FRIDAY – CREATOR AND REDEEMING KING?
THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD
This is My Father’s World
And to my listening ears
All nature sings
And round me rings
The music of the spheres
This is my Father’s world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees,
Of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought
ALL GLORY, LAUD AND HONOR
All Glory, Laud and Honor
To Thee Redeemer King
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring
Thou art the King of Israel
Thou David’s royal Son
Who in the Lord’s Name cometh
The King and Blessed One
Two great but different hymns. Two different verses. Two different thoughts. Two different focuses. One focus on God as Creator, the other on God as Redeemer.
If we focus only on God as Creator, we will fail to enjoy an eternal relationship with Him. The theology of religions other than Judaism and Christianity will focus on God as Lord of Creation who deserves man’s allegiance and obedience to earn a place in the Kingdom of God (KOG).
Biblical Judaism and Christianity are different. They teach of a Creator God who redeems in order to be known. Without His redeeming work there is no knowing the Creator God.
But knowing the Creator God though His redeeming work has its responsibilities. When the Lord of Creation is embraced as the Redeeming Lord, the redeemed strive to demonstrate their appreciation for His redeeming work by seeking to know and live His revealed will. Their focus shifts from God being the Lord of Creation to one of demonstrating that the God of Redemption is Lord of their life as an act of appreciation for His redeeming work now embraced through faith.
NAU 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
NIV 2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
KJV 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.