Aliens and Scripture - 3

Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Who can gaze even upon a model of our anatomy without wonder and awe? Who could dissect a portion of the human frame without marvelling at its delicacy, and trembling at its frailty? The Psalmist had scarcely peered within the veil which hides the nerves, sinews, and blood-vessels from common inspection; the science of anatomy was quite unknown to him; and yet he had seen enough to arouse his admiration of the work and his reverence for the Worker.

Joseph Addison Alexander (1864): I thank thee, because fearfully I am distinguished; wonderful (are) thy works, and (that) my soul knoweth right (well). He makes it a subject of grateful acknowledgment, that God has distinguished him or made him to differ from inferior creatures, both in constitution (what man is by nature) and in destiny (what man is created for).

David thanks God because God made him wonderfully different from the animals—not only in how he was created, but also in the eternal purpose for which he was created.

Psalm 139:14 is David's thankful acknowledgment that God has uniquely distinguished humanity from the rest of creation.

David sees himself as one example of God's marvelous works and expresses his heartfelt conviction that this is true.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

10For we are God’s masterpiece (workmanship, esv). He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Workmanship = ποίημα poiēma = that which is made or done; a work, workmanship, creation.

It refers to the fact that the church is God’s special work of art. The word poiēma may also be rendered masterpiece.

God has made man uniquely distinct from all other creatures, setting him apart as the awe-inspiring masterpiece of His creation.

Both the creation account in Genesis and these verses clearly show that man did not evolve from other species over a long period of time. Man was created in an instant by our Creator, the Most High God.

The lie of Evolution teaches that man and the universe was formed over a long period of time (millions of years).

Exodus 33:14–16 (NIV84)

14The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Distinguish = פָּלָה palah = to be distinguished (different): to be marked as different from something else, either physically or perceptually.

(Same word used in Psalm 139:14, wonderfully.)

Not only is mankind distinguished from all the other creatures that God has made, Christians are also distinguished, set apart from all the other people on the face of the earth by the presence of God.

1 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV84)

6Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.

The words and teachings of Scripture are ultimately sufficient and true. Truth is not dependent on the personality or charisma of those who teach.

To not go beyond what is written means to focus on Jesus and His Word above all else. It means to trust that the Bible has all the answers and truths we need to live a holy and pleasing life before God—we don’t need anything beyond what God has provided for us in His Word.

Hebrews 1:10–2:9 (NIV84)

1:10He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

11They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.

12You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

13To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

2:1We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,

3how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.

6But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

7You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor

8and put everything under his feet.” In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.

9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

The Bible knows only three categories of intelligent beings.

God

Angels (holy and fallen)

Humans

If someone reports interaction with an intelligent supernatural entity, Scripture would classify it under the realm of angels or demons—not extraterrestrials.

James 3:13–17 (NIV84)

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.

15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Much of the discourse about aliens and UFOs results in fear and confusion. It exhibits the characteristics of earthly rather than heavenly wisdom.

The Word of God brings out the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The “wisdom” of the world that espouses talk of aliens and UFOs “does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil (demonic).

The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving (peaceable), considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

John 3:16 (NIV84)

16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

What about the redemption when it comes to aliens? Is that possible?

What is the process of redemption?

Kinsman-Redeemer

Ruth 4:13–15 (NIV84)

13So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

14The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!

15He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

Kinsman-redeemer = גָּאַל gō’ēl = a man who was legally able to redeem his close male relative’s wife in order to bring up sons for the deceased’s lineage.

Male relative who, according to various laws found in the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act for a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need of vindication.

Deuteronomy 25:5–10 (NIV84)

5If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.

6The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

7However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.”

8Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, “I do not want to marry her,”

9his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, “This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother’s family line.”

10That man’s line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandaled.

Family and heritage were of paramount importance in Old Testament times. A man who had many sons considered himself blessed by God because his family line would increase and prosper through his offspring.

It was a terrible tragedy for a man to die without a son, as the inheritance and family name were perpetuated through the male line.

It meant the family name would die out, and the ancestral property would go to someone else. In the eyes of the world at large, it was a sign of God’s disfavor if a man died without an heir.

For this reason, the law made provision for a kinsman redeemer, known as the levirate law.

This stipulated that a close relative of the dead man could marry the widow on behalf of the deceased. (See Deuteronomy 25:5-10.)

Their firstborn son would take the name of the deceased, and he would inherit all of that man’s property.

In this way, the family line was continued, and the inheritance remained in the dead man’s family.

All of Naomi’s sons had died, and Ruth’s late husband had not produced a son.

They had already lost the family property through poverty, and the future looked bleak for both women.

Unless a close relative was willing to step up and marry Ruth, there was no hope for the family line.

Leviticus 25:23–28 (NIV84)

23“ ‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.

24Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

25“ ‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold.

26If, however, a man has no one to redeem it for him but he himself prospers and acquires sufficient means to redeem it,

27he is to determine the value for the years since he sold it and refund the balance to the man to whom he sold it; he can then go back to his own property.

28But if he does not acquire the means to repay him, what he sold will remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will be returned in the Jubilee, and he can then go back to his property.

The right and responsibility to redeem someone’s land fell to a close relative, a man called a gō’ēl, or a kinsman-redeemer.

When God gave his law through Moses, he stipulated that the redemption of property was to be carried out by the next-of-kin.

Thus, the impoverished or the imprisoned were to be rescued by members of their own families.

The responsibility for redemption fell to his kinsmen, the man’s own flesh and blood so that the man’s name and property would never leave the family.

Boaz acted as the kinsman-redeemer for both Naomi and Ruth.

Boaz combines the ideas of Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 25. He redeems Elimelech's property (Lev. 25) and marries Ruth to preserve the deceased's family line (Ruth 4:5–10).

These are two separate Mosaic laws, but in Ruth they work together to form a beautiful picture of redemption.

Redemption through Jesus

1 Timothy 2:5–6 (NIV84)

5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

Mediator = μεσίτης mesitēs = a negotiator who acts as a link between parties.

As a ransom = ἀντίλυτρον antilytron 1x = what is given in exchange (as payment) for the release of someone held captive.

The means or instrument by which release or deliverance is made possible.

To whom was the ransom paid?

God was wronged by human sin, yet he showed his great love in providing redemption (Jn 3:16). God declared humans guilty for their sin and imposed the death penalty for human transgression.

Thus, Scripture indicated that the ransom was really directed by Christ to the Father.

R.C. Sproul: When the Bible speaks of a ransom, it was paid, not to the devil, but to the one who was the offended party in the whole process of sin.

Who is that? It is God. Jesus, as the Servant of God, offered himself in payment to God for us.

John Owen (1616-1683): The price of redemption is to be paid to him who detains the captive by way of jurisdiction, right, and law-power.

That God is he who thus detained the captive was also proved before.

He is the great householder that calls his servants, that do or should serve him, to an account.

Ephesians 5:1–2 (NIV84)

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

There are many false teachers who teach that Christ purchased ransom for sinners by literally suffering in hell (rather than atoning for sin through His death on the cross).

They surmise that when He died He descended into hell and suffered there in order to render a payment for sin to Satan.

Nothing in Scripture implies that Satan has any legitimate claim on sinners.

Satan is not the one who must be propitiated, or satisfied, before sinners can be redeemed.

The biblical word ransom alone simply means “redemption-price.”

There is no biblical warrant to conclude that Satan has any authority to demand such a price for the salvation of sinners.

Satan himself is under God’s condemnation (Matt. 25:41); so he is in no position to demand any payment for the souls of sinners.

Scripture clearly teaches that Christ’s atonement was a sacrifice to God: “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:2).

Speaking prophetically of the death of Christ, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “The Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief … He would render Himself as a guilt offering” (53:10, nasb95).

The guilt offering was an offering given to God; the purpose of Christ’s dying was to satisfy the claims of God’s justice, not to compensate the devil.

1 Peter 1:13–21 (NIV84)

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

17Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,

19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Redeemed = λυτρόω lytroō = to be or become redeemed by the payment demanded for one’s return; used of a captive.

Redemption: (Easton’s Bible Dictionary) the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom.

Redeem: (Nelson’s New Christian Dictionary) To regain possession of something that was lost; save, rescue, or deliver.

Applied in the New Testament to the saving act at Calvary by which Christ redeemed His people through his blood.

So, who did Jesus die for?

Did He die for any other creatures besides man?

(Next Week!!! The Lord Willing)

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