When we speak about the scope of Christ’s Redemption, we are going very, very, very far, wide and deep beyond the matter of human sin. His Redemption actually touches the whole Creation “for through Him are all things created, which are in Heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, whether they be thrones, whether … powers, all is created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things and all things consist through Him.” (Col. 1:16,17). The fall of man, which Satan caused includes the whole Universe, not only Adam, therefore it elevates Christ’s Redemption far above the narrow limit of human race and human sin and brings it into the most distant borders of Universe. This Redemption thus touches the whole Creation and not only all things, but touches the whole system and its configuration because the whole Universe was, and still is, influenced and infiltrated by the powers of darkness and evil. Hence, the work of Jesus Christ and His Personality touches a stunning range of things and matters, which we cannot even imagine (see also the Addendum).
A) The Redemption of the Universe begins with redeeming the SPIRIT OF MAN. This can be compared to the resurrection where our spirit with believing and confessing of our faith (Rom. 10:9,10), as it were, rose from the dead. Where Death ruled, a new Life began, new creation from the Spirit of God. This restoration, this birth of a new Life in our spirit took place in a moment. It was not a gradual process, but a momentary act of the Spirit. As Adam did not begin to live gradually, but in that moment when God breathed into his nostrils a breath of life (Gen. 2:7), so our New Man began to live as soon as he was born from the Spirit of God. We are not being born physically in a gradual manner either; it is an act, which lasts a short moment.
B) The Redemption of the Universe ends with saving the SOUL OF MAN, that is to say, with the perfection of man. Why do I relate the Universe with the soul of man? Because man is not only the center–heart of the Creation, but the Creation has its center–heart in man! If the Universe and everything in it was created by Christ and IN CHRIST, and if man is a member of His Body, he lives in Christ, then the Universe has its center also in that man, which lives in Christ. If the Lord were not resurrected, the whole Universe would have been shattered to dust and would have lost all meaning for its existence, which it has in Christ only (Eph. 1:10)! At His death on the Cross, the whole earth was already submerged into darkness as the Sun, which represents Christ, refused to shine (Lk. 23:44,45). Similarly, the whole Universe, that Magnificent Creation of God, has been in a continuous yearning waiting also for our “resurrection“ – for the manifestation of the sons of God – when it shall be delivered from the slavery and corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole Creation groans and travails in pain together until now (Rom. 8:19-22).
I do remind you at this point that the Salvation of our soul is neither a resurrection of our soul nor a birth of our soul as it is the case with our spirit, where it is a one-time act. With our soul, it is a continuous process to conquer the territory of our soul. It is a conflict, war, capture of the territory of Satan’s kingdom, its destruction and ejection from our soul and its replacement by the Kingdom of God – by our will and faith through Christ! If the kingdom of Satan would not exist in people, then it would not exist in the world either, because Satan would have no one through whom he could establish it and through whom to rule there. He is ruling in his kingdoms on earth through people. He had no kingdoms on earth before Adam and Eve! It is a similar fact as described in Revelation 12:9-12. The reasons for this war are the following:
The human NATURAL MIND, as a part of the natural soul, works AGAINST God, not always consciously, but at all times (Rom. 8:7) until it is renewed in its spirit by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:23). In other words, our natural mind serves Satan… even if it occasionally reads the Bible.
The human NATURAL HEART, as a part of the natural soul, works AGAINST God (Jer. 17:9, 10), not always consciously, but any time its desires, interests, emotions and intentions are set face-to-face with God’s Will, they are mostly unveiled as non-parallel, even contradictory and hostile toward the Will of God. Man may be conscious of this only when the Lord shows him this fact. This means that our heart serves Satan… even if it occasionally shows human compassion, goodness, even willingness to help, etc.
The human NATURAL WILL, as a part of the natural soul, works AGAINST God, therefore, God has to work in us so we would be willing to do is Will, His pleasure (Phil. 2:13). The more we walk with God, the more we discover how is our will in opposition to His Will and what power we have to expend in order to overcome the powers in our will, which resist God, resist also our coming to Him or obtaining from Him anything. This means that our natural will serves Satan… even if we occasionally decide for truth, for righteousness, for goodness, etc.
Our natural soul thus represents a realm of antagonism and an active opposition to God whether it is in pagan or in already redeemed believer. That realm is a kingdom of Satan. Of course, the degree of its antagonism and opposition to God is decreasing as we continue following Christ (Mt. 16:24). Our soul is in alliance with the powers of evil and darkness, hence, its salvation is an uninterrupted and progressive process… and we are not eager to get into it! My experiences with some Christians are very unnatural. At times, I have to “shout” to get their active attention so they would wake up from their soulish lethargy, would start registering and receiving and would be willing even to ponder their dealing with the truth, which was declared and which the powers in their soul have “no intention to consider”! Why? Because the truth from the Lord usually unveils our stupidity, pride, fear, insecurity, hypocrisy and unwillingness to seek truth, seek the Lord, seek the Kingdom and His righteousness! Some believers would, perhaps, be willing to debate the truth even whole days, but if that truth and that righteousness should start renewing the spirit of their mind, they would resist that like the devil resists the Cross! That might unveil their nakedness and shame. This process thus requires from us not only our willingness, but also perseverance and patience since in our patience we are to possess our souls (Lk. 21:19).
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To be continued next week
brother Hanola
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