Sermon: Introduction: A message older than time
Introduction: A Message Older Than Time
Before the world began, before the heavens and the earth were formed, there was a message. This message was not written in books or spoken in human tongues; it was woven into the very fabric of creation itself. It was inscribed in the letters of an ancient language, a language that predates even creation. This message is not just about history; it is about you, about us, and about the love of God that has existed from eternity past.
The Language Before Creation
The Hebrew language, in its ancient form before 600 AD, existed without vowel markings, relying solely on consonants. Each letter carried its own meaning, forming a visual and conceptual representation of divine truths. Unlike modern languages that rely on phonetics, ancient Hebrew preserved meaning within its very structure. This makes Hebrew not just a language but a message—a revelation from God Himself.
The name of Adam (אדם) is hidden within the word for 'ground' (אדמה, adamah). Adam had Spirit (א) and blood (דם). The word for "blood" (דם) itself reveals something deeper: Command (ד) fulfilled by the Son (ם)—a shadow of the cross given thousands of years before Jesus. This is just one example of how the Hebrew alphabet tells a story beyond mere words.
Since God spoke creation into existence using words, and words are formed by letters, the Hebrew alphabet is older than creation itself. And if these letters form a message, what does it say?
The Alphabet as a Message
Each letter in Hebrew is more than just a character; it carries meaning. When read in order, the Hebrew alphabet tells the story of creation and redemption:
- א (Aleph): God spoke and created the heavens and the earth.
- ב (Bet): He revealed to man.
- ג (Gimel): That He pursued them.
- ד (Dalet): With a command.
- ה (Hey): Which they did not understand.
- ו (Vav): It distinguished them.
- ז (Zayin): As the bride.
- ח (Chet): When they understood.
- ט (Tet): Through the marriage.
- י (Yod): They became a new creation.
- כ (Kaf): The Son of God.
- ל (Lamed): Taught.
- מ (Mem): The promise of the Father.
- נ (Nun): The Son of Man.
- ס (Samekh): Fulfilled the promise.
- ע (Ayin): By becoming flesh.
- פ (Pe): He spoke in parables and riddles.
- צ (Tzadi): He exchanged His righteousness for our sin.
- ק (Qof): The Son of God died and rose again.
- ר (Resh): Revealing.
- ש (Shin): That His word returns with an increase.
- ת (Tav): His completed work and revelation is your new life.
This sequence outlines God’s entire plan of salvation. Before creation, before Adam, before sin, God had already prepared redemption. The cross was not an afterthought—it was part of the divine plan from the very beginning.
What Was Missing in This Catechism?
Think about the religious teachings you may have grown up with. Consider the messages you’ve heard from pastors, teachers, and books. What is strikingly absent from this message?
THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION.
From the very beginning, there is no message of rejection, no wrathful destruction of the unworthy. The message embedded in the Hebrew alphabet is not about God seeking to condemn but about His relentless pursuit to redeem. His love for you precedes creation itself. The Lamb was slain before the foundations of the earth (Revelation 13:8). Before the first sin was committed, God had already planned the way back.
Discussion Questions
- How did Hebrew before 600 AD differ from modern Hebrew in terms of vowel markings, and what significance does this hold in understanding the language's connection to creation?
- In what ways might the Hebrew alphabet be seen as a divine message from God, and how does this perspective enhance our understanding of Hebrew as more than just a communication tool?
- What hidden meanings might be found in the Hebrew letters, and how do these meanings reflect key biblical concepts, such as the connection between Adam and the earth or God’s plan for redemption?
- How can the Hebrew alphabet be interpreted as a timeline of creation and redemption, and what insights does this interpretation provide into the relationship between language and God’s plan?
- How does the idea that God’s love existed before creation challenge traditional views of salvation, and what implications does this have for understanding God’s love and forgiveness in the Bible?
Conclusion: A Love That Came Before
This message—etched into the very alphabet, embedded in the structure of creation, whispered before time began—declares one profound truth: You were loved before you were ever born.
God’s love is not conditional upon your performance. It does not begin when you decide to follow Him. It predates creation itself. There is no condemnation in Christ, because His love and His plan for redemption existed before anything else. The question is not whether God loves you—the question is whether you will receive the message He has been speaking from eternity.
Before creation, God had already chosen love. Will you choose to listen?
