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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

By adding conditions.

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

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