Chronological Overview Session 3The mission accomplished (Jesus, the Spirit and the New Creation)

Track 1: Understanding the Mission of God

Three final stages:Three key events / comings

• The Present Kingdom – Coming (1st) of Christ (Incarnation)

• The Proclaimed Kingdom - Coming of the Spirit (Pentecost)

• The Perfected Kingdom - Coming (2nd) of Christ (Parousia)

The Kingdom has come!

• “The Kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt 3:2)• “The Kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt 4:17)• “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the

Kingdom of God has come to you!” (Luke 11:20).• The King has come… so the Kingdom is here!

The Present Kingdom

God's people – Jesus, the true Israel• Groups: Matt 1:1-17– Which part of the OT story does each section of the

genealogy relate to?– In the Bible '7' is often a number of fulfilment or

completion so what is the point of v17?

The Present KingdomJesus and the story of Israel:• Virgin Birth - 1:22&3 – fulfilling Isa 7• Birth in Bethlehem - 2:4-6 – fulfilling Micah 5• Escape to Egypt - 2:14&15 – fulfilling Hos 11• Slaughter of innocents - 2:16-18 – fulfilling

Jeremiah 31• Childhood in Nazareth - 2:23. – fulfilling

something!• Baptism – fulfilling Psa 2:7, Gen 22:2, Isa 42:1• Temptation in desert – fulfilling Deuteronomy!

The Present Kingdom

• God's people– Jesus, the true Israel

• In the place of his presence – Jesus the new temple (John 1:14, 2:21 & 4:24)

• Receiving his covenant blessing – Jesus the obedient Son (Matt 3:17, Matt 26:42)

Receiving his covenant blessing…

• The blessing of sins forgiven (the cross / atonement)

• The blessing of righteousness given (justification)

• The blessing of victory over our enemies (resurrection)

• Blessing for all the nations (Gal 3:13-14)

‘D-Day’ – the decisive battle

‘VE Day’ – the final victory

Three final stages:Three key events / comings

• Present Kingdom – decisive battle Coming (1st) of Christ

• Proclaimed Kingdom – world mission Coming of the Spirit

• Perfected Kingdom – final victoryComing (2nd) of Christ

The Proclaimed Kingdom – the Spirit has come!

• John 14-16 – the Promise of the Spirit

• Acts 1:4-11 – the lead up to Pentecost

DiscussionLook at the following passages to see how our major themes are impacted by the coming of the Spirit.

• God's people – Acts 11:4-18; Gal 4:4-7• In the place of his presence (temple) – Eph

2:17-22 – 'far away' = gentiles and 'near' = Jews.

• Receiving his covenant blessing – Rom 7:1-6 (esp 6); Gal 5:16-26

The Proclaimed Kingdom – the Spirit has come!

• God’s people – alive in the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:4-18; Gal 4:4-7)

• In the place of God’s presence – the temple of the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:17-22)

• Blessed with his covenant blessing to be a blessing – blessed, transformed and empowered to be a blessing by the Holy Spirit (Rom 7:1-6, Gal 5:16-26 cf Jer 31 and Ezk 36)

The Perfected Kingdom – the King is coming again!

• Phil 1:23 - going to heaven when we die• Phil 3:20-21 - the resurrection of our bodies

when Jesus comes again• 2 Peter 3:11-13 – (see Isa 65:17ff) the New

Creation

Interlude: the Millennium (see Rev 20)

• Pre-millenialism– Second coming before the millennium

• Post-millenialism– Second coming after the millennium

• Amillenilaism– The millennium is figurative – the age of the

church / the age of the Spirit

The Perfected Kingdom – the King is coming again!

Romans 8:18-20

Boeing 767

Parallels

Boeing 767• Impressive machine• But needs a proper pilot• Pilot must be in

communication with air traffic control

• Otherwise a dangerous machine

Planet earth• Created ‘very good’• But needs a wise ruler• Ruler must bear God’s

image and depend upon him

• Otherwise the earth may turn and destroy them

The Perfected Kingdom – the King is coming again!

Rev 21:1-5 – the New Creation• New heavens and new earth (1)• New Jerusalem (2)• Explanation: everything made new (3-5)

– God at home among his people (3)– God in eternal covenant relationship with them (3)– God comforts them (4a)– No more suffering (4b)

• The glory of the nations gathered in (22-5)

The Perfected Kingdom – the King is coming again!

Rev 22:1-5 – the Garden City• River of life• Tree of life• Healing – the removal of the curse– No estrangement (3b)– Intimate fellowship with God (4a)– God’s image perfectly restored (4b)– No darkness (5)

The Perfected Kingdom – the King is coming again!

• God's people – new community

• In the place of his presence – new creation

• Eternally blessed and blessing creation – new security

God’s great story: the story of the kingdom

• Finding our place within it…