Christmas Controversy#2

Dr J Hernes M Abante

Genesis 6:8-13: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

[9] These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

[10] And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

[11] The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

[12] And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. [13] And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”[

The Great Reset marked a significant moment, revealing God’s indignation toward sin for the first time. All these events are necessary for God’s divine purpose and plan to unfold through human history. They also serve to deepen humanity's understanding of God's moral attributes and to demonstrate His remarkable grace. Grace cannot be fully appreciated without the presence of sin and its associated challenges. Man was created as a free moral agent, not as a robot, endowed with consciousness, reasoning, and the faculties to enjoy life—faculties bestowed in God's image.

However, humanity chose to thwart God’s plan by succumbing to the schemes of the devil, who relentlessly seeks to undermine God's will. After the Great Reset, the devil intensified his chaos, exploiting moral decay and chaos. The fallen angels, who perished physically when their human-like forms were drowned in the global flood, remained spiritual beings. As eternal spirits, they became disembodied but continued their destructive influence, working through various means to corrupt humanity.

Through Noah's lineage, God selected a specific nation—the descendants of Noah's sons—to preserve His truth and to protect them from eternal condemnation. God instructed this nation to exercise faith by obeying His commandments, trusting in His covenants. Despite humanity's sinful tendencies, a faithful remnant chose to adhere to God's decrees and trust in His promises.

The devil, however, swiftly acted by permitting his demonic angels to re-establish physical relationships with humans, leading to the ongoing existence of the Nephilim—gigantic, hybrid beings known for their violence and rebellion. These creatures contributed to humanity's turning away from God by fostering rebellion and chaos, aligning with Satan's rebellion against divine authority.

Satan began corrupting divine plans by promoting counterfeit religions. For instance, at Babel, he incited humanity to build a tower to reach heaven, symbolizing human pride and independence from God. He replaced God's appointed festivals and celebrations with his own, designed to elevate himself and deceive humanity into worshiping false gods. All of God's original creations and intentions were twisted into tools for Satan's pride and deception.

Since humans were endowed with a spirit—the awareness of God's existence—Satan sought to fill that void with false gods, leading to the emergence of numerous religions and pagan practices. Despite these deviations, God’s covenant and His promise of redemption remained intact, securing salvation for His chosen people, even those born outside of His direct will and plan. This universal message of salvation was given to all nations through the Gospel.

Throughout history, God's power and grace have been unmistakably manifested—not because He was competing with Satan, but to demonstrate His incredible power and boundless love. Many received the message of salvation, yet the majority continued to rebel and reject God's authority.

Many of God’s chosen individuals faltered by neglecting to claim His power, succumbing to the devil’s temptations. This reveals that humanity cannot triumph over spiritual darkness without God's aid. God desires His people to rely on Him constantly, not on their own strength. Every era of human history has shown humanity's repeated failure.

None of these facts implies that God is defeated or weak. He could have prevented all these occurrences. Instead, these events underscore that humanity is still unprepared for eternity.

(To be continued)