Scripture as a Record of Gods Mission Michael Goheen, Vancouver B.C., Canada.

Scripture as a Record of God’s Mission

Michael Goheen, Vancouver B.C., Canada

The Bible is the Word of God,

the record and tool of his redeeming work.

It is the Word of truth, breath of God,

fully reliable

in leading us to know God

and to walk with Jesus Christ in new life.

- Our World Belongs to God, 32

God’s Mission

Bible: Historical record of God’s missionGod’s mission: His long term purpose/intention to restore creation, all of human lifeStory of restoration against backdrop of creation and sin

While justly angry,God did not turn awayfrom a world bent on destructionbut turned to face it in love.With patience and tender carethe Lord set outon the long road of redemptionto reclaim the lost as his peopleand the world as his kingdom.

- Our World Belongs to God, 18

Starting with God’s Mission

Bible: Historical record of God’s missionGod’s mission: Long term purpose/intention to restore creation, all of human lifeStory of restoration against backdrop of creation and sinStoryline runs through Israel-Jesus-church/SpiritGod works in and through a people for salvation of all nations, all of human life, all of creation

Our participation in God’s Mission

‘Fundamentally, our mission (if it is biblically informed and validated) means our committed participation as God’s people, at God’s invitation and command, in God’s own mission, within the history of God’s world for the redemption of God’s creation.’

- Chris Wright

“God’s mission involves God’s people living in God’s way in the sight of the nations.”

- Chris Wright

Mission is not primarily about going. Nor is mission primarily about doing anything. Mission is about being. It is about being a distinctive kind of people, a countercultural . . . community among the nations.

- Howard Peskett and Vinoth Ramachandra

God’s Mission and His People

Location or place of God’s redemptive work (God works in his people)

Instrument or channel of God’s redemptive work (God works through his people)

Facing in Three Directions!

Backward to creation: Embody God’s original intention and creational design for human lifeForward to consummation: Picture of end of history—restored humanityOutward to nations: Missionary encounter with idolatry

Two Orientations of God’s People

Chosen by God

For the sake of the world

Formation of People

Backdrop of creation and sin

Abrahamic Promise: Blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12.2-3)

Exodus: Formation of a holy peopleRedeemed from idolatry (1-18)Covenant: Serving another master (19-24)

Vocation and attractive, distinctive life

A people of God’s presence (25-40)

Summary

Israel was a chosen people. Israel was a redeemed people. Israel was a covenant people. Israel was to be a holy people. Israel was a people that knew God’s presence. All for sake of the world!

Missional Calling in Different Contexts

Tribal confederation: Holy People “in the Centre of the Nations”VisibilityDistinctiveness of torah-life vs. idolatry

A Priestly Kingdom in the Centre of the Nations“Temple-royal-prophetic community”

Exile: A Holy People Scattered Among the NationsLiving out their calling in the midst of idolatrous

cultures

Summary

On display to the nations

Distinctive way of life shaped by torah

Backward, forward, outward

In confrontation with idolatry

God’s work to equip people for calling

Varying contexts

Failure

Prophetic Promise

Coming of the kingdom

Ushered in by Messiah

Accomplished by power of the Spirit

Salvation and judgement

Begins with Jews and move to all nations

Prophetic Promise

Gathering of Israel

Renewal of Israel

Pilgrimage of nations

Intertestamental period: Eclipse of missional vision

Ministry of JesusAnnouncement of good news of the kingdom

Dynamic power and eschatological salvationAlready-not yet

Gathers of Israel to restore them to missional calling12: Constitution of end-time IsraelTaught a distinctive way of lifeParticipation in Jesus’ mission of gathering (Israel, later Gentiles)

Summary

A kingdom community

A contrast community

A gathering community

. . . but before they could carry out their calling they must be renewed!

Era of Witness

SpiritSpirit

deathresurrectionexaltationPentecost

K ingdomm ission ofchu rchto n ations

K ingdomm ission ofJ esu sto I srael

Jesus gave evidence of power of God to renew and restore...

...However, if his followers were to experience that renewing power...

...Then sin the enemy of God’s kingdom must be destroyed.

Central Events of Biblical Story: Renewing a People for their Missional Calling

Crucifixion: Victory over sin and the end of the old age

Resurrection: Inauguration of age to come

Pentecost: Spirit as gift of power that brings salvation of age to come

A Kingdom People

Experience power of end-time salvation of kingdom (foretaste)

Preview of kingdom

We have a foretaste of the Kingdom…Actual taste nowComplete meal in future

We are previews of the Kingdom…Actual footage of movie/kingdomDesigned to interest viewer in future

movie/kingdom so they will want to participate

A Kingdom People

Experience power of end-time salvation of kingdom (foretaste)

Preview of kingdom

Time of gathering continues

Why the ‘not yet’?

The meaning of this ‘overlap of the ages’ in which we live, the time between the coming of Christ and His coming again, is that it is the time given for the witness of the apostolic Church to the ends of the earth. The end of all things, which has been revealed in Christ, is—so to say—held back until the witness has been borne to the whole world concerning the judgment and salvation revealed in Christ. The implication of a true eschatological perspective will be missionary obedience, and the eschatology which does not issue in such obedience is a false eschatology. (Newbigin)

A Kingdom People

Experience power of end-time salvation of kingdom (foretaste)Preview of kingdomTime of gathering continuesSent among the nationsSent: As the Father has sent me, I am sending

you.Among the nations: Multi-ethnic, non-

geographical people

Following the apostles, the church is sent– Sent with the gospel of the kingdomto make disciples of all nations,to feed the hungry,to proclaim the assurance that in the name of Christthere is forgiveness of sin and new lifefor all who repent an believe– To tell the news that our world belongs to God.In a world estranged from God,where millions face confusing choices,this mission is central to our being,for we announce the one name that saves. - Contemporary Testimony: 44

The rule of Jesus Christ covers the whole world.

To follow this Lord is to serve him everywhere,

without fitting in,

as lights in the darkness,

as salt in a spoiling world.

- Contemporary Testimony: 45

Sacred/Secular Dualism

SacredSacredPrayerPrayerWorshipWorshipMinisterMinisterMissionaryMissionaryChurchChurchFamilyFamily

SecularSecularSexual lifeSexual lifeWatching TVWatching TVJournalistJournalistPoliticianPoliticianUniversityUniversityGovernmentGovernment

Activities

Professions

Realms

Church in Acts

Communal life to nourish life of kingdom (Acts 2.42ff)Life, deed, wordTo the ends of the earth (Acts 13.2-3)Communities of kingdom established in each

place“Now you are the mission in this place”Paul: Planting and nourishing churches for their

mission

Mission of the church today

Being a light to the nations: Continuing the mission of Israel (Ex 19.3-6 cf. 1 Pet 2.9)

Making known the kingdom: Continuing the mission of Jesus (John 20.21)

Bearing faithful witness: Continuing the mission of the early church (Acts 28)

Agenda for Church Today

Lives rooted in the gospel and inhabiting the biblical story

Missional self-understanding

Missionary encounter with our culture

Need for Cultural Analysis

Difficulty of situation of living amidst the nations: Danger of syncretism

All cultures shaped by idolatrous core

Need to understand culture

Redemptive-tension

Contrast community

Contrast Community in 21st Century West

A community of justice in a world of economic and ecological injusticeA community of generosity and simplicity (of ‘enough’) in a consumer worldA community of selfless giving in a world of selfishnessA community of truth (humility and boldness) in a world of relativismA community of hope in a world of disillusionment and consumer satiationA community of joy and thanksgiving in a world of entitlementA community who experiences God’s presence in a secular world