module 1—pdf slides—eternal purpose of god

the eternal purpose of God

the destiny of the messianic covenant community

the eternal purpose of God

  biblical panorama •  reveals fascinating, foundational insight :

God’s eternal purpose •  “the church the manifold wisdom of God,

according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord…”

—  Ephesians 3.10-11

  biblical covenants •  historical narratives of scripture held together

by underlying covenants •  without understanding covenant, God’s actions,

intentions appear mysterious, changeable •  key to understanding God’s purpose for creation

© john clements 2008-2009 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk

I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of

your flesh and blood; and I will set up his rulership. He will build a house for my name and I will establish his

royal throne forever. I will be a father for him and he will be a son for me. Thus your house and your

kingdom will be made secure forever before you; your throne will be set

up forever.

Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the people, for all the earth is mine;

and you will be a kingdom of priests and a nation set apart

“I will execute judgement against all the gods of Egypt: I the LORD. The blood will serve you as a sign

marking the house where you are: when I see the blood, I will pass over you—when I strike the land of Egypt, the death blow

will not strike you

I will make you a great nation, I will bless you and I will make

your name great and you are to be a blessing and I will bless

those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and by you Abraham all the families of

the earth will be blessed

I am herewith establishing my covenant with you and your

descendants after you... never again will I curse the ground…

nor will I ever destroy all living things

the ground is cursed on your account; you will work hard to eat from it as long as you live;

you will eat bread by the sweat of your forehead till you return to the ground… you will

return to the dust

be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it

it is called Babel [confusion]—because there the LORD

confused the language of the whole earth and from there the Lord scattered them all

over the earth—Gen.11

biblical panorama — “big picture”

BIBLICAL HISTORY

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creation blessing—genesis 1:28-30

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creation curse—genesis 3:8-24

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judges, priests prophets, kings

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noah covenant—genesis 6-9

abraham covenant—genesis 12:1-3

israel covenant—exodus 19:4-6

david covenant—2 samuel 7:12-16

isaac, jacob—genesis 17, 26

biblical, salvation history progressively reveals God’s

plan and purpose

in the beginning, God created

the heavens and the earth

exile


what is covenant?

  berîyth •  “compact, covenant, alliance, bargain” •  “binding arrangement” •  “cut” – kãrath

  over 250 occurrences in old testament •  secular: treaty, alliance, constitution,

agreement, pledge, oath —  Genesis 21.22-32; 26.26-33; 31.43-54

•  theological: binding arrangement. solemn commitment


ancient near-eastern covenants

  mutual, negotiated •  weaker parties could approach stronger

  “suzerain-vassal” •  victorious “suzerain” initiates •  determines purpose of covenant •  promises rewards, punishments; swears oath •  conquered “vassal” invited to consent •  return allegiance, service, tax •  echoed in Sinai covenant with Israel


nature of covenant

  covenant •  binding arrangement, obligation or •  solemn commitment… •  formalising relationship between two parties •  confirmed by sworn oaths •  typically sealed with sacrificial meal

  blessings, curses •  protection, rewards for covenant observance •  consequences of covenant violation


nature of divine covenant

  God designs, initiates binding obligation •  without human negotiation •  swears oath – by his self

  reveals covenant arrangements to Patriarchs •  sets forth his intention, his purpose for

covenant, community •  sets out promises, blessings, curses •  invites response of allegiance, loyalty


language of divine covenant

  make covenant… —  Genesis 9.12; 17.2; Exodus 34.10 ff.

  establish my covenant… —  Genesis 9.9,11; 17.7-21; Leviticus 26.9

  keep my covenant… —  Genesis 17.9,10; Exodus 19.5; Deut. 7.12

  break my covenant… —  Genesis 17.14; Lev. 26.44; Deut. 31.16

  everlasting covenant… —  Genesis 9.16; 17.7,13,19; Jeremiah 32.40


certainty of divine covenant

for when God made his promise to Abraham, he swore an oath to do what he had promised and since there was no one greater than himself for him to swear by, he swore by himself… therefore

when God wanted to demonstrate still more convincingly

the unchangeable character of his intentions to those who were to receive what he had promised,

he added an oath to the promise —  Hebrews 6.13-18

God wanted to demonstrate

the unchangeable character of his intentions


purpose of divine covenant

  revelation of divine intentions, plan •  “I will establish my covenant with you” •  “I will give you this land”

  preparation of covenant community •  “you will be my people, I will be your God” •  “you will be a great nation” •  “you will be a priestly kingdom”

  restoration of creation purpose •  reversal of curse, promotion of blessing •  “blessed to be a blessing to all… the earth” •  “a new heaven and a new earth”


I will make you a great nation, I will bless you and I will make your name great and

you are to be a blessing and I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and

by you Abraham all the families of the earth will be blessed

—  Genesis 12.1-3

covenant with Abraham


reveals, expresses God’s commitment to bless all the families of the earth

through ‘a great nation’

God is committed to restoring his creation, marred by human rebellion,

using a covenant community to bring human beings back into right relationship with him

covenant with Abraham


I will make you a great nation, I will bless you and I will make your name great and you are to

be a blessing and I will bless those who bless you and I will

curse those who curse you and by you Abraham all the families of

the earth will be blessed



BIBLICAL HISTORY

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abraham covenant—genesis 12

sinai covenant—exodus 19

david covenant—genesis 6-9

passover—exodus 12

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING, TO EVERY FAMILY ON EARTH

a great nation

Israel – a chosen people

Adonai your God has chosen you out of all the people on the face of the earth… Adonai didn’t set his heart on you or choose you because you numbered more that any other people… you were the fewest of peoples.

Rather, it was because Adonai loved you and because he wanted to keep the oath which he had sworn to your ancestors…

From this you can know that Adonai your God is indeed God, the faithful God who keeps his covenant and extends grace to those who love him and observe his commandments…

—  Deuteronomy 7.7-9


if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the

peoples, for all the earth is mine and

you will be a kingdom of priests and a nation set apart

—  Exodus 19.4-6 —  also Exodus 6:2-6; Leviticus 26.9 Deuteronomy 8.18; Ezekiel 16.60-62

Israel – a nation set apart


  “keep my covenant” •  refers to covenant with Abraham •  invites people of Israel into covenant

  establishes God’s kingship over Israel •  a nation redeemed from an oppressor •  God’s possession, his subjects (vassals)

  forms covenant community •  a royal priesthood to mediate his presence •  a nation set apart to serve his purpose •  … amidst nations of whole earth


covenant with Israel

keeping covenant

  faithful allegiance of God’s people •  preserving solemn relationship, commitment •  submission, obedience to covenant terms •  useful to God’s purposes •  blessed to be a blessing…

  faithlessness of God’s people •  cursed, rejected, possibly eternally •  frustrates God’s plans •  does not alter God’s sworn obligation… •  his unchanging, covenant purpose endures


Israel – sign to the nations

I have taught you decrees and laws …observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’

—  Deuteronomy 4:5-6

if you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands that I give you today, the LORD your God will raise you high above all the nations on earth

—  Deuteronomy 28:1


Israel – light to the nations

I will make you a light to the nations… that my salvation can spread to ends of the earth

—  Isaiah 42:6, 49:6

foreigners… join themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord and to be his workers… hold fast to his covenant… for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples

—  Isaiah 56.6-7

all nations will serve him… the whole earth filled with his glory

—  Psalm 72


reveals, expresses God’s commitment to use a chosen people—a covenant community—

in order to reveal his love and glory to the whole world

God chooses an unimportant tribe of people to demonstrate through them his goodness, kindness and loving faithfulness towards a world of people

that has rebelled against his creation purposes

covenant with Israel


I will also make you a light to the nations,

so that my salvation can spread to the ends of the earth

my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples

keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the

earth is mine

and you will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation

I will make you a great nation,..

I will bless you and I will make your name great and you are to

be a blessing …

by you Abraham all the families of the earth will be blessed



BIBLICAL HISTORY

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first covenant with house of Israel

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a light to the gentiles

I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your flesh and blood; and I will set up his rulership;

he will build a house for my name and I will establish his royal throne forever;

I will be a father for him and he will be a son for me;

thus your house and your kingdom will be made secure forever before you;

your throne will be set up forever —  2 Samuel 7.12-16

covenant with David


effect of covenant with David

  ‘kingdom’ grafted into covenant purposes —  Daniel 9.25; 2 Samuel 23.5; Isaiah 55.3

  “one of your descendants” •  identified as “anointed one”—“messiah” •  Jewish nation looks to God to restore them

through a messianic deliverer… •  …for nearly one thousand years, even during

Babylonian domination and exile


reveals, expresses God’s commitment to establish his kingdom reign on earth through one of David’s descendants relating to him as a Son to a Father

God promises an Anointed King-to-come— a Messiah—who will restore the covenant

community of Israel and establish the Reign of God eternally

purpose of covenant with David


I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel,

I will put my torah within them and write it upon their

hearts; they will be my people and I will be their God

I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your flesh and blood; and I will set up his rulership; he will build a house for my name and I will

establish his royal throne forever; I will be a father for him

and he will be a son for me


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BIBLICAL HISTORY

new covenant—jeremiah 31

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a great nation a royal priesthood a house of prayer for all nations




idolatry and exile

  following David’s death, Solomon rules, first wisely, then committing idolatry, leading to •  fragmentation into houses of Israel, of Judah •  each exiled from Land when fail to turn from

idolatry, rebellion   exile symbolises God’s ongoing judgement,

constant, painful reminder of Israel’s sins… “by the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept, as we remembered Zion”

—  Psalm 137

  return from exile represents grace, sign of God’s forgiveness of Israel’s sin


Israel’s return, renewal

  popular interpretation of hope •  a glorious messianic, Davidic king •  deliverance from Gentile enemies •  restoration : “head not the tail”

  prophetic interpretation of hope •  an inglorious, despised, sacrificial, messianic,

intercessory prophet —  Isaiah 53

•  a renewed, faithful covenant community •  intimate knowledge of Torah, the Lord

—  Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 37


new covenant prophesied

I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel I will put my torah within them and write it upon

their hearts; they will be my people and I will be their God… all will know me, from the least to the greatest,

because I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more

—  Jeremiah 31.31-34


new covenant characteristics

  made “with the house of Israel” •  within framework of Abraham covenant •  Jesus “sent to lost sheep of house of Israel”

—  Genesis 17.7; Matthew 15.24

  provides new intimacy with God •  barrier of sins removed •  torah written upon hearts •  know God – from least to greatest •  be Adonai’s people •  Adonai will be their God


  as Jewish prophet (“Son of Man”) •  calls people to repentance •  challenges traditions, Israel’s leadership

  as Anointed Messiah (King, “Son of David”) •  revises Torah •  anointed by the Spirit •  takes Israel’s sins upon himself

  as High Priest (“order of Melchizedek”) •  presents himself as a sacrificial offering •  guarantees “a better covenant” •  intercedes forever by power of indestructible life

Jesus intercession for Israel


  Jewish commemoration of receiving torah —  Exodus 34.22, Deut. 16.9-10

  realised, fulfilled by outpouring, indwelling of Spirit

•  torah “written upon hearts” —  Romans 8.1-7

•  providing new intimacy with God —  Romans 8.26-27

Pentecost


go and make disciples of all nations (ethnos)

suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind and it filled the whole house where they were

sitting… they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk

in different languages…

how much better is the covenant of which Jesus has become a

guarantor

I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel,

I will put my torah within them and write it upon their

hearts; they will be my people and I will be their God

I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your flesh and blood; and I will set up his rulership; he will build a house for my name and I will

establish his royal throne forever; I will be a father for him

and he will be a son for me body of Messiah

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new covenant with house of Israel

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“all nations”… gentiles?

  “make disciples of all nations (ethnos)” •  new covenant with “house of Israel”… •  Jews amongst all nations? •  “ethnos” = gentiles •  confirmation of hints from Jesus, Tanakh

—  Matthew 8.8-12; Luke 14.15-24 —  Acts 10-15; Romans 9.24-25, 10.19

  gentile incorporation into covenant community…

•  social questions… •  covenant (theological) questions…


  overcome Jewish, gentile tradition, prejudice •  “for a man who is a Jew to have a close

association with someone who belongs to another people, or to come and visit him, is something that just isn’t done”

—  Acts 10:28-29

  new revelation of acceptability of all peoples •  “but God has shown me not to call any person

common or unclean… I now understand that God does not play favourites, but that whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what people he belongs to.”

—  Acts 10:34-35

social incorporation of gentiles


covenant incorporation of gentiles

  theological questions •  roots : patriarchs, covenants, history?

—  Romans 9.4-5

•  require Jewish conversion, circumcision? —  Romans 11.16-24, 9.4; Galatians 6.15

  Sh’aul, Paul •  trained as Pharisee (“Parush”) •  takes on task of theological explanation •  defends messianic covenant, community


gentiles : foreigners to the covenants

remember your former state: you gentiles by birth…

at that time had no Messiah; you were estranged from the national life of Israel; you were foreigners to the covenants embodying

God’s promise; you were in this world without hope and without

God —  Ephesians 2.11-12


gentiles : once far off, now brought near

but now, you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of Messiah’s blood;

for he himself is our shalom — he has made us both one and has broken down the m’chitzah which divided us, by destroying in his own body the enmity occasioned by the Torah…

he did this in order to create in union with himself from the two groups a single new humanity and thus make shalom…



gentiles : members of God’s family

when he came he announced as Good News shalom to you far off and shalom to those nearby, news that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father

so then you are no longer foreigners and strangers; on the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s family



former state of gentiles

…in this world without hope •  without God •  no Messiah

… estranged •  from the national life of Israel •  foreigners to the covenants


new state of gentiles

… through being united with Messiah •  fellow citizens of God’s family •  joined to house, commonwealth of Israel •  grafted into vine of Israel •  incorporated into covenant community

… resulting in •  messianic, new-covenant community •  single new humanity of Jews, gentiles •  mystical body of messiah


gentiles share faith of Abraham

the Tanakh, foreseeing that God would consider the Gentiles righteous when they live by trusting and being faithful,

told the Good News to Abraham in advance, by saying,

“in connection with you, all nations will be blessed”

—  Galatians 3.8


gentile receive blessing of Abraham

Jesus did this so that in union with him the Gentiles might receive the blessing announced to Abraham,

so that through trusting and being faithful we might receive what was promised, namely, the Spirit…

in union with the Messiah, you are all children of God through this trusting faithfulness;

if you belong to the Messiah, you are seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise

—  Galatians 3:9,14,26-29


gentiles united spiritually to Messiah

  becoming spiritual “seed of Abraham” •  “heirs according to promise”

  through trusting, being faithful •  “receiving blessing of Abraham” — •  “I have blessed you… you are to be a blessing to

all families of earth…” —  Genesis 12.1-3

  sharing in covenant purpose : blessed to be a blessing to all nations


the Spirit

Jesus did this so that in union with him the Gentiles might receive the blessing announced to Abraham,

so that through trusting and being faithful we might receive what was promised, namely, the Spirit…

  imparts life, deliverance from death —  Romans 8.10-11

  transforms us from glory to glory —  2 Corinthians 3.18


reveals, expresses God’s commitment to create a faithful covenant community,

receiving shalom, forgiveness of sin and Holy Spirit

God pours out his Holy Spirit to create an anointed, messianic covenant community,

“a single new humanity”—a mystical body of Messiah—comprising Jew and Gentile together,

reaching out to all nations with Good News of God’s reign through his Messiah

purpose of new covenant


God’s eternal purpose

God’s eternal purpose accomplished in the Messiah Jesus…

—  Ephesians 3.11

in bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, the Creator and Preserver of

everything should bring the Captain of their salvation to the goal through suffering

—  Hebrews 2.9-10


new covenant glory

  Son, radiance of Sh’kinah •  Hebrew, divine light and presence •  “very expression of God’s essence”

—  Hebrews 1.1-3

  transformed into his image, glory to glory —  2 Corinthians 3.17-4.6

  suffer with him… glorified with him —  Romans 8.17; 2 Timothy 2.10-12


resurrection heralds glorious new creation

  messianic community’s hope of future glory —  Romans 8.18

  creation released from bondage to decay —  Romans 8.19-23; 1 Corinthians 15.35-57

  a “home of righteousness” —  2 Peter 3.13; Revelation 21.27

  …in which God will dwell gloriously with his people, in fulfilment of covenant promises

—  Revelation 21-22


body of Messiah

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GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE : TO BRING MANY PEOPLE TO GLORY

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“new heaven and earth” —a renewed

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GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE : TO BRING MANY PEOPLE TO GLORY

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eternal purpose of God : summary


God’s prophetic express train


eternal purpose like a locomotive…

  powerful •  power provided by train — not passengers •  train’s purpose fulfilled by passengers

  pre-planned route •  crises may threaten, change route •  journey may be complicated, difficult…

  destination confirmed •  passengers entrusting themselves to train

guaranteed to arrive at glorious destination!


being at the station isn’t enough

you must get on board!   submitting to leadership of the King   joining messianic covenant community, uniting

with corporate calling, purpose, destiny   taking personal responsibility for involvement

with God’s eternal purpose   positioned for empowerment, victory over

forces of evil…   God confirms his covenant in people with whom

he is out-working eternal purpose


the harvests of the earth

the vocation of the messianic covenant community

NEXT SEMINAR…

the eternal purpose academy of mission

a series of presentations published by eternalpurpose.org.uk downloadable under licence, free-of-charge


the high call of God to the messianic community

1 destiny of the

messianic community

2 vocation of

the messianic community

3 design of the

messianic community

4 dynamic of

the messianic community

pressing toward the high call of God

5 running the race marked

out for us

6 leading God’s

people into their

inheritance

7 the arena of

spiritual conflict

the eternal purpose academy of mission

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derivative works

module 1—pdf slides—eternal purpose of god

Documents

gods purpose

gods eternal purpose

gods of egypt

gods actions

gods plan

royal throne

lord ephesians

earth exile john clements