the supernatural i.e. He values and enjoys our participation and interaction with him as physical, not just spiritual beings.
He actually created the
natural/physical world with exactly this in mind...so we could participate in
and enjoy the wonder, beauty and joy of who God is and enter into and discover
the joy of who he is as Father, Son and Spirit via created things. A major part (means) of him revealing
himself and his beauty is through the natural i.e. His creation (Psa
19:1-6). So much so that he choose the natural (i.e. the incarnation of
himself as a man) to reveal himself to us. He interacts with us spiritually are supernaturally through the natural creation.
We don't fully recognize how much Neo-platonism has infiltrated the church. This notion says only the spiritual
is good and the material/physical is not. In fact the physical world is often viewed
as an anchor and hindrance by many within the church. However this is not the teaching of scripture.
The abuse (misuse) of the
physical world or created things is our challenge, not the material world in itself.
This is why we will one day receive a glorified body and not be some disembodied spirit in eternity. It is also way Christ exists today in a glorified physical state and has ever since his resurrection and will throughout eternity as well.
This is why we will one day receive a glorified body and not be some disembodied spirit in eternity. It is also way Christ exists today in a glorified physical state and has ever since his resurrection and will throughout eternity as well.
Christ not only embraced our
humanity so he could give his physical life as a sacrifice for sins but so he could be the God/man i.e. the mediator between God and man, not just in the past but now and into eternity. He understands
both because he is both. To this day he lives in a physical (albeit
glorified) human body.
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*Operating outside the natural would be the classic definition of a miracle. The fact that miracles are rare also gives some indication of his value of creation and natural processes.
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*Operating outside the natural would be the classic definition of a miracle. The fact that miracles are rare also gives some indication of his value of creation and natural processes.
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Grace to you
Jim Deal