The Significance of Christ

Excerpts from the writings of T. Austin Sparks

And the Lord said, ‘Behold, the man has become one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he puts

forth his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever – Therefore the Lord sent him

forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man.

Gen 3:22-24

THE INTIMACY BETWEEN GOD AND MAN WAS DESTROYED

AND….. GOD TURNED HIS FACE AWAY

Numbers 6:25 – the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace

1 Chronicles 16:11 – Look to the Lord and His strength…. seek His face.

2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people who are called by my Name, will humble themselves and seek My face.

Psalm 4:6 – Let the light of your face shine upon us, oh Lord.

Psalm 27:8 – My heart says to you, ‘Seek His face,’ Your face Lord, I will seek.

Psalm 31:16 – Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

When the Garden was lost…..

A wilderness was birthed

DEATH

DestructionEvil

Temptation

Rebellion

Punishment

CURSED

Hopeless

Isaiah 40:1- Comfort, Comfort My people…prepare the way of the Lord…make straight in the wilderness a highway…

Isaiah 35:6 – Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert..

My God, My God! Why have you

Forsaken Me?

WHY DID GOD TURN HIS FACE AWAY?

READ: Ezekiel 28:12-19

Lucifer, Adam and the King of Tyre were all created beings, models of perfection,

wisdom and beauty.

Something was found in them that brought

corruption to that perfection,Beauty and wisdom.

READ: ISAIAH 14:12-15

WHAT DID THEIR NATURE CONSIST OF?

• Conceit

• Self-Ambition

• Self-Exaltation

• Jealousy

• Possessiveness

• Lust for Power/Position

• Rivalry

• Arrogance

• Selfishness

• Control/Power Hungry

PRIDEPRIDE

According to ‘Thayers’ – According to ‘Thayers’ –

An empty assurance which An empty assurance which trusts in its own power and trusts in its own power and resources and shamefully resources and shamefully

despises anddespises and

Violates divine laws and Violates divine laws and human rights.human rights.

God’s plan was to bring to earth God’s plan was to bring to earth anotheranother

manman (Jesus) that would totally contrast (Jesus) that would totally contrast this nature of PRIDE that was found in this nature of PRIDE that was found in

the first Adam. the first Adam.

God wanted to make it clear that Jesus’ was very God wanted to make it clear that Jesus’ was very different in nature.different in nature.

The Virgin BirthThe Virgin BirthThe BirthplaceThe Birthplace

His BirthHis BirthRejected by MenRejected by Men

His Family Lived in PovertyHis Family Lived in PovertyHis DeathHis Death