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Elmar Roberg
GCI Elder
+27 82 651 5138 eroberg@gci.org.za
Reference (NRSV The New Revised Standard Version)
Theme: Theological development and unity
1 Peter 4:13-18 |
Important words
Union
Union vs. fusion
Ontological union
Hypostatic union
Spiritual union
Objective vs. subjective Covenant
Indicatives (principles)
At the universal level
Objective
Imperatives (obligations)
Response at the personal level
Subjective
Bilateral, unilateral
Contract
Conditions / penalties, cancellation
Bi- / multi-lateral
Monism vs. Dualism Old man / new man, ….
“all are included”
Relationship
Subjective
MUST include participation
Of the whole person
Agency
Mind
Will
Body Obedience (2Cor10.3-5)
God (as person)
Father, Son, Holy Spirit (as persons)
You, me (as whole persons)
All of humanity “Adam” (as person)
Made real by interaction
Analogy: natural and legal persons
Why covenant, not contract?
Contract
Imperatives precede indicatives Imperative = condition
Indicative = benefits of contract
Tit for tat (IF … THEN …)
Penalties for infringement
Needs disputes process
Higher authority to appeal to
Contract is honoured, or breach
Non-compliance → cancellation
Thus is by nature conditional Covenant
Indicatives precede imperatives
Indicative = benefits of covenant
Imperative = obligation
Has no conditions
Consequences for infringement
Usually involves new IDENTITY
We live a covenant
Can be bilateral (e.g. marriage)
Can be unilateral (e.g. agape love; God → Israel; Church)
No higher authority to appeal to Thus must be unconditional
How do you turn a covenant into a contract?
Faith vs. trust
Faith (being)
Noun
Is / Is not (being)
Trust (doing)
Verb
Involves action (agency)
Demonstrates faith
Word (saying)
Consistent with faith & trust
Words have wings
Working out your own salvation
(Phil2.12; Jam2.14-26)
Faith without “works”
(Mat 18.23-35; 22.2-14; 25.1-13, 14-
30
Relationship: a gift
In Christ, all of humanity is able to be
reconciled to God
The Father wishes for it
Through Christ the means is made possible
By the Holy Spirit, it is realised (made real)
CANNOT experience the full benefits if we do not participate
ENTER into the relationship STAY in the relationship
ENGAGE in the relationship
With all our efforts, hearts, wills, minds, and
bodies
ALL people
Are potentially Christians
Can be considered “virtual” Christians
Have been saved in principle by Christ (de
jure)
In the hypostatic union
NOT all
Have ben saved in actuality (de facto)
Are believing
Are responding to the reality, or even receptive to it
Are worshipping God in Spirit
Are active witnesses to Jesus Christ
Are actual Christians
Are in spiritual union with Christ, experiencing the love of the Father, and in communion with the Holy Spirit
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with all of you. (2Cor13.14)
2Cor 5.14-21
… we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Fullness of life in Christ
Glorification;
Sharing fully in the Son’s communion with the Father;
Christ’s upward calling
Where humanity is, because of sin
What the result is
Actions / attitudes
Alienation from God |
Resisting the Holy Spirit |
Rebellion
Passing away Pride
death in sin Self-will
Self-sufficiency
Fullness of life in Christ
Glorification;
Sharing fully in the Son’s communion with the Father;
Christ’s upward calling |
The challenge:
We are all born somewhere here
Passing away death in sin
Fullness of life in Christ
Glorification;
Sharing fully in the Son’s communion with the Father;
Christ’s upward calling |
The challenge:
We are all born somewhere here
Passing away death in sin |
Pays all debts; releases hold of Satan
Sets man free
Already done, once and for all (everyone)
Solution Part 2: Fullness of life in Christ
Glorification;
Sharing fully in the Son’s communion with the Father;
Christ’s upward calling |
Enter, the Holy Spirit
Implements God’s wish to reverse the slide
Passing away death in sin
Solution Part 2: Fullness of life in Christ
The Spirit never gives up
Passing away death in sin |
All the unsaved are potential Christians, thus seen by God as “virtual” Christians because of the hypostatic union |
prompting, holding back, trying again, allows trials and suffering
CS Lewis: “Trials as God’s
megaphone”
Passing away death in sin |
Rebellion
Pride
Self-will
Self-sufficiency |
to respond to be aware
Rejection of Grace
Presuming on Grace
Unrepentance
Self-justification
Hope in glorification
Warning about resistance
Rejection of Grace
Presuming on Grace
Unrepentance
Self-justification
Blasphemy of Holy Spirit
Alienation from God
Passing away death in sin
Actions / attitudes
Receptive to the Holy Spirit
Press on
Strive to enter
Obedience of faith
Self-will
Self-sufficiency
Fullness of life in Christ
Glorification;
Sharing fully in the Son’s communion with the Father; Christ’s upward calling
Justification
Sanctification
Hope in glorification
Just what is Jesus saying?
Act 9.1-6 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
The result
Those who follow Jesus will want to
be with other believers join in the work of the Church
Witnessing to Jesus (say & do) grow in relationship with God know God more and more dig into His Word and ways follow Christ wherever He goes
exploring where He leads them
enjoying the relationship deepening the communion
Implications for teaching and preaching
You heard that it was said… that an effective speech has
an introduction; an SPS; a body; and a conclusion;
But, I say unto you, to this add
The indicatives of grace
Who God is
Why He may be trusted
Why anyone should trust Him
The advantages of a relationship with God (but, take care)
That He wants us to live life fully
He will answer any call
Why He is ready to do so
Only then tell them what He requires in return To trust Him
To love Him
To obey Him
To love everyone else as you do yourself Then explain how this may be achieved
Do so, in season, and out of season
The liturgical year: preaching in season
Do we know what some of these even mean?
Find out more here: https://resources.gci.org/worship