owe a special word of thanks to my mother, Lynn Corzine, without her I would not ...... Tim Mackie and Jon Collins, The
A GOOD THEOLOGY Taylor Corzine
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All Bible quotations are taken from the New International Bible. (The Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan House, 1984. Print.)
A Good Theology. Copyright © 2018 by Taylor Corzine. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address 20/21 Collective, 5640 Jackson Dr. Apt. 4, La Mesa, CA 91942.
20/21 Collective resources may be acquired for educational, business, or personal use. For information, please contact us at 2021collective.org.
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To Vee who helped me experience the greatest love ever known.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The content of this book was first presented in the form of a class for Boulder City Assembly of God in Boulder City, Nevada. I am grateful to Blayne Corzine the head pastor, first for being a kind and loving father, as well as giving me the freedom to create this book. I also owe a special word of thanks to my mother, Lynn Corzine, without her I would not be here, literally and figuratively. I also want to thank Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon for their Theology Class based upon the work of Larry D. Hart and others. It was the foundation and inspiration for this book and my worldview. Finally, I want to express my sincere gratitude to any and all who helped me along the way. It is due to your encouragement and support there is a final form of this project.
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY The Study of God
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Types of Theology
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Levels of Theology
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Themes of Theology
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The Bible
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The Word of God
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Why read the Bible?
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Doctrine of the Bible
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Inerrancy
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Inspiration
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Transmission
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Hermeneutics
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Final Thoughts
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GOD THE FATHER AS CREATOR
Who is God the Father?
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What is God the Father?
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When is God the Father?
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Where is God the Father?
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Why Create Humanity?
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How do We Know?
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Final Thoughts
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GOD THE SON AS SAVIOR Who is God the Son?
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What is God the Son?
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When is God the Son?
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Where is God the Son?
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Why Save Humanity?
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How do We Know?
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Final Thoughts
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GOD THE SPIRIT AS EMPOWERER Who is God the Spirit?
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What is God the Spirit?
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When is God the Spirit?
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Where is God the Spirit?
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Why Empower Humanity?
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How do We Know?
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Final Thoughts
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HUMANITY AS GOD’S PARTNERS Who is Humanity?
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What is Humanity?
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When is Humanity?
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Where is Humanity?
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Why Partner with God?
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How do We Know?
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Final Thoughts
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INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
The Study of God
Theology enables us to know God, ourselves, and our world better.1 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
Types of Theology
There are many ways to study God, however, we all bring our own personal presuppositions so we need to be careful when studying Theology.2 There is Exegetical Theology where meaning is derived from the biblical text only, not questions we ask the text. Biblical Theology deals with issues originating in the past, affecting people today. Historical 7
Theology breaks theology down into different eras. Systematic Theology organizes doctrine and answers questions. Pastoral Theology tries to figure out the best ways to apply theological truths to personal life. Lastly, Integrative Theology combines them all into one comprehensive system. This book will be a mix hopefully creating a right, or good theology.
Levels of Theology
Every person has their own worldview and set of beliefs, but for this teaching I will only have four verities concerning A Good Theology: The Triune God of the Bible exists, this God reveals Himself throughout human history, Jesus is this incarnate God, who is Lord of all, and humans are created by this God to be in community with Him. These are dogmatic beliefs. There are different levels of belief within theology. Dogmas are the beliefs the Church will die for like deity of Christ and inspiration of the Bible. Doctrines are things a church will divide over, such as gifts of the Spirit and water baptism. There will always be things we debate over within the church like date of Creation, when to take Communion, and what age to have children in adult worship services.
Themes of Theology
There are many themes throughout theology. We find most of these themes in the Bible. The testaments, genres, and authors all have their own theme, but in the end, they all fit within one central theme, one grand redemptive narrative.
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The central theme of Theology and the Bible is the Promise-Plan of God. What is The Promise of God? He will be our God, we shall be His people, and He will dwell among us.3 “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people” (Leviticus 26:12). What is the Plan of God? The redemption of all creation through faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). What is The Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God is not a realm or people group, but God’s rule and reign. It is the authority God has to rule, the sovereignty of the King.4 We must receive God’s rule and authority to receive and partake in the Kingdom of God. “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it…Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:15, 27). The Kingdom of God is now, but not yet. It is within this age and the age to come; the time from Genesis to the Day of the Lord. Jesus is seen in the text as the anointed king, and when He returns He will be the reigning king.
“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he
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will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:1-3
The Bible
The Bible is the Christian scriptures, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. The Bible does not answer every question so when the reader comes to an issue the Bible does not address we must apply wisdom; however what the Bible does teach we must obey. This is essential not only for this particular teaching but also for truly knowing and understanding God.
The Word of God
The Word of God is the person of God and His speech. As a person, the Word of God or logos is Jesus Christ. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Jesus Christ is infallible and perfect in every way. As speech, the Word of God has been passed down from generation to generation, through oral tradition and more recently written down to form the Holy Bible. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Holy
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Bible is not God. It is important to note however that the words of God, written as the Holy Bible lead us to the Word of God, logos, Jesus Christ. Specific Revelation is His speech directly to a particular person for a particular reason throughout salvation history. “So God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth’” (Genesis 6:13). General Revelation is His decrees to all like the words of Jesus or the Ten Commandments. “And God spoke all these words” (Exodus 20:1).
Why read the Bible?
The Holy Bible is the only shared resource we as humans have to know God besides our own personal experiences. It is through the Holy Bible we are able to know God and be like Him. “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:5-6).
Doctrine of the Bible
The Holy Bible was inspired and determined by God. It is seen as authoritative within the Western Christian Church. We have made the Holy Bible our standard or canon when it comes to the Christian faith. Canon comes from the Greek meaning to rule or setting a standard by use of a measuring stick.5 11
The Protestant Canon is made up of two testaments, the Old Testament and New Testament. The Old Testament consists of thirty-nine books beginning with Genesis and ending with Malachi. The New Testament is somewhat smaller only having twenty-seven books starting with Matthew and concluding with Revelation. There are sixty-six books in total; the Protestant Church does not recognize the Apocrypha because Jesus never quoted or referred to them.6 Today the Protestant Canon is closed; Jesus is the final revelation. Humans discovered the Protestant Canon, but in the end, God determined it.
Inerrancy
There are different views on the level of authority the Holy Bible and Protestant Canon has. It is the basic belief of the Western Christian Church that the Holy Bible is inerrant and tells the truth; whether that is full or limited, most believe it is without error or fault in its teachings. Absolute Inerrancy believes the Holy Bible is true and accurate in all matters. This means when the text says Jesus fed 5000 it was exactly 5000, not 4999. Full Inerrancy states the Holy Bible is completely true in all that the Scriptures affirm. Whereas things like rounding are normal, and it’s all a matter of context. Limited Inerrancy shares that the Holy Bible is inerrant in all matters of salvation and ethics, faith and practices, and matters, which can be empirically validated.7 However some historical events might not be fully true.
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Inspiration
The original authors and editors of the Holy Bible were led and inspired by God to write the scriptures. Throughout history, people have had different views of what this meant. The Liberal View takes the Holy Bible seriously, but not literally. The Conceptual View thinks God inspired the large concepts, but the not the ideas. The Verbal View believes God inspired the ideas, but not the actual words. The Plenary View has God inspire each word. Whereas the Dictation View, God spoke the words audibly to the authors.
Transmission
No matter your beliefs concerning inerrancy or inspiration people for thousands of years have been copying manuscripts to preserve them for future generations and to distribute them for greater use. Unfortunately, we have no original manuscripts. However, we do have copies of The Dead Sea Scrolls that prove how the Jewish scribes preserved the original text. There are also variants, which are a deliberate or inadvertent alteration to the biblical text. This causes some to believe that the oldest manuscripts are the most accurate, known as the Critical Text View, or that the type of manuscripts that survived in greatest number are the most accurate, known as the Majority Text View.
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Hermeneutics
With all these resources, researchers and theologians created a system of interpretation known as Biblical Hermeneutics. It is through these principles meaning is determined. Exegesis is the literal interpretation of the scriptures. As opposed to eisegesis, which is putting meaning into the biblical text or proof-texting. It is through constant observation that application is applied.
Final Thoughts
The study of God is a lifelong process that will enable us to know more about Him, ourselves, and the world around us. It is important to appreciate the mystery and reverence of God in humility. Please remember that we as humans are finite and will not be able to fully comprehend He who is infinite. Nonetheless, the Bible is where we should always begin whenever we desire to have a good theology.
Dear God, thank you for allowing us to study and learn more about you the creator and savior of the universe. It is only by the power of your Spirit that we are able to know you as Lord. I pray that we will continue to humbly seek you all of our days. -
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In Your Holy Name, Amen.
GOD THE FATHER AS CREATOR
“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6
Who is God the Father?
God the Father is the first person of the Trinity, united in the essence of God. He is creator and sustainer of all creation in which we call him Abba. “You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you” (Nehemiah 9:6). God created all things, but humanity is the only thing created in His image. We would not exist if it was not for God. Life is only sustained by God’s unending grace and blessing. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3). God within the biblical text is seen as the father of Jesus, but also father to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive 15
adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” Galatians 4:4-7
What is God the Father?
God is a personal spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, truth, love, compassion, and grace.1 He is apart of the Trinity. He is in constant unity of God’s essence; there subsist three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are consubstantial and coeternal, yet distinct in the personal form of their existence.2 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). The Father is omnipresent meaning He is all present. “One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6). He is also omnipotent meaning all powerful. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26). Lastly, He is omniscient meaning all knowing.“If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:20).
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There are many attributes the Father has. It would be impossible to compile a list of everything that makes Him, Him. But here are two more that are of great importance. God is immutable and His character does not change. “God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change—he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God” (Psalms 55:19). Also, God is infinitely more than we could ever imagine. “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom” (Isaiah 40:28).
When is God the Father?
God is outside of time; He is eternal. Nevertheless, He interacts with His creation throughout time. God has no sequence of time in Himself. “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Revelation 1:8). God the Father is seen as the creator of all things in the Old Testament. “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth” (Genesis 1:1). Then God is seen as the Father of Jesus in the New Testament. “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:17). It is because of these two pictures God will be worshipped as He reigns forever in the age to come.
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need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” Revelations 22:3-5
Where is God the Father?
God is infinite and not one place can contain Him, yet He chooses to interact within our space. God is utterly, or holy and because of this He is extremely powerful; this power gives life to all creation. Unfortunately, God’s holiness is dangerous to those that are unholy, and not because it’s bad, but because it is so good. This leads us to a constant paradox of God being in a place of holiness, but also with unholy people. We see in the Old Testament that only those who are ritually pure are able to be in the presence of God.3 Due to this, God lives in a holy place, which many refer to as Heaven. “For thus says the High and exalted One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place” (Isaiah 57:15a). God, however, is pure love and wants to be in a relationship with His people so He reveals Himself throughout human history. “I dwell with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15b). God walked with His creation in the Garden of Eden. “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). Adam and Eve knew that they were impure and because of that hid from God. God the Father also revealed
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himself to Moses. “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). Moses had to cover his face because God’s presence was so intense. Through the Temple, God was able to reveal Himself to all of the Israelites. “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it” (2 Chronicles 7:1-2). Here we see again that the presence of God is too much for any one person to handle even for the priests who were ritually pure. God revealed Himself and commissioned Isaiah even after the people of Israel had turned their back on Him. “With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for’” (Isaiah 6:7). This burning coal somehow makes Isaiah pure. Normally, if someone pure touches something impure it would transfer its impurities, but for the first time in the Scriptures, we see something new. The coal a holy and pure object transfers its holiness and purity to Isaiah. He is not destroyed by God’s holiness but rather transformed. God the Father’s last reveal in the Old Testament is to Ezekiel. “The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple” (Ezekiel 47:1). Ezekiel sees water coming out of the Temple giving life to all things it touches. We see instead of becoming pure first and going to the Temple, here God’s holiness comes out from the Temple making things pure and bringing life to them. This plus
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what we see in Isaiah is a metaphor for the coming of Jesus who will make the impure, pure, expect not through ritual, but by being in a relationship with Him.
Why Create Humanity?
God has always existed in a community and wants to continue living in relationship with His creation. Sadly His prized creation, humanity chose to breach that existence so now God works to redeem His creation. God describes himself as being personal. He is very compassionate and wants a relationship with all. “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness’” (Exodus 34:6). God wants to restore our broken relationships with Him, and forgive our sins. “Maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:7). Nonetheless, God will not acquit unrepentant sinners. “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (Matthew 12:31).
“I think the unforgivable sin is refusing the calling of the Spirit. Anyone who feels the pull of the Spirit and refuses it remains in unforgiveness. However, if they respond, then every sin, no matter how awful, is forgivable; that is Jesus’ main point, every sin can be forgiven. But if you refuse the way of forgiveness, there is no possibility of being forgiven.” -
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Gerry Breshears
How Do We Know?
Theology is limited to God’s revelation so we need the Holy Spirit's guidance to truly know God.4 It may seem like circular reasoning that we need God to know God, but that is why faith is seen as the foundation of Christianity. God is incomprehensible; the finite cannot comprehend the fullness of the infinite. But despite that, it is still possible to know God even though we don’t fully understand him. This knowledge should result in humility, mystery, and reverence. Also by knowing God, this leads to enjoyment and service unto Him. We gain this knowledge through the entire scriptures, but also through the knowledge that the Holy Spirit gives us. This knowledge leads us to salvation, allows us to walk with God daily, and most importantly be transformed.
Final Thoughts
Now that we have this knowledge it is essential we be in community with God and do all that we can to glorify and enjoy Him forever. The relationship and process of holiness start at salvation, but this is a lifelong process, which will be made complete when we are with Him in eternity. Our faith and belief in Him is the first step in truly knowing God. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Because of this knowledge we glorify God for all that He has done, is doing, and will do. “Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have 21
made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God” (Psalms 86:8-10). Knowing God is the greatest love that we will ever experience in this life.
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9-13
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GOD THE SON AS SAVIOR
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:15-20
Who is God the Son?
God the Son is the second person of the Trinity, united in the essence of God. He is Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior of all. Jesus Christ by the will of the Father came to earth to redeem all creation. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:16-17). God the Father places Jesus as Lord of all due to His atoning sacrifice on the cross. 23
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11
Jesus despite being fully God emptied Himself of His divine attributes submitting Himself to the will of the Father in order to reveal the Father. “Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider himself equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-7).
What is God the Son?
Jesus is the logos. The logos is God’s grand redemptive plan. The grand redemptive plan is the Incarnate Christ. The Incarnate Christ is Jesus, who is both fully God and fully human. This is also known as the hypostatic union. Jesus is fully God in every way. Jesus became flesh so He could become the Messianic King. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came
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from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus was born of a virgin. He was truly man. This shows divine initiative in salvation. Jesus did not become a new person, but an incarnation. God became flesh.1
“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21
Jesus lived a perfect life led by the Holy Spirit. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrew 4:15). Despite living a faultless life Jesus needed to die a physical and spiritual death for the forgiveness of all sin. “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” … And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit” (Matthew 27:45-46, 50). Thankfully three days after Jesus’ crucifixion He rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples; the tomb was empty and Jesus was alive! “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he
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was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).
When is God the Son?
Jesus is one eternal person: The logos. He is the same eternal deity as the Father. But He becomes the same temporal humanity as Adam and Eve. There is full unity in the person of Jesus. He is apart of the Trinity; who is one God, three persons. The Incarnate Christ is one person, two natures. Therefore, anything that is done by one nature or the other is done by the person of Christ.2 Jesus is eternal. “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). It was prophesied in the Old Testament that the Son will reconcile the world and be the future king. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Then in the New Testament, we see Jesus as the prophesied Messiah. The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him’” (Mark 1:1-3). Jesus will come again establishing His Kingdom reigning as Lord of all. “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God… On His robe and on
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His thigh He has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:13, 16).
Where is God the Son?
The Son exists eternally with God, but He gave up the independent use of divine attributes and took a fully human nature submitting Himself to the will of the Father and the leading of the Holy Spirit.3 Before the beginning, Jesus and the Father had an eternal relationship. “He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:2). God once again reveals himself to humanity, but not as the Father, rather as Son. This is deeply significant in the plan of redemption. Jesus after His death descends into Hades and sets the captives free.
“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He took many captives and gave gifts to His people.” What does “He ascended” mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.” Ephesians 4:7-10
Jesus takes the captives to Heaven with Him at His resurrection and later ascension. Jesus has now changed the way we die forever! “And He led them out until they were over against Bethany: and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while 27
He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:50-52).
Why Save Humanity?
Jesus did all that He did so every knee will bow and every tongue confess. Jesus became the Incarnate Christ so that we may know the Father and His love for us. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17:25-26). Jesus became the Incarnate Christ to reconcile the world and redeem God’s creation. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Jesus became the Incarnate Christ so that every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear” (Isaiah 45:22-23).
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How Do We Know?
We know that Jesus is truly God through biblical statements, the work of the Holy Spirit, and History of Human Salvation. This is significant because, only the love of God could love all of us; only the holiness of God could purify all of us; only the power of God could defeat all evil.4 There are many scriptures that repeat the fact that Jesus and the Father are one. “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Once again it may seem like circular reasoning that we need the scriptures to know Jesus is God, but that is why going over the authority of the Holy Bible is vital when knowing and studying God. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14: 25-26). The Holy Spirit teaches us God is personally active in redeeming it all.
“Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:18-21 29
Final Thoughts
Now that we know more of who Jesus is, it is essential that we live under His rule, abide in Him, and grow in His likeness. We must be born again to be under the Kingdom of God. “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again’” (John 3:3). We need to remain in Jesus. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4). It is crucial we live in love and be like Christ. “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus” (1 John 4:16-17). It is important that we as followers of Christ see God as both Creator and Savior. If we overemphasize God’s work as Creator, we miss God’s redemptive work throughout all of history, and on the other hand, if we overemphasize God as Savior, we miss His love for all creation. We can now see that time is both cyclical and linear when dealing with God, and His interactions with us are universal and particular. Our hope is in Him, that one day we and all creation will be redeemed!
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GOD THE SPIRIT AS EMPOWERER
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Who is God the Spirit?
God the Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, united in the essence of God. The Holy Spirit is a person because the Father and the Son are persons. All three are personal and relational, which demonstrates them to be persons and not a feeling or force. He is the advocate working on behalf of the Father and Son to convict the world and empower His creation. “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me” (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit convicts the world because they do not believe in Jesus Christ, but He also guides us to truth hoping that all will believe.
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment… But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will 31
guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:7-8, 13
The Holy Spirit empowers all who believes in Jesus Christ to do the work of the Father. It is important to note that when we receive the Holy Spirit, it is not a feeling or force, but a relationship and community we enter in to.1 “And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’”. (John 20:22-23)
What is God the Spirit?
God the Holy Spirit is God’s empowering presence sent by the Father in Jesus’ name. Before conversion the Holy Spirit convicts, but after conversion when a person receives Christ He empowers us through a threefold process. When we receive Christ we are born again. We are given a new heart and made a new creature through the power of the Holy Spirit. Regeneration is not a feeling.2 It is a change of our deepest values, our actions and attitude. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). We abide and continue in Jesus Christ because He gave us his Spirit who is in us. “That is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).
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All believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body through an initial experience of incorporation all the while having an ongoing experience of empowering by the Spirit for growth and service unto the Lord.3 The fullness of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit can also be seen as the process of holiness and sanctification. It is similar to the Kingdom of God. It is now but not yet. It is not complete until the second coming of Christ when we rule and reign with God forever. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). The command to drink is synonymous with being filled by the Holy Spirit. The verb is imperfective meaning we must keep on drinking and being filled. This should be the normal state of a Christian, not something unusual.
When is God the Spirit?
The Holy Spirit having the same attributes as God is eternal and outside of time. The Holy Spirit is loyal to the Father and the Son so He infiltrated our time to establish His Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is eternal constantly in relationship with the Father and the Son. “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). The Holy Spirit is seen in the background throughout the Old Testament waiting for the Father to let Him pour out His Spirit. “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and
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streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants” (Isaiah 44:3). The Holy Spirit is fully seen at Pentecost in the New Testament. Pentecost is so vital because it marks a fundamental turning point in salvation history. Pentecost is the fulfillment of the covenant concerning the Spirit. It is also the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Spirit. Lastly, it is the inauguration of the new age and the beginning of the Church.4 We now wait upon the Lord to come again.
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.” Acts 2:17-20
Where is God the Spirit?
The Holy Spirit having the same attributes, as God is infinite and cannot be contained in one place. However once again The Holy Spirit is devoted to God’s promise-plan so He works within our space to form God’s rule and reign.
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Before the beginning, the Holy Spirit was with God. “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2). Jesus Christ is the final revelation of God, but we are reminded of that reality through the Holy Spirit who is constantly revealing Himself to us. “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:3-4). Jesus lived a life led by the Spirit, so why should it be any different for us who are in Christ. There are many results when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and He is in us. We see empowerment for service, growing in Christ-likeness, experiencing God and understanding his will, guidance and direction, effective prayer, and most importantly assurance of salvation.5
“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Acts 4:31-33
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Why Empower Humanity?
The Holy Spirit is Christocentric. The Holy Spirit leads to Jesus. Jesus leads to the Father. The Father leads to the Son. The Son leads to the Spirit. They persistently point to the other always acting in humility. The Father sent His Spirit to bear witness to His Son. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus and makes Christ known. “He will glorify me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what He will make known to you” (John 16:14-15). The Holy Spirit makes all who believe children of God and co-heirs with Christ. We now share in His glory.
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” Romans 8:14-17
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The Holy Spirit has united all believers into one body in order that they may worship, equip, and evangelize. However, the body is extremely diverse so it crucial that the Church acts in love; love is indispensable.
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
How Do We Know?
We know that the Holy Spirit is God through sound theology, biblical accounts, and personal experiences. For the last time, it may seem like circular reasoning that we need the right theology to understand the Holy Spirit and know He is God, but that is why reflecting on our everyday experiences as God’s children is so important in our overall relationship and community with God. It is impossible to have perfect theology, but by the Holy Spirit, we are able to say Jesus is Lord, which is the basis for A Good Theology. “Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus 37
is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). A man by the name of Ananias lies to Peter, but in doing so lies to God. This account shows us that the Holy Spirit and God are one.
“Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” Acts 5:3-4
In regards to this scripture, one could argue that the person lied to the Holy Spirit and to God, showing they are not the same person. But when we look at the context this passage has the implication that God is three persons in one essence. So by lying to one person, you are lying to all three. This is why personal experience is so important. We can argue theology until we are blue in the face, but it is very hard to argue with someone’s personal experiences especially if it lines up with scripture. The Holy Spirit has allowed us to enter into a new covenant with God. This new covenant gives us freedom and greater mercy. Anyone who has experienced freedom knows that the Holy Spirit is God.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,
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are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Final Thoughts
The Bible has given us instructions not only for Christian living but also how to experience unity and maturity in the Body of Christ. We have seen throughout this whole book that God is always in relationship with Himself and His people, so we should do the same. We do not have to do this alone, but rather with other like-minded believers. Regrettably, sin is still apart of our Christian life today, but restoration is available through the death of Christ. Let us confess our sins and live in forgiveness by loving and forgiving others. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:30-32). The Holy Spirit has given all believers at least one gift for His glory. We are to use these gifts for edification, service, and outreach. When we treat these gifts with contempt we quench the Spirit. May we yield and surrender to the Holy Spirit just as Jesus Christ did before us. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). 39
We are commanded to live as Christ lived which is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit. We must act in faith and walk by the Spirit. Those who claim to know Christ must walk as He did, and we see throughout the New Testament that Christ walked with the Spirit. “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:14).
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law… Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:16-18, 24
Everybody has at least one gift, so go edify, serve, and reach out! We need to worship, equip, and evangelize within with the world! So whatever you are good at, use it for Jesus! Our hope is that we all respond to the Spirit, ask for forgiveness, and live in His empowerment. Every sin can be forgiven through the one triune God. It is by His love that we love. We are His beloved and He is well pleased with us. We are created in His image and only by His Spirit do we have life. He is the one that gives us a new identity through the Spirit and it is He who will work that new identity out in our lives until the day He comes again. We must believe and trust that Jesus is Lord! This is the Gospel!
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“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first-fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
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HUMANITY AS GOD’S PARTNERS
“His divine power has given us everything we need for godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4
Who is Humanity?
Humanity, singularly human, is one integrated-self with two essences, created to partner with God. All human beings are the image bearer of God in both material and immaterial characteristics; it is our responsibility to make the invisible God, visible. The image of God is the characteristics we all share with Him.1 “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). Every living thing, humanity included was made of dust from the ground. All creation is material both visible and physical. There are parts of creation that humans cannot see or
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feel, but through modern science we know to exist i.e. neutrons, protons, electrons. “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7). Humanity is different from all of creation because their soul and or spirit is separate from their body. The soul and or spirit is immaterial. Dichotomists say the soul is essentially the same as the spirit, meaning human beings have two parts. Trichotomists say the soul and spirit are different, so human beings have three parts.2 Our Spirit is God’s consciousness and our soul is self-consciousness. “And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
What is Humanity?
Humanity is both male and female; they are God’s representatives to Creation. Men and Women are equal in value and worth; serving in constant community, mirroring the trinity. They have similar yet unique roles in the Church and covenant based relationships. God gave mankind domain over the earth. God gave Adam, man, the task of working and caring for creation. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). The triune God is in constant relationship with Himself saw that humanity must also be in community and not alone, so He created Eve, woman, a co-equal companion for Adam. “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for
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him…” Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:18, 22). Today the Church continues to replicate this model in the form of holy matrimony, marriage. It is a sacred covenant relationship that should not be broken. We see the role of headship and submission. The fundamental idea of headship deals with being servants not establishing power. The fundamental idea of submission deals with serving in partnership and responding with trust.3 Neither role is greater than the other. They are one in the same; they together represent genuine love. “The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.’ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:23-24).
When is Humanity?
Human beings, Homo Sapiens, came into existence within the last 10,000 years.4 They were created and designed by God on the sixth day of creation. Humanity is a unique species and not an ancestor of Neanderthals, which can date back more than 50,000 years.
“Records of true Homo Sapiens, living in villages with agriculture, appear approximately 10,000 years ago. Some scientists date settlements without
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agriculture as early as 40-50,000 years ago. Homo Sapiens are genetically unconnected to hominoids. That is, scientists have not found the “missing link”. Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) is not a genetic ancestor of Homo Sapiens. Based on scientific evidence, modern day humans are not genetically compatible with early hominids.” -
Larry Hart
The Holy Bible is not a science textbook, but people treat it as such. It is important to focus on the fact that God is creator and sustainer of everything. No matter, how heavily debated, how old the earth is, or how long it took God to create His creation, God created everything in seven days and it was good. According to the Scriptures, God created humanity on the sixth day of creation.
“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground…” God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.” Genesis 1:26, 31
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This is the biblical account of when the heavens and the earth were created with the rest of creation. Day one, God created light; day and night (Genesis 1:3-5). Day two, God created the sky (Genesis 1: 6-8). Day three, God created land, seas, and vegetation (Genesis 1:9-13). Day four, God created the sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14-19). Day five, God created marine life and birds of the air (Genesis 1:20-23). Day six, God created livestock, wild animals, and mankind (Genesis 1:24-31). Day seven, God finished and rested from all work making the day holy (Genesis 2:1-3).
Where is Humanity?
Humanity is finite and can only be in one place at a time. Traditionally the Church believes life started in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. But for the sake of discourse, we will define where mankind was before and after the fall. We will discuss the fall of creation further in the next section. Every human being that has ever existed except for a handful mentioned in the Holy Bible live and then die. After one dies there is only two option life with or without God. Life is short and uncertain. We are guaranteed nothing except the love of the Father and death. “As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, and its place acknowledges it no longer” (Psalm 103:15-16).
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Before the fall, humanity was formed by God, loved by God, and with God. Depending on your view of creation we see this either in the creation account of Adam and Eve or in the first chapter of Jeremiah. “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3). After the fall mankind is given life through the process of childbirth. “To the woman He said, ‘I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children’” (Genesis 3:16). The fall of creation brought more than pain, it also brought death. At death, the material separates from the immaterial. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Nevertheless, those who enter into a covenant relationship with God during their life on earth receive eternal life and spend eternity with God.
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands… Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with Lord.” 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6-8
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Eternity without God is Hell. This existence is the opposite of eternal life in God. It involves the whole self. It is everlasting punishment for those who do not choose the Kingdom of God. It is separation from God for all of eternity. “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). I am avoiding the finite definition of Hell for two reasons; first, because it is a major discussion in Christian thought right now, and my goal is to unite, not divide. Second I do not feel qualified to give an exact answer to what Hell is or is not. Hell and life without God are not and should never be the key motivator for a relationship with Jesus Christ though; love is.
Why Partner with God?
God made us to be partners with Him in creation. He gave us immaterial aspects such as consciousness, emotions, and will to further the work of God for His glory. This is known as the Cultural Mandate. “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground’” (Genesis 1:28). However, the immaterial side of humanity also caused Adam and Eve to sin. Sin did not and does not strip mankind of its image, but it does separate us from God and His community.
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Once again there are many views when it comes to sin and separation from God. Sin is anything that goes against God’s law. It is missing the target and falling short of God’s character. Every human being is a sinner because of the fall. Sin is inherited at birth. Adam’s guilt is imputed and imparted to all humanity. “For just as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man, the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). It does not matter if you subscribe to total depravity or innate free will; God is completely good and there is no evil in Him whatsoever. So sinners must bear the full responsibility for their sin. All sin is sin and causes death no matter if certain sins are worse than others.5 The reality is that sinners cannot free themselves. God must initiate the change. In all His infinite wisdom, He knew that by giving people the choice to choose Him, that some would not take His magnificent offer to partner with the true creator. “The safest way in theodicy is to leave God’s permission of sin and moral evil as a mystery, and to reason from the good achieved in redemption” (J.I. Packer). “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
“The atonement is a symphonic thing where Jesus provides full appeasement of God’s wrath, as a sacrifice takes the penalty of my sin in my place, and defeats the powers of darkness. He also provides redemption, reconciliation,
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cleansing people from sin and showing us the Father while being a perfect example for our life”. -
Gary Breshears
How Do We Know?
The way we know this to be true is because we have tasted and seen God. There is only one response once you have encountered Him and that is full repentance. It’s simple. If a human being confesses faith in Jesus, as Lord and Savior, believing that God is the only way to experience true life, then they have accepted the atonement Christ offers His creation. There is no reason to be ashamed, and they should now honor and glorify God forevermore.
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13
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Our response to repentance when it comes to the Father should be like that of Isaiah. “Woe to me! I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, The Lord Almighty’” (Isaiah 6:5). Because of this the Lord forgives his sin and takes away all guilt and shame. Our response to repentance when it comes to the Son should be like that of the sinful woman. “A woman in the town who lived a sinful life learn that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them” (Luke 7:37-38). Because this great love is shown by the woman, Jesus forgives her sin. He continues by saying those that have been forgiven much, love much. Finally, our response to repentance when it comes to the Spirit should be like that of Peter and the disciples. “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their numbers that day” (Acts 2:38, 41). Because Peter and the disciples listened to Jesus and waited for the Spirit, God gave them the gift of power to participate in the divine nature of building the Kingdom of God.
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Final Thoughts
The mission of God is the sending of God. But before we go we must be trained. It is easy to start a fire, but nearly impossible to control. We must first learn how to be incarnational, we must be like God Himself, then we will see true revival and God’s Kingdom flourishing. As Jesus once said, “On earth as it is in Heaven.” Prayer is the first step in our relationship with God. Prayer paves the way for Revival. Prayer is like a road crew building and designing freeways. When we draw near to God, God draws near to us. It’s in His nature to want to be close. Prayer invites God into our lives and sends the Holy Spirit out in front of us.6 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Worship is the main way we partner with God. Every day we make a choice to what or whom we will worship. It must be our first priority to worship God. Worship is the vehicle that drives. Worship is the vehicle that carries us to and through the divine moments and appointments that prayer has set up.7 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23). Discipleship is what sustains the Kingdom for future generations. We know that our lives are only but a vapor, but through discipleship, we live on and continue the work God has started today. Discipleship is the fuel. Discipleship is what keeps us going, it sustains
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revival.8 “After the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you” (Luke 10:1-3). I conclude with a verse I have based my life and vocation on: “I am sending you” (John 20:21). I believe it is what encompasses our partnership with God. He could have chosen any numbers of way to accomplish His will, but for whatever reason, He decided to send people like me and you to share His good news. I pray this encourages you and helps you know God more. May you experience the greatest love ever known.
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NOTES
INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY 1. Larry Hart, Truth Aflame: Theology for the Church in Renewal. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005. 2. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Theology" (class handout, 1, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, February 8, 2015). 3. Walter C. Kaiser, The promise-plan of God: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008. 4. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Theology" (class handout, 2, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, February 8, 2015) 5. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Theology" (class handout, 3, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, February 8, 2015). 6. Ibid. 7. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Leicester, PN: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
GOD THE FATHER AS CREATOR 1. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "God" (classroom handout, 16, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, February 22, 2015).
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2. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "God" (classroom handout, 17, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, February 22, 2015). 3. Tim Mackie and Jon Collins, The Bible Project, Holiness, 2015, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9vn5UvsHvM. 4. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, " Theology" (class handout, 9, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, February 8, 2015).
GOD THE SON AS SAVIOR 1. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Jesus" (classroom handout, 21, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, March 1, 2015). 2. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Jesus" (classroom handout, 22, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, March 1, 2015). 3. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Jesus" (classroom handout, 23, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, March 1, 2015). 4. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Jesus" (classroom handout, 24, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, March 1, 2015).
GOD THE SPIRIT AS EMPOWERER 1. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Spirit" (classroom handout, 27, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, March 8, 2015). 2. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Spirit" (classroom handout, 28, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, March 8, 2015). 55
3. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Spirit" (classroom handout, 29, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, March 8, 2015). 4. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Spirit" (classroom handout, 31, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, March 8, 2015). 5. Ibid.
HUMANITY AS GOD’S PARTNERS 1. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Humanity" (classroom handout, 35, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, March 15, 2015). 2. Ibid 3. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Creation" (classroom handout, 14, Bridgetown Church, Portland, OR, February 15, 2015). 4. Gerald Griffin and Josh Porter, "Humanity" (classroom handout, 38, Bridgetown Theology Class, Portland, OR, March 15, 2015). 5. Tyler Friend, 5 Things Your Church Can Do To Reach Millennials, 4, November 30, 2016, Church Words. 6. Ibid. 7. Ibid.
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