The Bible and Animals, Part Two

We left off on Part One discussing some key points in scripture regarding:

• Are animals created to be our companions?
• Do animals have souls/spirits?

We continue now with article 51 from our sister page, Animal Christian Concern.  More can be found here about ACC, and to purchase the book, there is a link on the side bar of the blog under “Feature Book” or go here (all proceeds go to animal sanctuaries and humane research).

THE BIBLE AND ANIMALS
Part Two

Were animals redeemed with the death of Christ?

“And by having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him, to reconcile all things unto Himself . . . I say whether they be things in earth or things in Heaven.” – Colossians Ch.l:20

“For He [Jesus] must remain in Heaven in the final recovery of all things from sin …” – Acts 3:21

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one – all things in Christ, both of which are in Heaven, and which are on Earth …” – Ephesians Ch2:l0

“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption [death] into the glorious liberty [resurrec­tion] of the Children of God.” – Romans Ch.8:21

The emphasis in each of these verses is the recovery or retrieval of those things which were lost at the Fall in Genesis. When Adam fell, he not only brought death to himself and all human beings, he brought death to all creation; animals, plants, stars – all of creation.

You will notice in the first passages cited above, the stress that is placed on the words: all things. No deep analysis is needed here. It means exactly what it says: everything . . . Everything that was lost. Not just human beings. The redemption accomplished by Jesus on the cross was total, complete. There was no “partial” victory. The last word Jesus spoke from the cross was the Greek: Teleo. It literally means “Paid in Full.” Not paid in part. Satan has been denied any semblance of victory.

In the last verse, Paul inserts the word “also” to tell us that it is not just people who have been redeemed and delivered, but the creature also. In other words, there was more redeemed at the cross than you and me. It has all been recovered: people, plant life, and animals.

Words relating animals to eternal life

 ZOE

A Greek word meaning life, but almost always in conjunction with Eternal Life as opposed to the Greek word, psuche, which always refers to temporal life … It is the root word for zoon (Greek for animals), and for Zoo, Zoology and dozens of other English words pertaining to animals. It is also worth noting that the Latin word for “soul” is anima from which we get animal and animate.

PRESERVETH

Psalm 36:6
Oh Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

Preservest is the Hebrew word, Yasa, meaning to save, deliver, rescue, eternal life. In Zechariah 9:9, we see that same word translated as “bringing salvation”.

ELOHIM (God)

Hebrew: Meaning Creator and preserver of His creation.
Again, Preserver = Eternal Life.

BLESSED

Blessed is the opposite of cursed. It means with God’s favour, salvation and eternal life. Throughout Scripture blessed pertains to righteous people, animals and to God Himself.

The God awareness of all creation

Psalm 104:24-30
“O Lord, how many and varied are Your works! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your riches and Your creatures. Yonder is the sea, great and wide, in which are swarms of innumerable creeping things, creatures both small and great. There go the ships of the sea, and Leviathan which You have formed to sport in it. These all wait and are dependent upon You, that You may give them their food in due season. When You give to them they gather it up; You open Your hand, and they are filled with good things. When you hide Your face, they are troubled and dismayed; when You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.”

This passage tells of the God awareness in animals, i.e., “They are troubled and dismayed” when God hides His face.

When you send forth Your Spirit and give them breath, they are created; and You replenish the face of the ground.

“Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine . . . the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof . . . For every beast of the for­est is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all of the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are Mine . . . for the world is Mine and all the fullness thereof. The Lord reigns: let the earth rejoice. Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the Lord thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.” – Job 41:11, Psalm 24:1, 50:10-12, 97:1 and Deuteronomy 10:14

“And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth’” – Genesis Ch.9:l2,13

We are to be caretakers of all that God has made – to treat it with respect, tenderness, compassion and sensitivity.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.” – Luke Ch.l2:6

God has a unique relationship with every one of His creatures.

ALL WERE CREATED WITH GOD’S SPIRIT – ALL ARE ETERNAL – ALL WILL RETURN TO THE GOD WHO MADE THEM

Thank you for following and reading our blog, we hope you are blessed by it!

Please consider reminding your Church leaders of their Biblical Responsibilities to animals; the Gospel’s message is intended to be preached to and for the whole creation!  Thank you ~ Kathy