Theology is a systematic study of things related to God. The Bible is but one of the authoritative sources of revelation from God. However, in order to make sense of these revelations and explain them to the world, many theological terms not found in the Bible, are invented. "The Blessed Trinity" and "Original Sin" are just two such examples. Without these terms, it is difficult, if not impossible, to discuss, explore and understand Christianity meaningfully.
In meditating the relation between the law and sins in Romans 7, I boldly suggested that Paul was writing a commentary on the Forbidden Fruit. In reading about the Spirit of God in Romans 8, I found a high concentration of the world "creation", six out of a total of seven in the whole epistle. Once again, I would consider Romans 8 a commentary on the Creation story found in the first few chapters of the book of Genesis. Though Paul didn't use the term, he was talking about the Original Sin.
First of all, the Spirit of God appears very early in Genesis.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God (וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים) was moving over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2).
As a digression, some Hebrew scholars beg to be different. They point out the possibility that "the Spirit of God" was not a correct translation. It could mean "a strong/huge wind" instead. But such an idea can hardly gain any currency.
The "Spirit" next appears in Genesis 6 where God decided to cut short the life span of man. Before that, man lived more that 900 years before they died.
Then the LORD said, "My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for he is flesh, but his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." (Genesis 6:3)
This was before Noah, even before man changed from a vegetarian diet to meat-eating in Genesis 9. So, the life-span of man was cut short, not because he ate meat, but because God's Spirit no longer abode in man.
What had happened? We all know the story of the eating of the Forbidden Fruit and of Cain killing Abel.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God (וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים) was moving over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2).
As a digression, some Hebrew scholars beg to be different. They point out the possibility that "the Spirit of God" was not a correct translation. It could mean "a strong/huge wind" instead. But such an idea can hardly gain any currency.
The "Spirit" next appears in Genesis 6 where God decided to cut short the life span of man. Before that, man lived more that 900 years before they died.
Then the LORD said, "My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for he is flesh, but his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." (Genesis 6:3)
This was before Noah, even before man changed from a vegetarian diet to meat-eating in Genesis 9. So, the life-span of man was cut short, not because he ate meat, but because God's Spirit no longer abode in man.
What had happened? We all know the story of the eating of the Forbidden Fruit and of Cain killing Abel.
As a result of the eating of the Forbidden Fruit, sin entered the world and the ground was cursed.
And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,'cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:17-19)
Why was Adam, the offender, not cursed? Rather, the ground was cursed instead. Probably it was because Adam was the first copy of the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). But very soon, it was man's turn to be cursed.
As Abel's blood was shed and received by the ground, Cain was cursed. Man was cursed for the first time.
And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." (Genesis 4:10-12)
Sin began to spread. What happened to the Spirit of God in such a sinful environment? Genesis tells us that the Spirit of God simply left the stage because man is flesh (Genesis 6:3). Does the word "flesh" ring a bell? Yes Romans 7 & 8. The word "flesh" appears 21 times in Romans. Romans 8 alone accounts for 13 occurrences! The following quotation explains Genesis 6:3 very well.
for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (Romans 8:13-14).
And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,'cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:17-19)
Why was Adam, the offender, not cursed? Rather, the ground was cursed instead. Probably it was because Adam was the first copy of the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). But very soon, it was man's turn to be cursed.
As Abel's blood was shed and received by the ground, Cain was cursed. Man was cursed for the first time.
And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." (Genesis 4:10-12)
Sin began to spread. What happened to the Spirit of God in such a sinful environment? Genesis tells us that the Spirit of God simply left the stage because man is flesh (Genesis 6:3). Does the word "flesh" ring a bell? Yes Romans 7 & 8. The word "flesh" appears 21 times in Romans. Romans 8 alone accounts for 13 occurrences! The following quotation explains Genesis 6:3 very well.
for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (Romans 8:13-14).
Adam and his sons made the ground cursed. The whole creation has since been contaminated by sins. Everybody suffers. The whole creation suffers. This is the concept of the "Original Sin". How can man get out of this helpless situation? Paul has the following suggestion.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God;
for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies(Romans 8:19-23).
The sons/children of God will set the creation free. How? Let's talk about it tomorrow.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God;
for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies(Romans 8:19-23).
The sons/children of God will set the creation free. How? Let's talk about it tomorrow.
Dear Lord, May Your Spirit come to refresh the whole creation. Amen.
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