Mission (Creation Mandate). A. The Garden of Eden. 1. Intersection of heaven & earth. 2. God's kingdom on earth expr
Ps Bruce Fidler
Metanarrative
fidworks.blogspot.com
Metanarrative of Redemption – 22 Summary I.
Creation A. Genesis 1 interpreted in light of ANE & the rest of Scripture B. Creation purposed to be God’s cosmic temple, inhabited by his presence C. Fundamental goodness of creation (even apart from humanity)
II.
Image of God A. Image = Heb. idol B. Divine images: ANE & Genesis 1-‐2 1. Manifestation of the divine presence & glory 2. Mediation of the divine mind & will 3. Embodiment of the divine life 4. “Animated” by the divine breath/spirit 5. NOT the deity itself C. Two implications of Genesis 1-‐2 1. All of creation is “holy.” 2. Humans are to serve God as “kings & priests” of creation.
III.
Mission (Creation Mandate) A. The Garden of Eden 1. Intersection of heaven & earth 2. God’s kingdom on earth expressed through his living image 3. Relationship to God, one another, and creation B. “Work & take care of” the Garden; “Fill the earth” 1. Exploration, cultivation, expansion (cultural development) 2. God desires to fill the earth with His glory through his living image.
IV.
The Rebellion A. Spiritual death & loss of access to immortality & incorruption B. Relational dysfunction: God, one another, creation C. Creation still good, but teleologically frustrated D. Creation mandate continues, but is horribly marred (Gn 4) E. Protoevangelium: seed of woman will crush the serpent’s head (Gn 3:15)
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Ps Bruce Fidler
V.
Metanarrative
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Abraham A. Abraham is called to serve as God’s covenantal foundation of redemption. B. Abraham is called & blessed to set apart a people for God. C. Abraham’s task = generational transfer of the knowledge of God; Gn 18:19 1. Preserver of the true knowledge of God & his purposes 2. Provider of God’s blessing for all peoples, all nations 3. Progenitor of the coming Redeemer-‐Messiah-‐King
VI.
Israel A. Israel called to be a holy nation set apart from all nations 1. Holding to God’s truth vs. false beliefs of the nations 2. Living God’s morality vs. immorality of the nations B. Israel called to be a kingdom of priests for the benefit of all nations 1. Preservers of the truth (God, humanity, creation) 2. Providers of blessings (spiritual, political, economic, social, physical) 3. Progenitors of the coming Redeemer C. Israel called to be “high above all the nations” to draw the nations to God 1. Located at the international crossroads of the ANE 2. Law provides foreigners with justice, charity, & truth.
VII.
Exodus A. First major Biblical & preeminent OT reference to redemption B. Redemption of Israel from Egypt involved: 1. Deliverance from political, economic, social oppression 2. Deliverance from spiritual ignorance & bondage 3. Purpose = the knowledge, service, & worship of YHWH C. Exodus embedded in Law, festivals, Psalms, etc. (national identity) D. Template for God’s future eschatological deliverance
VIII.
The Land A. Land (the earth) is an important OT theme. B. Eden: a sacred space from whence humans were to fill & cultivate the earth C. The Promised Land (parallels to Eden) 1. Intersection of heaven & earth; God’s presence among his people
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Ps Bruce Fidler
Metanarrative
fidworks.blogspot.com
2. Ideal location for exposure to the ANE 3. Launching pad for the Gospel to go into all the world D. Jesus: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Mt 5:5 ESV). IX.
The Law A. Purpose: a tutor to reveal & preserve critical spiritual truths & moral imperatives in order to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah 1. God’s holiness & justice 2. God’s standard of perfect obedience arising from faith 3. Human sinfulness 4. God’s desire for relationship in spite of the above 5. Humanity’s need for atonement 6. God’s definition & provision of a sacrifice for atonement 7. Repentance & faith as the necessary foundational human response B. Nature: not a system of merit for salvation, but an expression of covenant loyalty based on God’s prior promises & actions, yet unable to internally transform humans
X.
Davidic Covenant A. Type (foreshadow) of Messiah, the coming king 1. Conquers all God’s enemies, establishing God’s reign to the full extent of Israel’s promised boundaries 2. Idealized, model king associated with God’s presence & reign B. Progenitor of Messiah 1. Promise of an heir whose throne will be established forever 2. Promise develops (post-‐exile): an heir whose reign will be everlasting
XI.
Solomon & the Temple A. Types (foreshadows) of Messiah & the Church 1. Idealized reign characterized by wisdom, peace, prosperity 2. Nations seek his wisdom (symbolized by Queen of Sheba’s visit) 3. God’s presence among his people 4. An echo of Eden & a foreshadowing of New Jerusalem on new Earth 5. Temple’s artwork & design symbolize the entire cosmos
XII.
The Prophets A. Mosaic Covenant enforcement mediators
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Ps Bruce Fidler
Metanarrative
fidworks.blogspot.com
B. Blessing: reminded people of God’s desire to bless them C. Judgment: warned people of punishments & exile if unrepentant 1. Primary sins: idolatry, immorality, & injustice 2. Moral law applicable to Gentile nations, not just Israel D. Restoration: encouraged people of future blessings after repentance 1. Restore the nation: return from exile, son of David as ruler, peace, prosperity 2. Renew God’s people: a new heart, cleansing, indwelling of God’s Spirit, a new covenant 3. Rule the nations: son of David subdues God’s enemies, rules with righteousness, extends salvation & God’s reign to the ends of the earth XIII.
Messianic Expectations A. Unfulfilled divine promises & prophecies over centuries leads to frustration B. Constellation of 1st century Jewish Messianic expectations (based on Scripture) 1. A Davidic-‐Messiah-‐King and/or servant of YHWH will do the following: 2. Gather, purge, cleanse, & bless Israel & the land 3. Establish God’s true temple with God’s permanent presence 4. Overthrow foreign oppression; subdue God’s enemies; judge the nations 5. Establish God’s kingdom; rule globally from Jerusalem; bless the nations: peace, prosperity & knowledge of God, leading to global worship of YHWH 6. Pour out God’s Spirit upon all flesh 7. Resurrect the righteous & unrighteous, punishing evil & rewarding good 8. Renew creation C. Popular belief: fulfillment in a relatively short time, precipitated by the prerequisite faithfulness of a righteous remnant
XIV.
Jesus Messiah A. True Israel: Reconsitution of Israel 1. Fulfills everything Israel was called redemptively to be & do 2. His life course providentially paralles Israel’s history. 3. Fulfills the Law & Prophets by his faithful obedience 4. Fulfills the Law & Prophets by fulfilling types & prophecies 5. Consequently, all the OT promises of God are “Yes” in him. B. True Humanity: Recapitulation of Adam
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Ps Bruce Fidler
Metanarrative
fidworks.blogspot.com
1. “The last Adam,” the “the second man,” of whom Adam was a “type” 2. Jesus retraces the steps of Adam, succeeding where he failed by offering lifelong obedience to the Father even unto death. 3. Sin, death, and the devil triumphantly defeated as demonstrated by the resurrection C. Isaiah’s Suffering Servant 1. Substitutionary suffering for our sins 2. Mediator of a new covenant 3. Salvation for Israel, the nations, kings, the ends of the earth XV.
Eschatological Framework of the NT A. “Last Days” = overlap of two ages: the old & the new Old Age
1st Coming
Ending
2nd Coming
New Age
Beginning
B. “Already, Not Yet”
Last Days
1. Tme between Jesus’ 1st & 2nd coming 2. Partial fulfillment of Messianic promises 3. Foretaste of the new & glorious age of the Messiah & God’s kingdom XVI.
Jesus’ Return A. One stage: general 1st century Jewish hope 1. All Messianic promises & prophecies fulfilled in a short time frame B. Three stages: predominant 2nd century Christian hope 1. 1st coming & church age 2. 2nd coming, resurrection of the righteous, the Millenium 3. General resurrection, final judgment & new creation C. Two stages: predominant post-‐Constantine Christian hope 1. 1st coming & church age 2. 2nd coming, resurrection of all, final judgment, new creation
XVII.
Church’s Hope A. Jesus’ resurrection: prototype for redeemed humanity & creation
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Ps Bruce Fidler
Metanarrative
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1. Transformation & renewal, not annihilation 2. Continuity with discontinuity, not radical discontinuity B. Jesus’ ascension: temporary destination for redeemed humanity C. Jesus’ return: the primary NT eschatological hope 1. Resurrection: incorruptible, glorious, powerful, heavenly, spiritual 2. Spiritual bodies = adapted to the life of the Spirit, NOT non-‐physical D. Rewards, reigning with Christ, renewal of creation, restoration of all things E. Creation mandate fulfilled: earth filled with God’s glory through his living image XVIII.
Church’s Identiy A. Body of Christ = God’s restored living image, true humanity, indwelled by God’s Spirit B. Temple = God’s eternal dwelling place where he is revealed & worshiped C. Bride of Christ = God’s eternal companion, helper, & intimate lover 1. The 2nd Woman & Last Eve to Jesus as the 2nd Man & Last Adam D. “True” Israel, yet not a replacement of historical Israel
XIX.
Church’s Mission A. Called to engage in Christ’s work of redemption 1. Sign = pointing to what is coming 2. Sacrament = mediating a foretaste of what is coming B. Evangelism, discipleship, & community formation are non-‐negotiable C. Holistic mission: proclamation & demonstration of God’s coming kingdom 1. All of life’s activities are holy (cf. the creation mandate) 2. Prophetic voice: evaluate & critique all human activity
XX.
Apostolic Gospel A. Jesus’ identity: Lord & Messiah (Christ) B. First coming: holiness, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension C. Second coming: resurrection, judgment, restoration D. Fulfillment of prophecy: 1st & 2nd comings E. Personal decision: repent & believe
XXI.
Conclusion A. “Heaven is great, but the resurrection is better!”
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Ps Bruce Fidler
Metanarrative
fidworks.blogspot.com
B. My Gospel Summary (adapted from Dr. Rice Broocks’ Gospel Summary) 1. The Gospel is the good news that God became man in Jesus Christ. He lived the sinless, obedient life we should have lived and died the just death we deserved in our place for our sins. Three days later he rose from the dead, proving that he is the Son of God, and after forty days ascended to heaven, offering forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and eternal life to all who believe him and turn from their sin to follow him as Lord. They will go to be with him in heaven when they die, and will return with him to the earth when he comes again bodily to raise the dead, renew the earth, and rule creation in righteousness with peace, love, and joy for the glory of God and the good of his creatures. C. Course Objective 1. Students should grow in their theological understanding of the biblical metanarrative of redemption in terms of (1) its grounding in the purposes of creation, (2) its cohesiveness throughout Scripture, and (3) its objectives in the present and coming ages, and consequently grow in (1) their awe of God, (2) their eschatological hope for the return of Jesus Christ, and (3) their desire to holistically engage in God’s mission now. 2. To what degree was the course objective achieved for you personally? 3. How do you hope to engage in God’s mission in this life? D. Further Study 1. The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative, Christopher J.H. Wright (IVP Academic, 2006), 581 pp. 2. The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology for the Church’s Mission, Christopher J.H. Wright (Zondervan, 2010), 304 pp. 3. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, N. T. Wright (HarperCollins, 2008), 332 pp. 4. Heaven, Randy Alcorn (Tyndale House, 2004), 560 pp.
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