God With Us

1
God With Us

• Considering Salvation, Part III
• John Webster, Ph.D.
• Dean, H.M.S. Richards Divinity School,
• Professor of Theology History of Christianity
• La Sierra University

2
Considering Salvation

• Useful to Distinguish between
• Faith --- Doctrine --- Theology
• Existential Guarding Putting pieces
• experience boundaries together

3
PART I --- MODELS OF SALVATIONGustaf Aulén,
Christus Victor
4
Three Models of Salvation

• Classic or Dramatic Model
• Early Church Fathers Irenaeus, Origin, Augustine
• So-called Ransom Theory
• Latin or Objective Model
• Anselm (11th Century)
• So-called Satisfaction Theory
• Love or Subjective Model
• Abelard (12th Century)
• So-called Moral Influence Theory

5
Latin or Objective Model

• Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)
• Cur Deus Homo? (Why the God-Man?)
• Latin --- Feudal system Penance
• -Gods honor demands Satisfaction/Punishment
• -Humans cannot provide satisfaction, thus die
• -Satisfaction made by the death of the God-Man
• Later Reformers, Justice Penal Substitution
• Why Objective? In Christ, not in us.
• Discontinuous Divine Action Father--Son

6
Latin or Objective Model

• Jesus came to die for our sins, take our place,
  and suffer our punishment (Gods wrath)
• So that we can receive his merit and be treat-ed
  as he deserved
• Cross needed for God to forgive be just

• 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not
  for ours only but also for the sins of the whole
  world.
• 1 John 22
• Rom 324-25
• Heb 217

7
Love or Subjective Model

• Peter Abelard (1079-1142)
• Commentary Epistle to the Romans
• Jesus came to Demonstrate the Love of God
• Sin put Jesus on the Cross not God
• God forgives without needing payment
• Salvation happens in us, through Christs life
• Why Subjective?
• Moral Influence theory
• Continuous Divine action discontinuous salv.

8
Love or Subjective Model

• Jesus came to show us how much God loves us even
  to the Cross
• God forgives us because that is what God is like
• Salvation happens when we respond to the love of
  God and love takes root in us

• For God so loved the World . . .
• John 316
• Rom 8
• Phil 2

9
Classic or Dramatic Model

• Early Church Irenaeus, Origin, (Augustine)
• First four centuries Greek speaking
• Why Ransom Theory?
• Dramatic Model Cosmic Conflict Narrative
• Christ overcomes the principalities and powers of
  Evil, Death and the Devil.
• Liberates us from the bondage of evil death
• Continuous Divine Action Objective salvation
• Still the major view of Eastern Orthodoxy

10
Classic or Dramatic Model

• In Christ, God fights and overcomes the
  principalities and powers that have taken us into
  bondage
• In the Resurrection Evil death is defeated
• Humanity is now freed to respond to God in praise
  and thankfulness

• For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
  against principalities , against powers against
  the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
  spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 612?
• Rom 8
• Phil 2

11
PART II What Understanding of Salvation do
Adventists have?

• Fundamental Beliefs 10 --- Experience of
  Salvation
• ?In infinite love and mercy God made Christ, who
  knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we
  might be made the righteousness of God. Led by
  the Holy Spirit we sense our need, acknowledge
  our sinfulness, repent of our transgressions, and
  exercise faith in Jesus as Lord and Christ, as
  Substitute and Example. This faith which receives
  salvation comes through the divine power of the
  Word and is the gift of God's grace. Through
  Christ we are justified, adopted as God's sons
  and daughters, and delivered from the lordship of
  sin. Through the Spirit we are born again and
  sanctified the Spirit renews our minds, writes
  God's law of love in our hearts, and we are given
  the power to live a holy life. Abiding in Him we
  become partakers of the divine nature and have
  the assurance of salvation now and in the
  judgment. (2 Cor. 517-21 John 316 Gal. 14
  44-7 Titus 33-7 John 168 Gal. 313, 14 1
  Peter 221, 22 Rom. 1017 Luke 175 Mark 923,
  24 Eph. 25-10 Rom. 321-26 Col. 113, 14
  Rom. 814-17 Gal. 326 John 33-8 1 Peter
  123 Rom. 122 Heb. 87-12 Eze. 3625-27 2
  Peter 13, 4 Rom. 81-4 56-10.)

12
Three Models of Salvation

• Classic or Dramatic Model
• Early Church Fathers Irenaeus, Origin, Augustine
• So-called Ransom Theory
• Latin or Objective Model
• Anselm (11th Century)
• So-called Satisfaction Theory
• Love or Subjective Model
• Abelard (12th Century)
• So-called Moral Influence Theory

13
What Understanding of Salvation do Adventists
have?

• Fundamental Beliefs 10 --- Experience of
  Salvation
• ?In infinite love and mercy God made Christ, who
  knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we
  might be made the righteousness of God. Led by
  the Holy Spirit we sense our need, acknowledge
  our sinfulness, repent of our transgressions, and
  exercise faith in Jesus as Lord and Christ, as
  Substitute and Example. This faith which receives
  salvation comes through the divine power of the
  Word and is the gift of God's grace. Through
  Christ we are justified, adopted as God's sons
  and daughters, and delivered from the lordship of
  sin. Through the Spirit we are born again and
  sanctified the Spirit renews our minds, writes
  God's law of love in our hearts, and we are given
  the power to live a holy life. Abiding in Him we
  become partakers of the divine nature and have
  the assurance of salvation now and in the
  judgment. (2 Cor. 517-21 John 316 Gal. 14
  44-7 Titus 33-7 John 168 Gal. 313, 14 1
  Peter 221, 22 Rom. 1017 Luke 175 Mark 923,
  24 Eph. 25-10 Rom. 321-26 Col. 113, 14
  Rom. 814-17 Gal. 326 John 33-8 1 Peter
  123 Rom. 122 Heb. 87-12 Eze. 3625-27 2
  Peter 13, 4 Rom. 81-4 56-10.)

14
What Understanding of Salvation do Adventists
have?

• Fundamental Beliefs 9 --- Life, Death, and
  Resurrection of Christ?
• In Christ's life of perfect obedience to God's
  will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God
  provided the only means of atonement for human
  sin, so that those who by faith accept this
  atonement may have eternal life, and the whole
  creation may better understand the infinite and
  holy love of the Creator. This perfect atonement
  vindicates the righteousness of God's law and the
  graciousness of His character for it both
  condemns our sin and provides for our
  forgiveness. The death of Christ is
  substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and
  transforming. The resurrection of Christ
  proclaims God's triumph over the forces of evil,
  and for those who accept the atonement assures
  their final victory over sin and death. It
  declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before
  whom every knee in heaven and on earth will bow.
  (John 316 Isa. 53 1 Peter 221, 22 1 Cor.
  153, 4, 20-22 2 Cor. 514, 15, 19-21 Rom. 14
  325 425 83, 4 1 John 22 410 Col. 215
  Phil. 26-11.)

15
What Understanding of Salvation do Adventists
have?

• Fundamental Beliefs 8 --- Great Controversy
• ?All humanity is now involved in a great
  controversy between Christ and Satan regarding
  the character of God, His law, and His
  sovereignty over the universe. This conflict
  originated in heaven when a created being,
  endowed with freedom of choice, in
  self-exaltation became Satan, God's adversary,
  and led into rebellion a portion of the angels.
  He introduced the spirit of rebellion into this
  world when he led Adam and Eve into sin. This
  human sin resulted in the distortion of the image
  of God in humanity, the disordering of the
  created world, and its eventual devastation at
  the time of the worldwide flood. Observed by the
  whole creation, this world became the arena of
  the universal conflict, out of which the God of
  love will ultimately be vindicated. To assist His
  people in this controversy, Christ sends the Holy
  Spirit and the loyal angels to guide, protect,
  and sustain them in the way of salvation. (Rev.
  124-9 Isa. 1412-14 Eze. 2812-18 Gen. 3
  Rom. 119-32 512-21 819-22 Gen. 6-8 2 Peter
  36 1 Cor. 49 Heb. 114.)

16
What Understanding of Salvation do Adventists
have?

• Other Fundamental Beliefs
• 4 Son . . . He suffered and died voluntarily on
  the cross for our sins and in our place, was
  raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in
  the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf. . .
• 5 Spirit . . . He draws and convicts human
  beings and those who respond He renews and
  transforms into the image of God. . .
• 7 Man . . . But God in Christ reconciled the
  world to Himself and by His Spirit restores in
  penitent mortals the image of their Maker. . .
• 11 Growing . . . By His death on the cross Jesus
  triumphed over the forces of evil. He who
  subjugated the demonic spirits during His earthly
  ministry has broken their power and made certain
  their ultimate doom. Jesus' victory gives us
  victory over the evil forces . . .
• 24 Sanctuary . . . There is a sanctuary in
  heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up
  and not man. In it Christ ministers on our
  behalf, making available to believers the
  benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once
  for all on the cross . . .

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What is the Adventist View of the Gospel?

• Adventism is a highly homogenous religious
  community, despite its global diversity. Yet,
  substantively speaking, it has at least four
  rather different forms or kinds of theology vying
  for recognition as True Adventism. Each of
  these different forms or models has its own
  understanding of salvation. While there are, of
  course, common themes, the logic of each model
  is quite different. The best way to get at this
  is to ask What is the Christian Gospelthe Good
  News that we are to share with the World?

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What is the Gospel (Good News)?

• Grace --- Forgiveness
• Righteousness by FaithJustification by his
  faithfulness
• Penal Substitution (LatinObjective) Jesus
  Death
• Lutheran (Evangelical Protestant) View
• Power --- Overcoming
• Righteousness by FaithLiving righteously by
  faith
• Moral Influence (Love Subjective) Jesus
  Example
• Schleiermachers (Liberal Protestant) version!
• Liberation --- Justice
• Path of the JustDo justly, love mercy, walk
  humbly
• Moral Influence (Love Subjective) Jesus
  Actions
• Liberation Theology (Ecumenical Protestant)
  version
• Truth --- Church
• Remnant Church Teaches Gods Truths
• Gnostic (part satisfaction, part subjective,
  part dramatic)
• Catholic View (Outside the Church, there is no
  Salvation)!

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Four Contemporary Types of Adventist Theology

• Historic Adventism Law
• Sectarian-Conservative views
• Fundamentalist attitude
• Evangelical Adventism Cross
• Evangelical-Protestant views
• Grace-oriented attitude
• Progressive Adventism Kingdom
• Ecumenical-Mainline views
• Open-Liberal attitude
• Mission Adventism Baptisms
• Institutional-Orthodox views
• Traditional-Hierarchical attitude

20
Historic Adventism?Sectarian-Fundamentalist
Form

• STRENGTHS
• ?Maintains Uniqueness Identity of SDA
• Upholds the Law
• Places value on Historical/Traditional Adventism
• Highly Rational (Common Sense, Logical, GC)
• Clear Roles for Faith Works
• Clearly Integrates Christology Soteriology
• Sin is Objectified (know it when we see it)
• Goal-oriented---Perfection is our Goal
• Seemingly strong support from SOP Bible
• Authority, Certainty, Stability, Clarity
• Appeals to conservative, traditional people
• Also attractive to technically educated, but
  non-theological, types

21
Historic Adventism?Sectarian-Fundamentalist
Form

• WEAKNESSES
• ?Anthropocentric navel gazing behaviorism
• Danger of legalism
• Danger of becoming irrelevant in a changing world
• Can lead to either discouragement or faking
• Danger of sectarianism, exclusiveness,
  triumphalism
• Little real concern for outreach because focus is
  on in-reach
• Shallow view of Sin (act not state), yet sin
  saturated
• Logical incoherence nature of Christ
  (propensities sin)
• Logical incoherence soteriology (Christ same as
  us)
• At worst, para-Christian cult At best, rank
  semi-pelagianism
• A problematic view of God (God uses us for
  self-vindication)

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? Evangelical Adventism
Evangelical - Lutheran Form

• STRENGTHS
• ?Assurance of Salvation
• Avoids legalism
• Broader and deeper understanding of sin
• Role of the law is to point out sin, lead to
  Christ
• Focus on relationship rather than behavior
• Realistic view of remnant/whole relation
• Cross-centered. Objective salvation
• Strong sense of proclamation/mission
• Coherent account of biblical idea of substitution
• In line with historic Protestantism

23
? Evangelical Adventism
Evangelical - Lutheran Form

• ?WEAKNESSES
• ?Difficult to see SDA uniqueness
• Hard to fit in certain traditional Adventist
  ideas
• No real need for 30 years of Christs life
• If the Cross saves us, what logical role for the
  resurrection?
• Penal substitution framed in medieval times
• Christ is but a fire-escape
• Yes, but on faith and works
• Tension between cross and judgment
• Still sin centered
• Makes little use of alternative metaphors
  models
• Focus still on private not communal/social

24
? Progressive Adventism

• Ecumenical-Liberal
• STENGTHS
• ?Rationality relevance of the truth
• Truth is contextual, historically constituted
• Theology in contemporary terms
• Tolerance open-mindedness
• Focus on the love of God
• Social responsibility
• Dynamic, progressive open to change
• Justice, God is just
• Christs solidarity with us
• Optimistic view of humanity
• Can lead to high commitment

25
? Progressive Adventism

• Ecumenical-Liberal
• ?WEAKNESSES
• Also Anthropocentric
• Gospel focus can be shifted from Christ to social
  reality
• Hard to fit in certain traditional Adventist
  ideas
• Incarnation (JC) de-emphasized
• Difficulty doing justice to biblical language
  (Blood, etc.)
• Christ is teacher, leader but less a savior
• Biblical/Christian distinctiveness tends to be
  lost
• Can turn gospel into nothing but a political
  agenda
• Still sin centered (even with social sin)
• Danger of cheap grace
• Danger of cheap tolerance

26
? Mission Adventism

• Institutional-Catholic
• STRENGTHS
• ?Simplicity, Bible is all sufficient
• Evangelism, mission, growth orientated
• Loyalty to God church emphasized
• High motivation decision-making
• Soul-winning oriented
• Practical and pragmatic
• Institutionalized as function of church
• Focus on numerical (quantitative) growth
• High care levels for prospects
• At best can be strongly people centered

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? Mission Adventism

• Institutional-Catholic
• WEAKNESESS
• ??Religious ideology rather than Christian gospel
• Over-simplistic
• Cant cope well with pluralism diversity
• Burn-out, disappointment, discouragement may
  result
• Narrowness. Winning souls seen in spiritual
  terms only.
• Hermeneutically weak
• Hardly theological at all
• More selling than witnessing or worshipping
• Danger of low faith maturity, little personal
  growth
• Not very Biblical, for all the quoting of the
  Bible.

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?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• A Mystery Hid From Eternity
• Col 125-27 1 Cor 27-10 Rom 1625-27
• A Mystery that is Christ Himself
• Col 125-23 43 1 Peter 120 2 Tim 19,10 1
  Tim 316

29
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39
• 28We know that all things work together for good
  for those who love God, who are called according
  to his purpose.29For those whom he foreknew he
  also predestined to be conformed to the image of
  his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn
  within a large family. 30And those whom he
  predestined he also called and those whom he
  called he also justified and those whom he
  justified he also glorified.31What then are we to
  say about these things? If God is for us, who is
  against us? 32He who did not withhold his own
  Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not
  with him also give us everything else? 33Who will
  bring any charge against Gods elect? It is God
  who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? It is Christ
  Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at
  the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for
  us. 35Who will separate us from the love of
  Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or
  persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
  or sword? 36As it is written, For your sake we
  are being killed all day long we are accounted
  as sheep to be slaughtered. 37No, in all these
  things we are more than conquerors through him
  who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither
  death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor
  things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
  39nor height, nor depth, nor any-thing else in
  all creation, will be able to separate us from
  the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  (NRSV) Romans 829-39

30
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23
• 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I
  remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God
  of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
  may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as
  you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of
  your heart enlightened, you may know what is the
  hope to which he has called you, what are the
  riches of his glorious inheritance among the
  saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness
  of his power for us who believe, according to the
  working of his great power. 20God put this power
  to work in Christ when he raised him from the
  dead and seated him at his right hand in the
  heavenly places, 21far above all rule and
  authority and power and dominion, and above every
  name that is named, not only in this age but also
  in the age to come. 22And he has put all things
  under his feet and has made him the head over all
  things for the church, 23which is his body, the
  fullness of him who fills all in all. (NRSV)
  Eph. 116-23

31
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• 14For this reason I bow my knees before the
  Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on
  earth takes its name. 16I pray that, according to
  the riches of his glory, he may grant that you
  may be strengthened in your inner being with
  power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may
  dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are
  being rooted and grounded in love. 18I pray that
  you may have the power to comprehend, with all
  the saints, what is the breadth and length and
  height and depth, 19and to know the love of
  Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may
  be filled with all the fullness of God. 20Now to
  him who by the power at work within us is able to
  accomplish abundantly far more than all we can
  ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church
  and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever
  and ever. Amen. (NRSV) Eph. 314-21

32
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411
• 11And he said to them, To you has been given
  the secret mystery of the kingdom of God, but
  for those outside, everything comes in parables
  . . . (NRSV)

33
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41
• When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did
  not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in
  lofty words or wisdom. (NRSV) 1 Cor 21
• Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ
  and stewards of Gods mysteries. (NRSV) 1 Cor 41

34
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125
• 25So that you may not claim to be wiser than you
  are, brothers and sisters, I want you to
  understand this mystery a hardening has come
  upon part of Israel, until the full number of the
  Gentiles has come in. (NRSV) Rom 1125

35
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• 19Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a
  message may be given to me to make known with
  boldness the mystery of the gospel, . . . (NRSV)
  Eph 619

36
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• A Mystery Hid From Eternity
• Col 125-27
• 25I became its servant according to Gods
  commission that was given to me for you, to make
  the word of God fully known, 26the mystery that
  has been hidden throughout the ages and
  generations but has now been revealed to his
  saints. 27To them God chose to make known how
  great among the Gentiles are the riches of the
  glory of this mystery . . . (NRSV) Col 125-27

37
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• A Mystery Hid From Eternity
• Col 125-27 1 Cor 27-10
• 7But we speak Gods wisdom, secret and hidden,
  which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
  8None of the rulers of this age understood this
  for if they had, they would not have crucified
  the Lord of glory. 9But, as it is written, What
  no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human
  heart conceived, what God has prepared for those
  who love him 10these things God has revealed to
  us through the Spirit for the Spirit searches
  everything, even the depths of God. (NRSV) 1 Cor
  2 7-10

38
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• A Mystery Hid From Eternity
• Col 125-27 1 Cor 27-10 Rom 1625-26
• 25Now to God who is able to strengthen you
  according to my gospel and the proclamation of
  Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the
  mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but
  is now disclosed . . . (NRSV) Rom 1625-26

39
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• A Mystery Hid From Eternity
• Col 125-27 1 Cor 27-10 Rom 1625-27
• A Mystery that is Christ Himself
• Col 125-23 25I became its servant according to
  Gods commission that was given to me for you, to
  make the word of God fully known, 26the mystery
  that has been hidden throughout the ages and
  generations but has now been revealed to his
  saints. 27To them God chose to make known how
  great among the Gentiles are the riches of the
  glory of this mystery, which is Christ in or
  with you, the hope of glory. 28It is he whom we
  proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone
  in all wisdom, . . . so that they may have all
  the riches of assured understanding and have the
  knowledge of Gods mystery, that is, Christ
  himself, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of
  wisdom and knowledge. (NRSV) Col 125-23

40
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• A Mystery Hid From Eternity
• Col 125-27 1 Cor 27-10 Rom 1625-27
• A Mystery that is Christ Himself
• Col 125-23 43
• 3At the same time pray for us as well that God
  will open to us a door for the word, that we may
  declare the mystery of Christ, . . . (NRSV) Col
  43

41
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• A Mystery Hid From Eternity
• Col 125-27 1 Cor 27-10 Rom 1625-27
• A Mystery that is Christ Himself
• Col 125-23 43 1 Peter 120
• 20He was destined before the foundation of the
  world, but was revealed at the end of the ages
  for your sake. (NRSV)

42
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• A Mystery Hid From Eternity
• Col 125-27 1 Cor 27-10 Rom 1625-27
• A Mystery that is Christ Himself
• Col 125-23 43 1 Peter 120 1 Tim 316
• 16Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion
  is great He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in
  spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among
  Gentiles, believed in through-out the world,
  taken up in glory. (NRSV) 1 Tim 316

43
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ?A Revolutionary Message
• Rom 828-39 Eph 116-23 Eph 314-21
• A Mystery
• Mark 411 1 Cor 21 (NRSV) 41 Rom 1125 Eph
  619
• A Mystery Hid From Eternity
• Col 125-27 1 Cor 27-10 Rom 1625-27
• A Mystery that is Christ Himself
• Col 125-23 43 1 Peter 120 1 Tim 316 2
  Tim 19,10
• 9who saved us and called us with a holy calling,
  not according to our works but according to his
  own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us
  in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10but it
  has now been revealed through the appearing of
  our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and
  brought life and immortality to light through the
  gospel. (NRSV) 2 Tim 19-10

44
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ??Christ the Goal of Creation Itself
• Col 115ff
• 15He is the image of the invisible God, the
  firstborn of all creation 16for in him all
  things in heaven and on earth were created,
  things visible and invisible, whether thrones or
  dominions or rulers or powersall things have
  been created through him and for him. 17He
  himself is before all things, and in him all
  things hold together. 18He is the head of the
  body, the church he is the beginning, the
  firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to
  have first place in everything. 19For in him all
  the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, . . .
  (NRSV) Col 115-19

45
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ??Christ the Goal of Creation Itself
• Col 115ff Rom 1133-36
• 33O the depth of the riches and wisdom and
  knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his
  judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34For
  who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has
  been his counselor? 35Or who has given a gift
  to him, to receive a gift in return? 36For from
  him and through him and to him are all things. To
  him be the glory forever. Amen. (NRSV) Rom
  1133-36

46
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ??Christ the Goal of Creation Itself
• Col 115ff Rom 1133-35 Eph 15, 9, 11
• 5He destined us for adoption as his children
  through Jesus Christ, according to the good
  pleasure of his will, . . . With all wisdom and
  insight 9he has made known to us the mystery of
  his will, according to his good pleasure that he
  set forth in Christ, 10as a plan for the fullness
  of time, to gather up all things in him, things
  in heaven and things on earth. 11In Christ we
  have also obtained an inheritance, having been
  destined according to the purpose of him who
  accomplishes all things according to his counsel
  and will, . . . (NRSV) Eph 1 5, 8-11

47
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ??Christ the Goal of Creation Itself
• Col 115ff Rom 1133-35 Eph 15, 9, 11
• Wisdom of God (Extended Passage)
• 1 Cor 118-216
• 24. . . to those who are the called, both Jews
  and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the
  wisdom of God. . . 21 When I came to you,
  brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming
  the mystery of God to you in lofty words or
  wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you
  except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. . . 6Yet
  among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is
  not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this
  age, who are doomed to perish. 7But we speak
  Gods wisdom, secret and hidden, which God
  decreed before the ages for our glory. (NRSV) 1
  Cor 124-27

48
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ??Christ the Goal of Creation Itself
• Col 115ff Rom 1133-35 Eph 15, 9, 11
• Wisdom of God (Extended Passage)
• 1 Cor 118-216
• Purpose of God (Extended Passage)
• Eph 1
• 4just as he chose us in Christ before the
  foundation of the world . . . 5He destined us for
  adoption as his children through Jesus Christ,
  according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to
  the praise of his glorious grace that he freely
  bestowed on us in the Beloved. . . With all
  wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the
  mystery of his will, according to his good
  pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10as a plan
  for the fullness of time, to gather up all things
  in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
  (NRSV) Eph 14-10

49
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT?

• ??Christ the Goal of Creation Itself
• Col 115ff Rom 1133-35 Eph 15, 9, 11
• Wisdom of God (Extended Passage) 1 Cor 118-216
• Purpose of God (Extended Passage) Eph 1
• Promise of God (Our Destined Glory)
• Rev 16 321 510 204-6 225
• 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his
  God and Father . . . 321 21To the one who
  conquers I will give a place with me on my
  throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down
  with my Father on his throne. . . 510 10you have
  made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our
  God, and they will reign on earth. 204-6 4Then
  I saw thrones, and those seated on them were
  given authority to judge. . . and reigned with
  Christ a thousand years. . . they will be priests
  of God and of Christ, and they will reign with
  him a thousand years. . . 225 5And there will be
  no more night they need no light of lamp or sun,
  for the Lord God will be their light, and they
  will reign forever and ever. (NRSV)

50
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT? --- Conclusions

• ?The Gospel Jesus Christ
• Not simply as a means to an end but as the
  end/goal
• Not simply as a solution to the sin problem but
  as the expression of Gods good pleasure, and
  original will.
• Not merely what Jesus did (live, teach, die) but
  who and what he was.
• Jesus Christ Emmanuel God with us
• As God with us Jesus was/is a once-for-all
  Event that involves the triune God (Father,
  Son, Spirit) and us in the act of at-one-ment.

51
?The Mystery of the Gospel?What is the Focus of
the NT? --- Conclusions

• ??As God with us, Jesus The Advent The
  Coming of God
• Self-Revelation of God God with us
• Salvation from Sin (separation) God with us
• Adoption, AT-ONE-MENT God with us
• The Goal of God with usAt-one-mentis
• to bring us to our destined glory 1 Cor 27
  (REB)
• adoption, fellow-heirs with Christ Rom 814-17
• now children of God, what we shall be, has not
  yet been revealed, but we will be like him 1
  John 32
• sharing in the very being of God, (REB)
  partakers of the divine nature (KJV) 2 Peter 14

52
E. G. White Quote

• In His Christs humanity He was a partaker of
  the divine nature. . . . From all eternity
  Christ was united with the Father, and when He
  took upon Himself human nature, He was still one
  with God. He is the link that unites God with
  humanity. . . It is because Christ took human
  nature that men and women become partakers of the
  divine nature. He brings life and immortality to
  light through the gospel. . . Christ was
  appointed to the office of Mediator from the
  creation of God, set up from everlast-ing . . .
  Before the world was made, it was arranged that
  the divinity of Christ
• should be enshrouded in humanity. . . . This was
  not done by going out of Himself to
• another, but by taking humanity into Himself.
  Thus Christ gave to humanity an exist-
• ence out of Himself. To bring humanity into
  Christ, to bring the fallen race into one-ness
  with divinity, is the work of redemption. Christ
  took human nature that men might be one with Him
  as He is one with the Father, that God may love
  man as He loves His only-begotten Son, that men
  may be partakers of the divine nature, and be
  complete in Him. The Holy Spirit, which proceeds
  from the only-begotten Son of God, binds the
  human agent, body, soul, and spirit, to the
  perfect, divine-human nature of Christ. . . .
  Finite man is united to the manhood of Christ.
  Through faith human nature is assimilated with
  Christ's nature. We are made one with God in
  Christ.
• 1 SM 226,8 250-1

53
Could this Help Bring the Four Types of
Adventists Together?

• Could help us understand doctrine better
• Gospel Advent Jesus Christ God with us
• Could help us with the diversity of metaphors and
  models of salvation
• Salvation is Jesus Christ the rest are attempts
  at looking at different facets
• Historic Adventists---Power, Classic Cosmic Drama
  
• Evangelical Adventists---Grace, Substitution,
  Objective
• Progressive Adventists---Liberation, Love, Moral
  Infl.
• Mission Adventists---Truth, New identity,
  Subjective
• Adventist (God with us) Model of At-one-ment
  Representative Model

54
Help us with doctrine . . .

• Doctrines
• From beads on a chain . . . To facets of a jewel

55
28 Fundamental Beliefs

• The Doctrine of God
• The Holy Scriptures
• The Trinity
• The Father
• The Son
• The Holy Spirit
• The Doctrine of Man
• Creation
• The Nature of Man
• The Doctrine of Salvation
• The Great Controversy
• The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ
• The Experience of Salvation
• Growing in Christ New
• The Doctrine of the Church
• The Church

• Unity in the Body Of Christ
• Baptism
• The Lord's Supper
• Spiritual Gifts and Ministries
• The Gift of Prophecy
• The Doctrine of Christian Life
• The Law of God
• The Sabbath
• Stewardship
• Christian Behavior
• Marriage and the Family
• The Doctrine of Last Things
• Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
• The Second Coming of Christ
• Death and Resurrection
• The Millennium and the End of Sin

56
Facets of the Advent of God