I went to Starbucks this afternoon and wrote this out in an attempt to better harmonize what the gospel is about. I would love to hear anyone's thoughts regarding this (agreements, disagreements, etc.). I know not many people read this blog, but if you do, please let me know what you think!
Act I: Eden
Eden reveals God’s desire for His world. Eden is characterized by harmony: harmony with God, with one another, and with creation. This is what is called “The Glory of God”: the world as it is supposed to be. It is God’s desire for His world to be a place of unbroken harmony.
Act II: The Fall
Disobedience to God caused “The Fall.” But what did we fall from? The Glory of God! All harmonies were shattered, and the result was enmity between God, one another, and creation. Because of this disobedience, mankind experiences disharmony with God because mankind is both indwelled by the power of Sin and guilty for its manifestations (sins). God cannot, because of His holiness, have partnership with Sin.
Act III: The Cross
Christ’s death defeats Sin and offers forgiveness for the guilt accumulated by sins. By dealing with Sin completely, harmony with God is realized for those who embrace Christ in faith (faith is commitment/loyalty to Christ that is manifested in obedience and repentance). When a person puts faith in Christ and is baptized, that person is “justified” (baptism is the point where the faithful person comes into contact with Christ’s sacrifice; it is the point of being made right with God, of being justified, and it is the point of restored harmony with God). Justification is experienced because Christ’s death accomplishes Redemption (freeing the person from the indwelling power of Sin) and Propitiation (forgiveness for Sin’s manifestations). Regeneration is thus experienced, when the person is given a new heart and is filled with God’s Spirit.
Act IV: The Church
The church is composed of members of God’s family. The church is to be radically different from the host culture; the host culture is selfish, greedy, indifferent, and self-serving, but the church is to be selfless, generous, caring, and self-sacrificing. Individuals in the church are to become like Christ via the Spirit’s transforming power, and thus the result is a community that is wildly different than the world. Christians and the composite church are thus to model Heaven on earth, to be what God desires from His world.
Act V: The Glory of God
In time, God will restore and renovate creation. It will be, in a sense, a return to Eden, because the harmonies will be completely restored. Those who are part of God’s family will live here (Heaven), but those who are not a part of God’s family will be eternally separated from God (Hell).
Act I: Eden
Eden reveals God’s desire for His world. Eden is characterized by harmony: harmony with God, with one another, and with creation. This is what is called “The Glory of God”: the world as it is supposed to be. It is God’s desire for His world to be a place of unbroken harmony.
Act II: The Fall
Disobedience to God caused “The Fall.” But what did we fall from? The Glory of God! All harmonies were shattered, and the result was enmity between God, one another, and creation. Because of this disobedience, mankind experiences disharmony with God because mankind is both indwelled by the power of Sin and guilty for its manifestations (sins). God cannot, because of His holiness, have partnership with Sin.
Act III: The Cross
Christ’s death defeats Sin and offers forgiveness for the guilt accumulated by sins. By dealing with Sin completely, harmony with God is realized for those who embrace Christ in faith (faith is commitment/loyalty to Christ that is manifested in obedience and repentance). When a person puts faith in Christ and is baptized, that person is “justified” (baptism is the point where the faithful person comes into contact with Christ’s sacrifice; it is the point of being made right with God, of being justified, and it is the point of restored harmony with God). Justification is experienced because Christ’s death accomplishes Redemption (freeing the person from the indwelling power of Sin) and Propitiation (forgiveness for Sin’s manifestations). Regeneration is thus experienced, when the person is given a new heart and is filled with God’s Spirit.
Act IV: The Church
The church is composed of members of God’s family. The church is to be radically different from the host culture; the host culture is selfish, greedy, indifferent, and self-serving, but the church is to be selfless, generous, caring, and self-sacrificing. Individuals in the church are to become like Christ via the Spirit’s transforming power, and thus the result is a community that is wildly different than the world. Christians and the composite church are thus to model Heaven on earth, to be what God desires from His world.
Act V: The Glory of God
In time, God will restore and renovate creation. It will be, in a sense, a return to Eden, because the harmonies will be completely restored. Those who are part of God’s family will live here (Heaven), but those who are not a part of God’s family will be eternally separated from God (Hell).
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