Christ in Genesis—The Creation of Man

By Ron Bartanen        The creation of man originated in the mind of God.  It would begin with the creation of “the heavens and the earth, and the preparation of a paradise for man’s habitation, a bountiful garden, the garden of Eden, to be available for man’s food supply.  It would not be accomplished through thousands of years of  unimaginable evolution, but through six evenings and mornings, each, followed by a “day of rest”, thus establishing a period of time we know of as a week, as described in Gen. 1:1 to 2:25.   The pre-flood diet for humanity was vegetarian, consisting of the fruit of the garden (1;29-30).  Everything was in readiness then for humanity.      With the garden in readiness for human occupation, Adam was physically formed from the “dust of the earth” (2:7)”.  However, man was unique from the animals. And said to be “in the image of God” (1:26).  God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.”  Unlike the life of the animal-creation, man’s life is sacred in origin—the breath of the Creator.  It is thus described to Noah following the great flood: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man” (9:6).  The penalty established by God for murder is rightly the murderer’s surrender of his own life.       The sacredness of human life should also be recognized in the taking of a human infant’s life in the process of abortion, and be perceived as willful murder.  From the moment of conception in a mother’s womb, a human baby is a human baby, made “in the image of God.”     The account of the creation of man requires the recognition of Adam’s wife, Eve, the “mother of all living.”  “Male and female created He them” (1:27b; 2:18-24).  As is often noted, Adam’s wife was a part of himself—not of his head that she would rule over him, nor of his feet that he should walk over her, but from his side, nearest to his heart, that he might love her—a covenant of marital unity and loyalty.  The apostle Paul compared the love and unity of husband and wife to the love and unity designed in our relationship with Christ in Ephesians 5:22-35.       The attachment of Eve to Adam is seen in the fact that she was not taken from the “dust of the ground” as was Adam, but from what the King James version calls his rib (1:21),  I read that the word translated rib is “tzela”, which in Exodus 25:12-14 and 26:20 is translated as “side,” not “rib”.  Adam’s side was opened in the process of providing for him a wife.  It is interesting that this would fit this as a prophetic picture of the opening of the side of Jesus, whose side was pierced (John 19:24) to purchase His church “with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).       As Adam in Genesis is seen as the head of the human race, Jesus is portrayed by Paul as the head of the church—the “body of Christ” (Ephesians 5:23).  In 1st Corinthians 15 he goes into more detail, likening Christ to Adam in the context of describing our resurrection.  He refers to Christ as the second Adam, declaring, “The first man, Adam, was made a living soul: the last Adam was made a quickening spirit…. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven” (vs. 15, 17),  He expresses our hope in Christ to be raised from the dead, wherein our corruptible bodies will “put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality” (v. 23).  In verse 22 he adds, “As in Adam all die, even so, in Christ shall all be made alive.”      We can see Gen. 2:23-25 as the first marriage as so-defined by God as the marriage of one man (male) and one woman (female—the “one flesh” in the bond of marriage.  That’s God’s definition.       Man is the crown of God’s creation, but this is especially seen in Christ, the “Son of man” as well as the “Son of God.”   I’d suggest the reading of Hebrews 2, but especially verses 6 to 9, where Christ is portrayed as being made at His first coming “a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, (yet) crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (v. 9).

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com

Life’s Three Most Important Questions

By Ron Bartanen     I can think of no question more important than these three: Who am I? Why am I here? And ... Where am I going? The escalating number of suicides, especially among youth, may be largely attributed to persons not knowing the answers to these questions.  One may pursue wealth, pleasure and fame, only to find that becomes little more than a dead-end-street.      Jesus, more than any other, gives purpose to life.  He demonstrated it in His own life, His life’s purpose was to know the will of the Father, and to do it.  He said, “I must work the works of Him who sent me” (John 9:4); and again, “My meat is to do the will of Him who sent me” (John 4:34).     Being here because God wants us here, and realizing that He desires to grant us eternal life, we find purpose in His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, “I am come that you more abundantly” (John 10:10).       The successful life is not necessarily one of wealth and fame, but finding the will of God and doing it.  God calls us to serve.  With a purpose found in serving God, you will know who you are and why you are here.  Serving God in Christ, you will know also where you are going.

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com

The Road into Love and Patience

By Ronald Bartanen “The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5)     Have you ever found yourself in unfamiliar territory, unsure of what road to turn on to get to your desired destination? If so, join the crowd.  While it is disturbing to be in such a predicament, it is tragic to be spiritually confused, uncertain of what lies ahead.  This can be the plight even of Christians who have begun the journey on the Christian Way, as indicated by Paul in writing to the believers in Thessalonica whom he has commended for their “faith and patience” while enduring persecution (1:4).       While Paul is obviously not denying their love for God, or their patient endurance, yet he saw the need to desire for them divine direction into both.  Were they not already in the love of God and patience? Yes, and no.  To illustrate, a man may take a plane from London to New York City, and may phone his family, informing them that he is now in the United States.  However, as a Midwesterner I would say he needs to leave NYC, and go on into the United States because there’s a lot more to see than what NYC can offer.  When we come in to the love of God, we do not stop our journey.  It’s then just begun.     How extensive is the love of God? One of our songs expresses it in these words: “The love of God is greater far,/Than tongue or pen can ever tell:/It goes beyond the highest star,/And reaches to the lowest hell.:”  In the storms of life, God would direct us into the sanctuary of His love.     Likewise, the “patient waiting for Christ” does not end when one rises from the waters of baptism.  We do not sit down, gazing into the clouds as we await His return for us.  Jesus warns His followers to not be found sleeping at His coming (Matt. 24:36), but faithful in watching and praying, even as tribulation in the world worsens, saying, “Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).      The road into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ will not end until that day we stand in His presence.  Are you letting Him lead you into His love and steadfast patience?

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com

None Other Name

By Ron Bartanen     “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name Under heaven whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).     “The name” referred to, by which we are to be saved, is “the name which is above every name,” even the name before which “every knee shall bow” (Philippians 2:9-10)—the name of Jesus Christ.  Jesus commissioned His apostles to preach “repentance and remission of sins…in His name” (Luke 24:47).  The power to become sons of God is given “to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).  The convicted multitude at Pentecost were commanded to “repent and be baptized…in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).  Christians are admonished, “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).  Faith, repentance, baptism and Christian worship and service are all in the name of Jesus Christ.      When a thing is done in the name of another, it is by the authority of that person.  Every check you sign with your name gives authority to the bearer of that check to draw money from your account.  It is not so much the repetition of the name “Jesus Christ” as it is the recognition that we seek and honor His authority.      Denominational names imply a loyalty to the authority of that denomination.  Paul corrected those who declared, “I am of Paul,” saying, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:13).  Human, denominational names give honor to others than to Christ and divide those who claim faith in Him.  May we honor Him alone in our faith and obedience.

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com

The Creed of Atheism

By Ronald Bartanen       Atheism’s faith or creed is that there is no God, hence no creation. The cornerstone of that creed is evolution, the only possible (though implausible) explanation for the existence of all things. This cultic dogma is repeatedly drilled into the minds of youth in our tax-supported schools. Was it overwhelming scientific evidence that forced some to accept such a dogma? Not at all. Let Sir Julian Huxley, late president of UNESCO, and grandson of Darwin’s colleague, Thomas Huxley explained The real reason: “I suppose the reason we leaped at the origin of species was because the idea of God interfered with our sexual mores.” Nobel Prize winner and professor emeritus of biology Dr. George Wild, is quoted in Scientific American: “I do not want to believe in God. I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible, spontaneous generation arising to evolution.” This is why the debate over “Intelligent Design” is so heated in scientific circles. While evidence for creation mounts, and the impossibility of an orderly creation without a Creator becomes ever more apparent, some insist on still clinging to the hope that there is no Creator to whom they must give answer in eternity. As loyal cultists, they must defend their cult’s creed.     I believe this no-Creator creed of atheism is the foundation stone for the increasing disregard of Bible truth within our society today. If we, as humans, are simply the end result of millions upon millions of years of mindless evolution, life has little purpose. Our one rule of life, then, becomes, Let us “eat, drink and be merry,” with no thought of eternal consequences. Every person is left to be his own moral compass, unbound by any “thou shalt” or “thou shalt not” of Scripture. Schooled early in life to adhere to this simple creed, it becomes an easy step into sexual immorality, the killing of unwanted babies in the womb, thievery, drugs, transgenderizm, and anything else that satisfies our appetites. Is it unimaginable that the transition from “peaceful demonstrations” to rioting, looting, arson, and even murder becomes the new norm? Indoctrinated by the Prince of Darkness, the goal is to create for ourselves a utopia of self-gratification that would be totally godless. Any surviving religion or faith would be required to assimilate to the new standards. It is conceivable that verbal opposition to such standards would be considered “hate speech,” and the offender would be subject to penalty. After all, Biblical standards would no longer prevail, while humanistic, politically correct standards would be the obligation of all.   Am I exaggerating on this? Hear the apostle Paul: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears: and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:3).

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com

God Has Heard Me

By David Bragg

    Loneliness, especially among the elderly, can lead to becoming victims of online scammers. Recently, an 80-year-old woman in Japan was targeted by an online "astronaut." He claimed to be a Russian cosmonaut under attack while orbiting Earth. In this intense battle he was running out of oxygen and needed to purchase more. She ultimately transferred nearly $7,000 (U.S.) into an online account in his desperate measure to save his life (http://www.msn.com); 9-18-25).

    According to the article, victims in cases like this often feel marginalized by society. They feel alone, forgotten, unseen, and unheard. Perhaps Hannah wrestled with similar anxiety as years and years passed with her prayers for a child seemingly unheard by God (1 Samuel 1:19-20).

    Pouring out her heart before Eli the priest, Hannah finally received a favorable answer to years of praying. Tellingly, she named her firstborn son Samuel, meaning “Heard by God,” saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.” 

    Her story reminds us of the desperation of the world to be heard and recognized, and the blessing we enjoy as Christians with God we are heard. He listens to our prayers, and through Jesus (1 John 5:14) and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26), we are assured that He hears us

 

- David Bragg is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/ If you are in the Greensboro, NC area, please join us for worship: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

Whose Team Are You On?

By David Bragg
    Last summer the Associated Press reported on a very unusual baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees. What made this game so special was the participation of Jose Caballero. The Rays player seemed to have had a regular game through the sixth inning. It was during the seventh inning stretch that Caballero was traded … to the Yankees (AP, 7/31/2025).    If you think about it, how we grow as servants is so important because it is one of the major ways that we display to others which team WE ARE ON! Peter says that each of us have “received a gift” (1 Peter 4:10). He is not talking about a miraculous gift because of the examples he offers: to “minister” and being “good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” We are each set by God in the body “just as He pleased” (1 Corinthians 12:18). How am I using my God appointed gift?    Like Jose Caballero, each of us, as Christians, switched teams, as it were. We must be careful to avoiding switching back. It is up to us individually to decide what to do with the gifts that grow out of our maturing faith. Will we bury our gifts, or use them in service to others, and God?

- David Bragg is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/ If you are in the Greensboro, NC area, please join us for worship: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/