This governed all his Theology. i.e. How he thinks, talks and sees about: Christ, the Church, Salvation, ethics, the Present, the future, everything.
He says, 1 Corinthians 10:11 "We are those upon the End of the ages has come."
2Co 5:14 Clearly, Christ's love guides us. We are convinced of the fact that one man has died for all people. Therefore, all people have died.
2Co 5:15 He died for all people so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the man who died and was brought back to life for them.
1Co 7:31 Those who use the things in this world should do so but not depend on them. It is clear that this world in its present form is passing away. GW
With the Coming of Christ the new order has begun. Viewing according the flesh is "the old order".
Eschatologically speaking Salvation in Christ is the Final Salvation. What He has promised has come in reality. We have been saved.Rom 8:1 So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned.
Rom 8:2 The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 It is impossible to do what God's standards demand because of the weakness our human nature has. But God sent his Son to have a human nature as sinners have and to pay for sin. That way God condemned sin in our corrupt nature. GW.
But the process continues. - We are being saved. 1Co 1:18 The message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God's power to us who are being saved.
Rom 5:9 Since Christ's blood has now given us God's approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God's anger.
Redemption is both "already" Eph 1:7 Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness.
and yet "not yet". Eph 4:30 Don't give God's Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free from the world of sin. So also is our Adoption Romans 8:15;23 and our justification (the Gift of Righteousness) Romans 5:1 Galatians 5:5.
The Church is seen as an End times Community. We are strangers here. our true citizenship is in Heaven. Php 3:20 We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior.
Ethical Life does not consist of Rules to live by, but rather, empowered by the Spirit we now live the life of the future in the present age, i.e. the same Godly Character as God Himself.
1Co 6:1 When one of you has a complaint against another, how dare you go to court to settle the matter in front of wicked people. Why don't you settle it in front of God's holy people?
1Co 6:2 Don't you know that God's people will judge the world? So if you're going to judge the world, aren't you capable of judging insignificant cases?
1Co 6:3 Don't you know that we will judge angels, not to mention things in this life?
1Co 6:4 When you have cases dealing with this life, why do you allow people whom the church has a low opinion of to be your judges? GW
Christians are Heavenly Radicals as they live the "already" but "not yet" in this present age.
No comments:
Post a Comment