God's Plan - Step II: Gathering the Sheep

We remember the things we have established so far.
First - The problem of sin: Instead of walking with God as his image and friend. sin makes us enemies and rebels against God. We distort the truth which reveals the glory and nature of God so clearly that everyone will be unable to deny that they knew God even when they worshiped and served someone or something else. That sin affects absolutely everyone. Because we sin, we all die.

Second - God made a Plan: His plan was to provide a way of escape sufficient that every single human being could, if they are willing, avoid the punishment due because of sinful human nature and the actual sins they commit themselves. This plan also overcomes sinful nature, establishes a trusting relationship with God and brings some of the human race to enjoy the final blessings of that relationship.

Third - Step I; Paying for Sin: The first step was to ensure the payment due for sin was paid. That required someone who was free of the taint of Adam's sin, who never committed sin and who would lay down his life on behalf of man. No one was able to do that but God, Himself. So, Jesus came and did all required of him including the death of a criminal, though he did no wrong.

Fourth - Step II; Gathering the Sheep: At this point, it is important to remind ourselves that God is not like us. We are bound by time, God is not. We understand events in a linear fashion, God does not. At least two things make this quite clear. Describing himself Jesus says: "Before Abraham was, I am." Abraham's existence is conceived by Jesus differently from us, showing that he does not see time the way we do. Then when he turned water into wine he showed he is able to control the forces of nature even compressing time if need be, to achieve the effect he wanted.

Life from death: So, when we consider the valley of dry bones and God's question to Ezekiel: "Son of man can these bones live?" we already expect the result we see. What we do not expect is that God has Ezekiel pronounce the command which brings the bones to life. So the question becomes, was it God's power that brought the bones to life or Ezekiel's command. The answer depends on what element we are considering at the time, but simply put it was both God's power and Ezekiel's command (at God's behest). The bones represent the two parts of Israel but the principle applies to those who are long dead in sin and with no ordinary hope of ever living again.

This is the picture the Apostle uses when he says we are dead in trespasses and sins. Dead means no life and no ability to do anything. Like Ezekiel's bones sinful people can do nothing to help themselves they are totally unresponsive to anything spiritual. This is the reason why John tells us that when Jesus came to his own, his own did not receive him then goes on to describe why some actually did. He says they were those who were born ... of God. Jesus calls this being born again in his discussion with Nicodemus.

Old and New Testament: What was true of the Old Testament saints who were the "heroes of the faith" is true also of those in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit makes us alive as he did, for example, to those who heard Peter preach on the Day of Pentecost, and the inevitable result is they hearers repent and believe. Debates have gone on whether it was the power of God or Peter's sermon changed the hearts of the hearers but it's like thinking about the dry bones all over again. Is there a difference between Old and New Testaments here? In terms of the way the hearers are saved? No. In the people who were to be saved, yes! That's why the Church was given the sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit - so they would recognize it was no longer going to be only Jews added to the flock. God was now gathering his people from every tongue and tribe and nation.

The final extent: One of the things it is heard to find agreement about among Christians today is whether God intends the whole human race to be saved or just a few. Some would agree with those who limit it to 144,000 (on the basis of the Book of Revelation) but I think the language of the New Testament allows us to be more hopeful than that. Paul reminds us that when Jesus ascended on high he took his seat on the throne where he will reign "until all his enemies are put under his feet." The story of the kingdom heaven which Jesus reminded us is like a sower going out to sow implies the seed will fall mostly on prepared ground.

We are not given any more than a hint of these things for a very good reason. God wants us to concentrate on the work we have been given to do. This part of Scripture is designed to remind us that, God's plan will be successful - his sheep will be gathered (all of them), that those sheep include those from Old and New Testaments, from every tribe of man over the whole earth, and that, in the end all will acknowledge Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.