(Jesus, Our Re-Creator God - Part 1 | Part 2)
Although scientists and other religions have complex theories about the creation of the world, the Bible explains it succinctly. In this study, we're going to ask you to use your imagination to see how Jesus recreates us after He saves us.
The Scripture: Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
1. What does this verse tell us about the creation of the heavens and the earth?
If we want more detail, we have only to go to the book of John.
The Scripture: John 1:1-3
"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."
2. Who was with God in the beginning?
3. What does this scripture tell us (v. 3)?
In Colossians, the Apostle Paul explains Jesus' role in more detail.
The Scripture: Colossians 1:15-17
"He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
4. How does Paul describe Jesus?
5. What did He do?
Yes, Jesus is the Creator God. But that is not all He is. When we come to the Lord, we have a change of heart/mind. Our word repentance comes from the Greek word “metanoea”, which means to think differently.
The Scripture: Romans 8:5, 6
"Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.... the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace."
6. What do those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on?
7. What is in the mind controlled by the Spirit?
The Apostle Peter adds to this:
The Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3, 4
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires."
8. What have we received through God's divine power?
9. What else have we been given through God's divine power?
Yes, Jesus is not only the Creator God, but He is also the Recreator God. When we are saved, brought out of our sinful existence, Jesus also begins a process of recreation in us, a new beginning, a new life - yes, a new creation.
Think over your own life. What has happened to you since you were saved that indeed makes you a new creation? Or think about the people in the Bible. How many of them did Jesus not only create but recreate as well?
Zacchaeus
A tax collector, named Zacchaeus, wanted to see Jesus. Since he was a short man, he climbed a sycamore tree.
The Scripture: Luke 19:5-6, 8-10
"[Jesus]...looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus came down immediately. I must stay at your house today.' So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly....Zacchaeus...said to the Lord. 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house....For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.'"
10. What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus?
11. What was the result of their visit?
12. What was Jesus' response?
13. What do you think Zacchaeus' life was like after his meeting with Jesus?
The healing at the Pool
On another occasion, Jesus encountered a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years.
The Scripture: John 5:8,9
"Jesus said to him, 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked."
14. What did Jesus say to the disabled man?
15. What happened?
The Scripture: John 5:14
"Later Jesus found him...and said to him, "See you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
16. What did Jesus say to the man later?
17. Describe the man's life after his healing.
Demon-possessed man
In Luke we also have the account of Jesus' meeting with a demon-possessed man. Jesus ordered the demons to go into a nearby herd of pigs.
The Scripture: Luke 8:35, 37
"The people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind and they were afraid."
18. How was the man now?
19. What was the people's reaction?
The Scripture: Luke 8:38
"The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with Him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 'Return home and tell how much God has done for you.' So the man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him."
20. What did the man ask Jesus?
21. What was Jesus' response?
22. What do you think the man did next?
The Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13
"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and 'sinners' came and ate with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick....I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
23. Who came to Matthew's house while Jesus was having dinner?
Tax collectors who "sold out" to the Romans, were considered the most grievous sinners.
24. What did the Pharisees ask the disciples?
25. How did Jesus answer them?
26. What do you think was the effect of Jesus' eating with these men? Describe it.
Yes, Jesus is indeed the Re-Creator God!
We have looked at Jesus' "recreation" work in the lives of Zacchaeus, a disabled man, a demon-possessed man and tax collectors and "sinners."
In the second part of this study we will continue looking at some other people Jesus encountered and what happened to them.
(Jesus, Our Re-Creator God - Part 1 | Part 2)
The Answers
- God created them.
- The Word – Jesus
- All things were made through Him.
- He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation
- He created all things in heaven and on earth, everything that is visible and invisible, thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities.
- What the Spirit desires
- Life and peace
- Everything we need for life and godliness
- We may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires.
- "Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
- Zacchaeus said he would give half of his possessions to the poor and if he had cheated anyone he would repay him four times the amount.
- "Today salvation has come to this house. The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
- Your answer
- "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.!”
- The man was healed; he picked up his mat and walked.
- "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
- Your answer
- Dressed and in his right mind, sitting at Jesus' feet.
- They were afraid.
- To go with Him
- Jesus told him to go home and tell everyone what God had done for him.
- Your answer
- Many tax collectors and "sinners"
- "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
- "It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick...I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
- Your answer
All scripture quotations in this publication are from the Holy Bible, New International Version
(unless otherwise indicated)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, New International Bible Society
Copyright © 2003 by JoAnne Sekowsky