Cloning Human Beings
August 21, 2001
The debate of cloning human beings is heating up in the international
community among government leaders, scientists, and religious leaders.
Most learned minds seemingly blend together the issues of stem cell
research and cloning. Many sincere caring leaders who have a biblical
creationist point of view are concerned with where this technology will
go. Let me offer some thoughts to ponder.
In the beginning God created the heavens and earth (Gen. 1:1). When and
how the Creator created will continue to be debated in the public arena.
The key is "in the beginning God."
The transcendent Creator is revealed in Scripture as being
omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and immutable or unchangeable.
Nothing happens by chance. The invisible Creator created all that we can
view through the microscope or telescope. From His own resources, He
created that which is visible. He spoke and the worlds were framed (Heb.
11:3). He upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb. 1:1-3).
Spiritual law governs natural law. The Almighty sovereign One rules with
divine wisdom and love. He is in charge, and we are responsible to know
and do His will.
Scripture says God created man in His likeness and image. By
partaking of the tree of life, mankind had dominion to rule and
govern-he had a spiritual connection to the Creator's wisdom, knowledge,
and love to rule in his sphere of responsibility. Mankind's failure came
when he/they decided to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil. Sin and spiritual death entered the stream of humanity by man's
disobedience, and he was shut out of the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22-24).
Adam's biological age was nine hundred and thirty years before he died
(Gen. 5:5).
Throughout the Scriptures, which were written to His covenant people,
God demonstrates how He has always been in charge. The Bible reveals His
plan of creation and redemption. The "created Adam" did not
give God obedience, but the "generated last Adam" did. This
generated Son came through the virgin's womb (Luke 1:34-38; 1 Cor.
15:45-49). This was in the omniscient One's mind before time began. The
incarnate Son became the substitute to receive God's punishment for
fallen humanity's sin (Is. 53:4-12).
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through
Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is,
that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing
their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of
reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18,19).
After the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, He
sent forth the Holy Spirit to guide and empower God's New Covenant
people to co-reign with the Him, the Messiah (Rom. 8:16,17). From 30
A.D. to 70 A.D. the new creation, New Covenant people were established
through the apostles' authority and writings. The Old and New Covenants
co-existed until the parousia when Christ returned to judge those who
rejected His reign over them.
Today, we live in the everlasting kingdom with the everlasting covenant
(2 Pet. 1:11; Heb. 13:20,21). In our spiritual union with Christ and
Father God, we have a spiritual reign over the affairs of this life on
planet earth (Rev. 3:21). A covenant promise to us as the new spiritual
Israel of God comes from Psalm 115:13-18,
He will bless those who fear the LORD,
Both small and great.
May the LORD give you increase more and more,
You and your children.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's;
But the earth He has given to the children of men.
The dead do not praise the LORD,
Nor any who go down into silence.
But we will bless the LORD
From this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the LORD!
We are in a period of reformation that began in the sixteenth century.
The authority debate still goes on internationally regarding who has the
answers about the cloning and stem cell issues. However, biblical truth
tells us what God has done for His covenant people, who we are in
Christ, when we are living in history's timetable, and where God is
taking us. This shows us how to deal with the important current issues.
In my worldview, God is using information technology to reform and
mature His Church globally, so that she can deal with the stem cell
research and cloning issues. Other major religions will reject this
view. The warfare of words will go on. Those who come under the
spiritual authority of God's Word will speak words of spirit and life.
The Holy Spirit's enlightenment and power are behind His spoken word of
faith that comes from the apostles' doctrine in the Scriptures. The best
is yet to come as we dwell under the covering of the Almighty's
protection and provisions.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; (Ps. 91:1-6,9,10).
He will show us the path of life; in His presence is fullness of joy,
and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11). These
prophetic words will guide us. He who walks with integrity walks
securely (Pro. 10:9). The integrity of the upright will guide them (Pro.
11:3).
A. Wilson Phillips, Senior
Pastor
