Friday, July 30, 2010

Three Metephors Describing God's Relation To His Creation And His Ultimate Purposes For Us

These scripture references are from Dennis F. Kinlaw's "Let's Start With Jesus: A New Way of Doing Theology."  I am currently reviewing it on redemptivethoughts.com There are 3 metephors that describe God's relationship to His creation and His ultimate purposes for redeemed mankind.

The Royal/Legal Metephor

God as King: Ps 93:1-2, Ps. 95:1-5, Ps. 23 (God as shepherd King.  Israel attributed the this psalm to refer to David and this belief provides the background for Israel believing that the Messiah will come from David's linage.)

God as Judge: Ps. 96:10-11, 13 (God  as judge guarantees righteousness). Theme developed in the New Testament in proclaiming the Kingdom of God- John the Baptist, Jesus (the parables, "The Kingdom of God is like...), Paul (Acts 19:8, 28:23), Revelation ("...All of creation is pictured as standing before the throne of God.  In the center of that throne stands none other than Jesus, who is now recognized as Lord and Judge.  Every knee is bent to him in acknowledgment of his soverign lordship as all creation awaits his judgment.  Every creature faces its Creator Judge." (Kinlaw, p. 50)

The Familial Metephor

God as Father- Of Israel: Ex. 4:22-23 (indicates God's family will extend beyond Israel's borders), Dt. 32:6, Hosea 11:1-2, 4, 8.  Of David (Ps. 2:7 [Another scripture applied to David in OT times which provides background for the belief that the Messiah would be from David's line, see Mt. 21:9, Lk 19:38]), Of Solomon (2Sam 7:14.
To be in God's family requires a change of heart: Lev. 26:41, Dt. 10:16, 30:6, Jer. 4:4, 9:25-26, 31: 31-34, Ezk 36:24-28, Jn 3:5-8.
Jesus is God's Son- Jn 8:41, Jesus is the eternal Son- Jn. 8:58.
God as our Father- Eph. 3:14-15.

The Nuptial Metephor

God as Israel's husband and Israel's sin as adultey: Ex: 19:4 (Mt. Sinai not just a legal covenant but a marriage cov.), Song 2:16, Jer. 2:2-3, Ezk. 16, Hos. 1:2, Is. 54, 62:4-5 (In Hebrew, Hephzibah means "My delight is in her" and Beulah means "married." Beulah land is married land). Rev. 18:3,9. (Babylon's sin called adultery; this indicates God wants a covenant marriage with all peoples. Babylon's judgement described in marital terms- 18:23, cf. Jer. 7:34, 16:9, 25:10, 33: 10-11) Idolatry as prostitution- Ex 34:15, Lev. 17:7, 20:5, Dt. 31:16.
NT teaching- Mt 22:2, Mk. 2:19-20, Jn 3:37-30, Eph 5:22-33, Rev. 19:6-8, 9-10, 20:4, 11-15, 21:2, 9, 22:17

Saturday, July 24, 2010

God Is One And Is To Have Our Complete Undivided Devotion. Jesus The Son Is God

The following Scripture verses come from the book currently covered on my main blog: Dr. Dennis Kinlaw's "Let's Start With Jesus: A New Way of Doing Theology."

God is the only one God: Dt 6:4, Is 45:5, 43:10, 44:8, 45:6, 14, 18, 21.
Jesus and Moses both affirm the oneness of God (Jn. 5:45-46) and we are to give God our undived love (Mk 12:29-30)
Paul teaches the same (ICor 8:4-6). He Paul teaches that God is both Father and Son. Christianity's difference with Judaism and Islam: Jesus, a stumbling stone(IPet. 2:8, Rom. 9:32-33).  The difference between Christianity and other monotheisms: Jesus' own self-understanding as God's Son.  In John, Jesus speaks of God as His Father twice as many times as in Matthew, three times as much in Luke, six times as much in Mark.  The Father is mentioned by Jesus so much in John that the Father becomes the main character of the book.  The Father is spoken of no less than 170 times in the New Testament. In Jn. 5, Jesus heals on the Sabbath and states that His Father works on the Sabbath.  Jesus is accused of blasphemy for claiming to be equal to the Father.  Jesus states He does nothing but what He sees His Father doing. (5:19).  Jesus states that the Father has given all judgement to Him (5:27).  Jesus should be recognized for who He is by His works.  John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Messiah (5:33,36), Moses prophesied of Him (5: 46-47).  This means that Jesus is to be honored as the Father is honored.  Failure to recognize who Jesus is is to miss out on the life Jesus offers (5:39-40). See also Jn 17, Mt. 10:40, 11:27, Mk 12:1-2, Lk 10: 22.

 To see Jesus is to see God.  Jn 1:18 (He has "exegeted" Him to us (KJV), compare with Mt 11:27. See also Col. 1:15, Heb 1:1-4, Rev. 5:5, 22:1-5. The unity of Father and Son seen in familial terms.  Prefigured in the Old Testament.  Israel spoken of as God's first born- Ex. 4:22, Israel as God's son- Hos 1:11, Jer. 3:4-5.David spoken of as God's son- IISam 7:14 (with this bckground Israel understood Ps. 2:7 as refering to David), Ps. 89:26-28. The vulnerable spoken of as God's children- Ps. 68:4-6.  See Pauls' introductions in his epistles.  See Jn. 10:7.  Jesus is the door (KJV) not only to salvation but into participation in the very fellowship of the Father and Son which is spoken of in familial terms.         

Whats Been Going On

Last Wednesday I continued teaching through the book of Philippians at Church.  As there were a good many more than last time I reviewed a few key points and then moved on.  We had an excellent discussion; we still haven't finished chapter 1.  When we do, I'll begin posting the key points made.

This past week I participated in Vacation Bible School, helping out behind the scenes Monday-Friday.

After I have finished reviewing Dennis Kinlaw's "Let's Start With Jesus: A New Way of Doing Theology" on my main blog, my posts on "Notes From My Study" will increase.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Teaching on Philippians

Last night I began teaching through the book of Philippians.  We did not get very far as discussions led to a wide ranging dialogue.  Also I think I let things get bogged down.  I am a bit out of practice.  I need to remember to keep things moving even as comments and questions are allowed. 

Taking notes on Wesley is going very slow. 

Soon I am going to begin reading some books on preaching by James Earl Massey.