The Cyber Kazbá

The Bible begins with creation and thus so does our quest of outlining God’s plan of salvation. Immediately one may ask, Why are we talking about salvation in creation? Isn’t salvation relevant only after the fall? This, I would argue, is too narrow of a view of what salvation is.

I’d like to begin with a different question: Why did God create the universe anyway? Now I am by no means in a position to answer this question 100% conclusively. Who can know the mind of God??? Yet, I think I might lend some interesting thoughts to get the conversation starting.

First, we must assert that God is completely self-sufficient. In other words, He doesn’t need anything, apart from himself to exist, have meaning, and enjoyment. So He doesn’t need creation at all. Yet we know that God must relate to himself in some way in order for this self-sufficiency to be true.

God, who is loving, loves himself first, wholly and completely. His love is a self-sacrificial love. But to who does “sacrifice” to? God is worthy of all glory, honor and praise. But who is there to give glory, honor and praise to God? God shows kindness, compassion, and justice. Yet who is object of these characteristics of God?

In a strict Monotheistic/Unitarian view of God, one must conclude that God would “need” some creature/creation to manifest these characteristics to. Thus, a Unitarian God is not self-sufficient. In essence God could not BE God without some external creation.
The Bible teaches not a Unitarian God but rather a triune God, consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God, three Persons.

It is not in the scope of this study to go into too much on the trinity here but it is necessary to mention it in the scope of soteriology and of course creation.

Because God is triune, He is able to manifest the fullness of His character utterly self-sufficiently. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit can express the character of God within themselves in a beautiful dance. Creation is not necessary in order for God to be God. Yet, it is in this beautiful expression of God being God with in the trinity that creates the occasion for creation.

Because God is love, and His love is often characterized by self-sacrifice; and because God so enjoys this sacrificial love He desires to share it. God then creates the universe so that His creatures can enjoy the same fellowship and love that occurs in the Godhead.

This is the occasion for creation, and the basis of salvation. Creation is thus, “saved” so long as it is expressing the nature of it’s Creator. When this happens creation fully enjoys the character of God and, in the case of Humanity, is able to mimic this character unto Himself and others.

So God creates the heavens and earth. I don’t have time to exegete all the interesting points of Genesis 1 & 2, nor do I have to patience to enter into the creation/evolution debate, but I would like to focus on two points.

The first point has already been touched on, this is the concept of the image of God. The image of God is assigned to only one of God’s creatures: Humans. As image bearers of God, Humans are to reflect the character of God, live in the character of God, and express the character of God to the rest of creation. Humans are not God, but rather Images of God who uniquely express God’s character in the realm of God’s creation. They are to submit to God, learn from God and act in accordance to God. Humanity is to think, feel and act like God. When this is achieved creation reaches its pinnacle of purpose and enjoyment.

The second point I want to mention in the creation narrative is the idea of God’s rest on day 7 of creation. Why does God rest? Is He tired? Did His rest ever end?

The language of the Old Testament and that of the Ancient near East is very different to modern conventions of communication. The creation narratives reflect language that is often connected to temples.

In the Ancient Near East (ANE) temples were the center of all religious, social and political endeavors. Temples were the places where the gods dwelt. Many temples took the form of a ziggurat, which looks like a flat top pyramid with stairs on one or many sides. People used to think that these were steps going up into heaven, but later archeology and cultural studies revealed that the stairs are not going up, but rather coming down.

The temple was the place where the god would descend from heaven and dwell in the midst of the people/land. When the temples were completed and “invitation” ceremony would initiate the arrival of the god to the temple. When the god took residence in the temple, he rested there.

The rest here does not mean sleep or relax. They didn’t believe that the gods were tired from their journey, but rather the rest of the god meant that the god was taking control of the people and the land for his own will and plan. It’s like entering the cockpit of plane and taking the controls in hand. This is how gods “rested” in the ANE.

So God creates the world as a temple for Himself. He is pleased with creation and calls it good and then takes residence there in order to carry out His plan for His creation.

Both the image of God in humanity and the idea that God desires creation to be His temple in order to dwell, express his character and carry out his will set the foundation of understanding what salvation is.

It is when Humanity is able to submit to the will of God, reflect God’s character to others and carry out God’s plan that Humanity is saved. Consequently, this also includes all of creation as Man is God’s viceroy in ruling the earth, he is to subject it to the reign of God. The role then of one who is/is being saved is manifest this picture and spread it around.

Salvation, therefore is not just limited to being saved from hell. It is much more than that. Salvation is bringing all things under the reign of God, where in which creation can enjoy the character of God and be truly blessed.