The Whole Creation
Written by: Delbert Magusara Haim
August 2012
Looking back in time, the twelve apostles of Christ continued preaching the gospel after Christ ascended to heaven as he commanded:
To the twelve apostles;
And to Paul He said:
From this short perspective of apostleship, we now have an idea of where the gospel preached in first century.
But did the apostles go to China?
did the apostles go to Malaysia?
did the apostles go to Japan?
did the apostles go to Philippines?
The answer is no!
The passage that says;
Basically, our mind will directly grasp at the context of the whole creation which consists of all living and non-living things on earth. But I believe that the context of the "whole creation" here is not a biological creation on the earth, it is a Covenantal creation of God which consists of two types of creatures. In that passage of Romans chapter eight, Paul is actually referring the "THEY" to the first creation nation Israel and the "OURSELVES" to the other one; the chosen Gentiles like Greeks and Romans. Jesus has already told them about this issue during his ministry that he have two flocks of sheep and the other sheep are not yet with him.
We know that Jesus was sent for the lost sheep in Israel but then when he found them and did witness wickedness, He died on the cross to forgive their sins. And the other sheep were called, the Gentile creatures. All of his apostles and gifted men this time were preaching to the whole world and gathered the sheep into one as now become the whole creation of God through the blood of Christ.
I know most of us will consider the concept literally that the apostles should fulfill their mission to go in the uttermost part of the earth, in all the places of where humans live. But that is not what it means, the reason why the apostles had only reached the places nearby Israel is because God had only chose few of them that came from various places of Greece, Rome and etc. Like Jesus saying; "many were called but only few are chosen".
According to the traditions:
Andrew – had preached in Scythia, in Greece, in Asia Minor and Thrace and have been crucified at Patrae in Achaia.
Matthew - he went as missionary to the Persians, Parthians and Medes. There is a legend that he died a martyr in Ethiopia.
Andrew - taught in Armenia, Syria and Persia where he was martyred
Peter - he was crucified upside down in AD 67 at Rome.
Paul - was then beheaded in Rome at the age of 67.
The truth about us today is we are the creatures of the New and Everlasting Covenant whom God had directly called by his own. And our faith is the evidence that He is in us and we are his people.
When he said; And they shall not teach every man; for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest, it means even they were dead, his words will continue calling forever and touching every man's heart. As he promised to say;
So, we are not called through his apostles but we are chosen through his words.
August 2012
Looking back in time, the twelve apostles of Christ continued preaching the gospel after Christ ascended to heaven as he commanded:
To the twelve apostles;
- And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mar 16:15
- But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Act 1:8
And to Paul He said:
- Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
From this short perspective of apostleship, we now have an idea of where the gospel preached in first century.
But did the apostles go to China?
did the apostles go to Malaysia?
did the apostles go to Japan?
did the apostles go to Philippines?
The answer is no!
The passage that says;
- For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Rom 8:22-23
Basically, our mind will directly grasp at the context of the whole creation which consists of all living and non-living things on earth. But I believe that the context of the "whole creation" here is not a biological creation on the earth, it is a Covenantal creation of God which consists of two types of creatures. In that passage of Romans chapter eight, Paul is actually referring the "THEY" to the first creation nation Israel and the "OURSELVES" to the other one; the chosen Gentiles like Greeks and Romans. Jesus has already told them about this issue during his ministry that he have two flocks of sheep and the other sheep are not yet with him.
- John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
We know that Jesus was sent for the lost sheep in Israel but then when he found them and did witness wickedness, He died on the cross to forgive their sins. And the other sheep were called, the Gentile creatures. All of his apostles and gifted men this time were preaching to the whole world and gathered the sheep into one as now become the whole creation of God through the blood of Christ.
- Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
I know most of us will consider the concept literally that the apostles should fulfill their mission to go in the uttermost part of the earth, in all the places of where humans live. But that is not what it means, the reason why the apostles had only reached the places nearby Israel is because God had only chose few of them that came from various places of Greece, Rome and etc. Like Jesus saying; "many were called but only few are chosen".
According to the traditions:
Andrew – had preached in Scythia, in Greece, in Asia Minor and Thrace and have been crucified at Patrae in Achaia.
Matthew - he went as missionary to the Persians, Parthians and Medes. There is a legend that he died a martyr in Ethiopia.
Andrew - taught in Armenia, Syria and Persia where he was martyred
Peter - he was crucified upside down in AD 67 at Rome.
Paul - was then beheaded in Rome at the age of 67.
The truth about us today is we are the creatures of the New and Everlasting Covenant whom God had directly called by his own. And our faith is the evidence that He is in us and we are his people.
- Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
- Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
When he said; And they shall not teach every man; for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest, it means even they were dead, his words will continue calling forever and touching every man's heart. As he promised to say;
- Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
So, we are not called through his apostles but we are chosen through his words.