Restoration of All things

Creational Restoration

For too long the community of God has been subjected to escapism as a reward, moving to heaven, heaven becoming a place, yet even Jesus’s prayer was to bring this domain called heaven to earth, this was the eternal plan. Restoring and transforming this world to Gods ultimate intention is the purpose and plan of God. God formed a family, a human family to be in union with God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to reign. What a stunning prospect and plan!

This suggests that the garden in Genesis 2 is not simply a “natural” phenomenon, but rather a Divine purpose in which humans are to participate, to be in union with God to bring about a display of God/heaven on earth.  Not only are humans made from the ground (v. 7), but they are made for the ground, with a specific task or vocation in mind.

Genesis 1:26 tells of the design of God for humanity,words such as rule, dominion have been interpreted as domination yet Genesis 2 clearly fills out the way we are to bring rule, Genesis 2:15 portrays the original human purpose in ruling/dominion as tilling (working/developing) and keeping (protecting/caring for, cultivation) the garden, actually SERVING creation not commoditising and raping our creation.

Genesis 2 represents agriculture (a cultivated garden) as the first communal, purpose of humanity. Since it is the creator who first planted the garden, and we are to be the image and likeness of God, it has a creational implication on us, God initiated the first cultural purpose, setting a pattern for image and likeness to follow.

Consider Together:

· Marriage of Heaven & Earth not a great divorce

· Genesis first temple

· Heaven is a wonderful place

· Complete healing, creation restored, true shalom.

· A theology beginning at Genesis 1 not Genesis 3

· Salvation means creation healed

· Rapture and all that stuff…

God Keeps Giving the gift of creation daily

'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God'

(Rev 21.3).

Please Remember

* bring cloth suitable for the season as parts of the day may be outside

* bring a packed lunch

* bring a water bottle and a coffee mug

Nettle Hill will provide refreshments and biscuits