Completeness

[Aquila]

Some thoughts on Genesis 1&2 and how it speaks of the new creation in Christ.

Completeness is the foundation of increase.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
(Col 2:8-10 KJV)


Without completeness there can be no increase. There are may illustrations of this, here's one-

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
(Gen 1:11 KJV)


This was the third day - the fruit trees all had seed within, life within, so that there might be increase in the earth.

Then the fifth day this is said:

And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
(Gen 1:22 KJV)

On the fifth day there is this word multiply. God does not add or subtract. If something has to be added it means it lacks completeness. If something is subtracted it is diminished. But when something can multiply it means it is complete and contains within itself everything needed to increase.

Now looking at the first day:

and God saith, `Let light be;' and light is.
(Gen 1:3 YLT)

The beginning. I like the way it is translated in the literal - 'let light be.' Being. A Being of Light.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(2Co 4:6 KJV)

If Christ is in your heart you are a new creation in him, a being of light.

Now on the second day we see this:

And God calleth to the expanse `Heavens;' and there is an evening, and there is a morning--day second.
(Gen 1:8 YLT)


Now there is an expanse. Not measured or limited, but the waters have been separated and the expanse is now present and everything that follows has an environment. We are mostly made of water and now the speaking of the word of God within creates heaven in us. That was the second day.

I started with the third day because it is the resurrection day and what is written in Genesis points to that with the fruit that has life in itself. Eternal life is inherent life. To receive Christ is to receive his life, he cannot be separated from who he is in resurrection.

Now the fourth day-

And God maketh the two great luminaries, the great luminary for the rule of the day, and the small luminary--and the stars--for the rule of the night;
(Gen 1:16 YLT)

Rulership in the new creation is from completeness, it is not imposed upon someone from without who is lacking. Jesus said that those who follow him will have the light of life. He is not presiding in a place in the earth but he is set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

The sixth day man is created, a person created in the image of God, a complete person, male and female, biologically perfect and able to increase because there is present in the genetic makeup everything needed for procreation. This is prophetic of Christ and his church.

Then day seven-

And the heavens and the earth are completed, and all their host; and God completeth by the seventh day His work which He hath made, and ceaseth by the seventh day from all His work which He hath made. And God blesseth the seventh day, and sanctifieth it, for in it He hath ceased from all His work which God had prepared for making.
(Gen 2:1-3 YLT)

Completion is the foundation of rest and peace. Without completeness there can be no peace.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(Rom 5:1-2 KJV)

[Aquila]

It's notable how many times the phrase 'first day of the week' is found in to NT. This lines up beautifully with the first day of the Genesis week and the way in which it pointed to the new creation and the new man. In resurrection Jesus is the first born among many brethren and the beginning of a entirely new creation.

He's called the last Adam and the second man -

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
(1Co 15:45-47 KJV)

I think that Jesus, in his resurrection didn't actually have to unwrap the grave clothing or even have angels to help him out of it like Lazarus did when Jesus told the people standing by to unwrap him. Instead, Jesus just sat up and stepped out. He didn't even need the stone to be rolled away to leave. The angels rolled the stone away so that men could see that the tomb was empty, it was for their sake. There are no barriers to the resurrection, not cloth or walls or distance or time.

That first day was and is a tremendous day of light. - For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(2Co 4:6 KJV)

This reminds me of another passage:

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
(2Pe 1:16-19 KJV)

On the 'holy mount' Jesus began to be revealed in glory when three of the disciples became eyewitnesses of his majesty. Today there is a famous place called the temple mount, but that is not the place referred to as the mount of transfiguration. Two completely different places and not to be confused with one another. Amazingly it is testified that those in whom Christ dwells have a more sure word of prophecy, even more sure than the time that Jesus' glory shone forth on the holy mount. This word is said to be arising in your heart, like the dawning of the day. That is what we are to take heed of, the work of the Lord in the heart, taking place and increasing even as the world is becoming more dark! The holy prophets all spoke of this -

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
(Isa 60:2 KJV)

The end result of this is the new man being made manifest and seen by all humanity. But now this life is hid with Christ in God but there is a time when the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
(Hab 2:14 KJV)

There is a definite time when the mystery of God, that great work he is doing in his saints, will be finished -

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
(Rev 10:7 KJV)

The mystery of God is Christ in you the hope of glory. It is that glory of which we speak. There is no other hope of glory other than Christ Jesus in your heart. The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, made clean and set apart for the Lord but the new man created in Christ is the work of God, the operation of God. This is what Paul means when he writes about being changed into his image by the Spirit of the Lord. Not a fading glory as was seen on the face of Moses in the OT but an excellent glory that surpasses the glory of the law in every way. Not fading but increasing, not condemning but justifying, not in part but complete, not a type or symbol but the substance of the resurrection himself, the treasure that we have in an earthen vessel. Whatever happens to the vessel, whether we are changed in the twinkling of an eye or the vessel is dissolved and we fold up this tent, it is sure that we have a building of God, a house not made with men's hands, eternal in the heavens.

[Aquila]

H7965
shâlôm
BDB Definition:
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
1a) completeness (in number)
1b) safety, soundness (in body)
1c) welfare, health, prosperity
1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
1e) peace, friendship
1e1) of human relationships
1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship
1f) peace (from war)
1g) peace (as adjective)

The true meaning of peace is completeness. Often in the world we get man's position on this which is basically an end to war or conflict. But the true meaning, or the greatest meaning has to do with the condition of the individual's heart and mind.

There's only one way to be complete:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(Rom 5:1-2 ESV)

Peace with God is conditional! It is all about believing in Jesus because this peace is through 'our Lord Jesus Christ.'

This peace is complete forgiveness, justification and righteousness. Not in part, not a segment or a measure but in fullness.

This peace with God is NOT dependent on anything OUTSIDE of you.

[Aquila]

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Php 4:6-7 ESV)

God's own peace, his completeness. As it says in Colossians, 'you are complete in him.'

Is it conditional? If I make my requests known to God and if I am not anxious. But making them known to man is not a requirement here. This has to be noted! There is no one OUTSIDE of you that can keep your heart and mind no matter who they are. We can walk with our brethren, not in front or behind, but with. And yet that is not the requirement for knowing the peace of God in heart and mind.