Mission in the Pentateuch

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Mission in the Pentateuch

• Missiology (Autumn 07)

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Recapping OT themes

• The uniqueness and universality of God
• The purpose of God blessing the nations
• The election of Israel for that purpose
• The interaction of Israel and the nations
• The ethical dimensions of Israels visibility
• The eschatological ingathering of nations

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The unique and universal God

• The God of creation (Genesis 1)
• The purpose of creation
• The place of mankind within creation

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READING THE BIBLE MISSIOLOGICALLY

• The call and promise to Abram (Gen 12) Missio Dei
  Gods Mission
• Christians believe that God has revealed Himself
  through His word. 2 Tim. 316 All scripture is
  inspired John 539 these (Old
  Testament)testify about me (Jesus) The
  testimony of Jesus is to go to all the earth (Gn
  1213 Mtt 2414 2818-20) Diachronically dia
  across chronos time

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Gods purposeful creation.

• God is consistently shown to be the rightful King
  over all creation.
• Those who acknowledge God are part of the kingdom
  of light. (Col. 112)
• Others are part of the kingdom of darkness. (Col.
  113) Image of God
• Two great missiological implications.
• 1. We can have fellowship with God. The Great
  Commission is for everyone. The scope.
• 2. We can represent God to others. The agency

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Three major events

• 1. The fall followed by the promise Gn. 315
  protoevangelium
• 2. The flood followed by Shems blessinga people
  of God
• 3. Judgement at Babel followed by Abrahams
  blessing Gn 121-3 Nationethne
• Abrahamic blessingmissio Dei
• Matthews Gospel is based upon the Abrahamic
  blessing. Mtt 11 2818-20 kingdom authority
  and all nations

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The Law and the Spirit

• One function of the law is the demonstration of
  the Fear of the Lord.
• A Kingdom of Priests Ex 195-6 Ro 1516 1 Pe
  29 Rev. 16
• Shema Deut. 64-5 The Lord is one Speaks of unity
  and kingship.
• Tripartite Formula I will be your God. You will
  be my people. I will dwell in the midst of you.
• Spirit of Prophecy Numbers 1126-29 I wish all
  the Lords people were prophets and that the Lord
  would put His Spirit on them.

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Kingdom promises

• God promises Abraham royal descendants.
• Gods blessing comes through a kingdom. Gn
  4910 Scepter will not depart from Judah Judah
  will be a ruling tribe
• Balaam Nu. 22-24 tried to curse Israel, but Gods
  plan was always to bless Israel so she could
  bless the nations.

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Looking ahead Joshua

• Gods presence accompanies those who advance
  toward His kingdom according to His will. Moses
  The Lord Himself will go with you.
• All true victories in the kingdom of God are done
  with the blessing of the nations in view.
• 2X God of all the earth Allocation.
• Identify the task.
• Divide the components.
• Allocate the parts of the work.
• Plan ahead.

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Judges and Ruth

• Judges The Lord will rule over you 823 Contrast
  between Gods rule and the nations.
• Strong kingdom consciousness w/o a king.
• Ruth Israel provides a kinsman-redeemer for a
  gentile who is then an ancestor of David
• Davidic Kingdom David asks to build a house for
  God, but God promises a house for David. 2 Sa
  716 eternal kingdom.