what do christians believe?. review what is the most basic summary (i.e. theology) of the biblical...

WHAT

DO C

HRISTI

ANS

BELIEVE?

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What is the most basic summary (i.e. theology) of the biblical message?

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What is the most basic summary (i.e. theology) of the biblical message?• The “inbreaking of the kingdom (community) of God.”

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The logical order to explain the who, what, when, where, why and how of this coming Kingdom of God is as follows:

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The logical order to explain the who, what, when, where, why and how of this coming Kingdom of God is as follows:1.Theology Proper – Who is God?2.Anthropology – Who are we?3.Christology – Who is Jesus and what did He do?4.Pneumatology – Who is the Spirit and what does He do?5.Ecclesiology – What is the Church and what is its mission?6.Eschatology – Where is it all going? What is the “end goal”?

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The logical order to explain the who, what, when, where, why and how of this coming Kingdom of God is as follows:1.Theology Proper – Who is God?2.Anthropology – Who are we?3.Christology – Who is Jesus and what did He do?4.Pneumatology – Who is the Spirit and what does He do?5.Ecclesiology – What is the Church and what is its mission?6.Eschatology – Where is it all going? What is the “end goal”?

• Last time we looked at Ecclesiology and the question, “What is the Church and what is its mission?”

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• At its core church is participation in the love relationship that exists within the Triune God.

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• There are marks and signs that help us discern which local communities are churches, but the marks and signs are a result of the love the church has through the Holy Spirit’s dwelling within the hearts of all believers. They are the fruit of believers living in covenant with God and each other.

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• Therefore the foundational nature of the church is a community of love which takes the form of a covenant between God and others and by so doing brings an incomplete but tangible expression of the coming kingdom of God in the here and now.

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• The mission of the Church is to glorify God through worship, mutually edify one another and to reach out to the world through evangelism and service.

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• The mission of the Church is to glorify God through worship, mutually edify one another and to reach out to the world through evangelism and service.

• Today we will look at where this is all going. What is the final goal that God and His church are working towards?

ESCHATOLOGY “THE LAST THINGS”


• Eschatology is the discussion of where Christians believe everything is going, the final destination and therefore purpose for all that God created.



• The study of these final goals or “last things” as they are often called can be broken up into three subheadings:




1. Personal Eschatology – Where do individuals end up? What happens to me?





2. Corporate Eschatology – Where is the story of all humankind headed?





2. Corporate Eschatology – Where is the story of all humankind headed?

3. Cosmic Eschatology – What will the eternity that lies beyond history be like?

PERSONAL ESCHATOLOGY


• The main question behind the study of personal eschatology is “Is personal existence ultimately meaningless, or does God have a purpose for each one of us?”



• An answer to this question can be found by exploring the following three things:




a. Death




a. Deathb. Resurrection




a. Deathb. Resurrectionc. The Time In Between the Two (aka The Intermediate State)

DEATH

I. The Problem

DEATH

I. The Problem• Unlike plants and animals, humans are aware of the fact that one day

we will die. No matter what we do we know our life is headed toward death.

DEATH



• From a purely human, this-worldly perspective, death makes our personal existence ultimately meaningless. (One of the main points of Ecclesiastes)

DEATH




• This knowledge makes it impossible to really live fully, for no matter what we do, time will completely and utterly erase it. What we do, therefore, ultimately makes no difference.

DEATH





II. The Bible’s View of Death

DEATH





II. The Bible’s View of Death• In contrast to its great emphasis on life, the Old Testament writers

were ambiguous when it comes to death.

DEATH






were ambiguous when it comes to death.• On the one hand, they saw it as the inevitable result of aging.

DEATH






were ambiguous when it comes to death.• On the one hand, they saw it as the inevitable result of aging.• But on the other hand, they spoke of death as an evil and unnatural

power. (Contrary to most other religions and even atheism which all see death as ‘natural’).

DEATH

I. The Problem

II. The Bible’s View of Death• The Old Testament writers consistently labelled death as an evil

imposter and as something from which God would eventually save the righteous. But apart from some late hints at resurrection the Old Testament remains ambiguous as to how God will save from death.

DEATH

I. The Problem



• The New Testament writers, however, experienced a new event that brought a new perspective on death: Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

DEATH

I. The Problem




• One human being has already passed through death and permanently overcome it.

DEATH

I. The Problem





• Death is still an evil. But it is no longer the greatest evil. On the contrary, the sacrifice of our own lives in death is now a way to bring about good with no permanent loss, just as Jesus demonstrated in his own death and resurrection.

DEATH

I. The Problem





• Death is still an evil. But it is no longer the greatest evil. On the contrary, the sacrifice of our own lives in death is now a way to bring about good with no permanent loss, just as Jesus demonstrated in his own death and resurrection.

• Clearly then, death is not neutral or ambiguous for Christians. Death is our enemy, but a defeated enemy that cannot separate us from God or his intended purpose for our lives.

DEATH

• Therefore, three things about death can be said with firm conviction as Christians:

DEATH


1. Death is not natural.

DEATH


1. Death is not natural. Despite how integrated into biological existence death is in the here

and now, it is not a part of God’s ultimate plan and therefore will cease to exist one day.

DEATH




2. Death is evil in that it threatens separation from others and potentially even from God.

DEATH





Therefore, it is not death, but the separation associated with death that has the potential to make meaningless all that we have lived for.

DEATH






3. Death is ultimately impotent.

DEATH






3. Death is ultimately impotent. As unpleasant as it still is, on account of the work of Jesus death does

not have the power to end us or make what we do meaningless.

DEATH






3. Death is ultimately impotent. As unpleasant as it still is, on account of the work of Jesus death does

not have the power to end us or make what we do meaningless. What is God’s plan for overcoming death?

RESURRECTION

RESURRECTION

• A good way to understand what the Bible means by the word “Resurrection” is to contrast it with other common beliefs about what happens after death:

RESURRECTION


1. Monism – the dissolving of human personal distinction into the “Absolute” (i.e. God).

RESURRECTION



God is a “great collective personhood” (Rosemary Ruether), when a person dies it is like a drop of water returning to the sea.

RESURRECTION




Contradicts the fact that there are personal distinctions within the Triune God, not to mention between God and His creatures.

RESURRECTION





2. Reincarnation – reemergence in a new earthly form either progressing or regressing from one life to the next.

RESURRECTION






The big problem for reincarnation is that if life is a never-ending cycle of rebirths, then personal existence is meaningless.

RESURRECTION




3. The Immortality of the Soul – Death frees the soul from the body so it can dwell in the world of eternal ideas where it belongs. The classic statement is Plato’s description of Socrates’ death in the Phaedo.

RESURRECTION





Many Christians unknowingly adopt this view. But, from a biblical point of view, it is riddled with problems.

RESURRECTION





Many Christians unknowingly adopt this view. But, from a biblical point of view, it is riddled with problems.

It views eternal life as inherent to the human soul rather than a gift from God. It suggests that the body, not death, is the real enemy. This, in turn, implies that our bodies are beyond redemption. It also implies that humans reach their intended “end” individual rather than together.

RESURRECTION

• In contrast to these views of life after death, Christian hope is grounded in the promise of resurrection.

RESURRECTION


• Resurrection is something all the righteous will experience together.

RESURRECTION


• Resurrection is something all the righteous will experience together.• It will raise us to a higher plane of existence in which there will be no

more sin or death or pain.

RESURRECTION



more sin or death or pain.• But it will also involve a “sameness” with our current existence. We

will still be embodied earthly creatures who look similar enough to our current form that we will recognize one another.

RESURRECTION





• This was demonstrated in Jesus’ resurrection. His appearance had changed, but he was still recognized.

RESURRECTION





• This was demonstrated in Jesus’ resurrection. His appearance had changed, but he was still recognized.

• But what happens immediately after someone dies in the time between death and the final resurrection of the dead?

THE TIME IN BETWEEN

THE TIME IN BETWEEN

• The Bible says surprisingly little about what happens in between death and the resurrection.

THE TIME IN BETWEEN


• There are several theories, but they each have holes.

THE TIME IN BETWEEN


• There are several theories, but they each have holes.1. “Time Warp” to the Resurrection

THE TIME IN BETWEEN



When you die you enter eternity and instantly arrive at the moment of the resurrection.

THE TIME IN BETWEEN




2. Soul Sleep

THE TIME IN BETWEEN




2. Soul Sleep Your soul “sleeps” enjoying a period of rest until you are

awakened in resurrection.

THE TIME IN BETWEEN





awakened in resurrection.3. Conscious Existence of the Soul

THE TIME IN BETWEEN





awakened in resurrection.3. Conscious Existence of the Soul

The soul remains conscious apart from the body and follows the flow of time.

THE TIME IN BETWEEN

• All of these views face significant problems fitting with the whole testimony of Scripture.

THE TIME IN BETWEEN


• The only thing the Bible says about the time in between with absolute certainty is that we will “be with Christ.” This is sometimes talked of as “rest” and once as being “better” than our current situation, but the biblical emphasis is clearly on hoping for embodied resurrection not just life in “heaven” after death.

THE TIME IN BETWEEN



• As N.T. Wright put it, Christians believe in “life after life after death.”

THE TIME IN BETWEEN




• Whatever happens in between, it is a state that is less glorious than resurrection, is ambiguous in how we will experience time and consciousness, but which still maintains our personal existence .(I.e. we don’t snap out of existence at death and then pop back into existence at the resurrection).

THE TIME IN BETWEEN




• Whatever happens in between, it is a state that is less glorious than resurrection, is ambiguous in how we will experience time and consciousness, but which still maintains our personal existence .(I.e. we don’t snap out of existence at death and then pop back into existence at the resurrection).

• Therefore, Christians believe that death is an enemy that we will overcome when we are raised from the dead on the last day. The time in between is spent “with Christ.”

CORPORATE ESCHATOLOGY


• The main question of corporate eschatology is “Is the history of humankind going somewhere, or is human history meaningless?”



• The Bible claims that history is headed somewhere and answers three questions about where it’s all going:




1. What will the arrival point of history look like?




1. What will the arrival point of history look like?2. When will it arrive?




1. What will the arrival point of history look like?2. When will it arrive?3. How will it get there?

WHAT WILL THE ARRIVAL POINT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT WILL THE ARRIVAL POINT LOOK LIKE?• In contrast to our culture’s pessimism about the future,

Christians look forward to a glorious future for humankind.



• Ancient Israel was confident that God would one day establish justice and complete harmony on earth (Shalom) through a king who was to come (the Messiah).




• Christians declare that Jesus of Nazareth is this king and that his kingdom began with His first coming, but will only become complete with His second coming.




• Christians declare that Jesus of Nazareth is this king and that his kingdom began with His first coming, but will only become complete with His second coming.

• Therefore, the goal of human history is the establishment of God’s shalom, his kingdom on earth.

WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN?


• Jesus’ first coming inaugurated his kingdom and his second coming will consummate it.



• Therefore, the kingdom of God is both “already” and “not yet.”




• The kingdom is already here in that the King is already present with us through the Holy Spirit and that all true experiences of community brought about by the Spirit are part of the shalom, the kingdom of God.





“Although community building occurs in many aspects of human life, in this age the focal point of the divine establishing of community is the

church, the fellowship of Jesus’ disciples.” – Grenz, 610.







• But the kingdom of God is also “not yet”; it is still future.








• Only when Christ returns and judges the world will humankind’s final destiny become reality.





“Although community building occurs in many aspects of human life, in this age the focal point of the divine establishing of community is the church, the

fellowship of Jesus’ disciples.” – Grenz, 610.


• Only when Christ returns and judges the world will humankind’s final destiny become reality.

• There is great consensus amongst Christians up to this point. But in the last 200 years or so, there has been much disagreement about how the events of Christ’s return and judgment will take place.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?

• What specific events must happen as we move towards God’s final establishment of His Kingdom on earth?

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?


• Many Christians are consumed with trying to figure out this final chronology.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?


• Many Christians are consumed with trying to figure out this final chronology.

• The 1,000 year reign (millennium) mentioned in Revelation 20:1-8 has become the means by which three different answers to this question have come to be expressed within evangelical Christianity: postmillennialism, premillennialism and amillenialism.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?

1. Postmillennialism – Christ will return after an earthly golden age which John, in Revelation, pictured as a 1,000 year reign of Christ.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?


God’s work through the church will result in 1,000 years of heightened goodness on earth during which Satan is “bound” and all nations will live in peace. Then Satan will lead a short-lived rebellion where he will be permanently defeated by the triumphant return of Christ. Then will come resurrection, judgment and the eternal state – paradise and hell.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?


God’s work through the church will result in 1,000 years of heightened goodness on earth during which Satan is “bound” and all nations will live in peace. Then Satan will lead a short-lived rebellion where he will be permanently defeated by the triumphant return of Christ. Then will come resurrection, judgment and the eternal state – paradise and hell.

Postmillennialism is extremely optimistic in its view of human ability. Essentially, the church will establish God’s kingdom on earth and Jesus will arrive simply to seal the deal.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?

2. Premillennialism – Christ will return prior to the 1,000 year reign and will be physically present to exercise this reign.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?


Human agency plays little to no role in this view. The 1,000 year reign is brought about by the direct action of God.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?



There are two groups of premillennialists: historical and dispensational.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?




For dispensationalists national Israel, not the church, is the focus.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?




For dispensationalists national Israel, not the church, is the focus. Dispensationalists believe that (true) Christians will be “raptured”

before the tribulation that precedes the 1,000 years, then the Antichrist appears, God pours out his wrath and Christ returns with the armies of heaven and defeats his enemies. As a result Israel acknowledges Jesus as Messiah and only then does the 1,000 years begin which is a time where Israel enjoys prominence among the nations and enjoys the Promised Land.”

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?




For dispensationalists national Israel, not the church, is the focus. Dispensationalists believe that (true) Christians will be “raptured”

before the tribulation that precedes the 1,000 years, then the Antichrist appears, God pours out his wrath and Christ returns with the armies of heaven and defeats his enemies. As a result Israel acknowledges Jesus as Messiah and only then does the 1,000 years begin which is a time where Israel enjoys prominence among the nations and enjoys the Promised Land.”

Premillennialism is extremely pessimistic in its view of human ability. It is God alone, through Christ who brings in his kingdom.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?

3. Amillennialism – means “no millennium.”

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?

3. Amillennialism – means “no millennium.” The millennium is not a literal 1,000 years, but a numerical symbol

for something else (e.g. the age of the church). The return of Christ marks the end of history and the beginning of eternity with no interval in between.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?



This is the simplest interpretation.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?



This is the simplest interpretation. The church will complete its evangelistic mission, persecution will

increase in opposition, then Christ will return, defeat Satan and the forces of evil, raise the dead, judge the world and bring about the eternal state.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?





Amillennialism has a more realistic view of human ability. It emphasized God’s role as primary, but leaves room for human involvement in bringing God’s kingdom into its fullness.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?





Amillennialism has a more realistic view of human ability. It emphasized God’s role as primary, but leaves room for human involvement in bringing God’s kingdom into its fullness.

• Whichever view one takes, the Bible affirms that no one knows the day or hour when these event will occur. We are simply warned to “Stay awake” prepared for what is coming.

COSMIC ESCHATOLOGY

COSMIC ESCHATOLOGY

• Christ has returned, the millennium (if there is one) is over, all humans have been raised, now what?

COSMIC ESCHATOLOGY


• Two things:

COSMIC ESCHATOLOGY


• Two things:1. Judgment

COSMIC ESCHATOLOGY


• Two things:1. Judgment2. New Creation

JUDGMENT

JUDGMENT

• In a nutshell judgment is the means by which God transitions our current created yet fallen order into the new creation He has always intended. God’s judgment is what will create paradise on earth.

JUDGMENT


• Therefore, it is not surprising that God’s judgment is one of the most recurring themes in the Bible.

JUDGMENT



• According to Scripture God’s judgment will focus on humans but will also include the refashioning of creation itself.

JUDGMENT




• In other words, God’s judgment will radically transform the created order eliminating all death and decay, so that it is ready to receive the radically transformed people who will spend eternity living in it.

JUDGMENT





• Humans, however, remain the focus of God’s judgment.

JUDGMENT





• Humans, however, remain the focus of God’s judgment.

• All humans will be judged.

JUDGMENT

• But the good news is that Jesus is the Judge! This is a great comfort for we know that Jesus gave his own life so that we might stand in the judgment.

JUDGMENT


• It is important to remember that God’s judgment is not all future. God does judge in the here and now, choosing at times to bring consequences on us in response to our sin. But this is always for the purpose of turning us back to following him, just like every loving parent corrects and disciplines their children.

JUDGMENT



• But this present experience of judgment is all to prepare us for the final judgment after Christ’s return.

JUDGMENT



• But this present experience of judgment is all to prepare us for the final judgment after Christ’s return.

“The biblical authors declare that we will be judged according to our works (Jer. 17:10; 32:19; Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7-8; Rev. 22:12). Among

the works that Jesus cited as leading to condemnation include the accumulation of earthly possessions to the exclusion of true wealth (Mark 10:17-31; Luke 12:13-21), lack of care for the disadvantaged (Matt. 25:31-46), and unwillingness to

forgive (Matt. 18:21-35).” – Grenz, 629

JUDGMENT

“Because he shows us what it means to be human, our Lord is the standard in comparison to whom our lives our measured.” – Grenz, 630.

JUDGMENT


• No one measures up to Christ.

JUDGMENT



• Therefore, if Jesus had not done something, no human would stand in the judgment.

JUDGMENT




• But, for those who have repented and believed the good news and are now “in Christ,” all their evil deeds have already been judged when Jesus died on the cross.

JUDGMENT




• But, for those who have repented and believed the good news and are now “in Christ,” all their evil deeds have already been judged when Jesus died on the cross.

• Therefore, everyone who is in Christ will stand in the final judgment with only their good, Holy Spirit empowered deeds to their credit, while everyone who is not in Christ will be condemned.

JUDGMENT

• For believers, therefore, judgment is something to look forward to, because that is the moment when we will finally become who we were always meant to be, transformed into the image of Christ.

JUDGMENT


• It is also important to note that the biblical view of judgment teaches that it is not a private thing.

JUDGMENT



• Rather, the final judgment will be public and swift.

JUDGMENT




• Everyone will be judged together at the same time and the result will be that the hidden realities of what makes one right before God or the enemy of God will become suddenly public and plain for all to see.

JUDGMENT





• The Bible predicts that this will result in many surprises!

JUDGMENT





• The Bible predicts that this will result in many surprises!

“To summarize: the judgment is the public, cosmic revealing of the truth of reality. This revelation will bring surprise and joy to some, as they are

welcomed into eternal bliss and receive the rewards of their labors. For others, this day will come as a shock, for they will see clearly the ultimate

failure of their lives.” – Grenz, 633

THE DARK SIDE OF JUDGMENT


• Is failure on judgment day beyond repair?



• Some Christians have said no on the basis that they cannot accept that a loving God like our God could ever condemn anyone to hell in the end.




• Instead they argue that even after death God’s love will continue to pursue people until all are saved.





• People that believe this are called “Universalists” since they believe that, eventually, all will be saved.






• Universalism was condemned by the church before the middle ages, but has never completely disappeared from Christian circles.






• Universalism was condemned by the church before the middle ages, but has never completely disappeared from Christian circles.

• One of the biggest criticisms of Universalism is that it fails to take into account any human freedom or responsibility. But judgment is not only about what God wants. If someone does not freely love God before the judgment, there seems to be no reason to think this will change after the judgment.


• Judgement is therefore not something God does to us, but something that God reveals about us, that is, judgment reveals whether we are lovers or haters of God.



• Others believe that some will fail and be condemned in the judgment, but they cannot believe that our God, who is love, would condemn them to eternal punishment.




• Instead, they argue that only those who are saved will be immortal, whereas the condemned will, at some point, cease to exist.





• People who hold this position are called “Annihilationists.”





• People who hold this position are called “Annihilationists.”

• Although there are some prominent evangelicals who argue this view (e.g. John Stott, N.T. Wright), most reject it on the grounds that it makes nonsense of the places in the New Testament that specifically refer to eternal punishment as the opposite to eternal life.


“We dare not confuse God’s love with sentimentality. As the great lover, God is also the avenging protector of the love relationship.

Consequently, God’s love has a dark side. Those who spurn or seek to destroy the holy relationship God desires to enjoy with creation

experience the divine love as protective jealousy or wrath. Because God is eternal, our experience of God’s love – whether as fellowship

or as wrath – is also eternal. Jus as the righteous enjoy unending community with God, so also those who set themselves in

opposition to God’s love experience his holy love eternally. For them, however, this experience is hell.” – Grenz, 642.







• Hell, in essence, is being cut of from fellowship with God and his kingdom community. It is missing out on who you were meant to be. And it is marked by estrangement and loneliness.








• The “fire” of hell is the knowledge that you’ve missed out.








• The “fire” of hell is the knowledge that you’ve missed out.• Illustration: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

THE NEW CREATION

THE NEW CREATION

• After judgment everything God has created, including his people, will be changed into the glorious form he intended. The biblical authors refer to this as the “new creation.”

THE NEW CREATION


• Contrary to popular Christian belief, “heaven” is not the final destination according to Scripture. We will not go “up” to a spiritual dwelling place. Quite the opposite. We will live on a new earth (or more precisely a renewed earth) and God’s dwelling place (heaven) will come down to us.

THE NEW CREATION



• The picture of a renewed earth means that there will be both great difference from the current earth, but also significant “sameness” or continuity with the present earth.

THE NEW CREATION



• The picture of a renewed earth means that there will be both great difference from the current earth, but also significant “sameness” or continuity with the present earth.

• The new earth will be free of sin, decay, disease and death. There will be no more insecurity. Evil of every kind will be absent.

THE NEW CREATION

• But we must remember that the promise is to “make all things new” not to make all new things. The earth will be renewed, not totally destroyed (Rom. 8:20-22). It is likely that the best of human culture will be there too (Rev. 21:26).

THE NEW CREATION

• But we must remember that the promise is to “make all things new” not to make all new things. The earth will be renewed, not totally destroyed (Rom. 8:20-22). It is likely that the best of human culture will be there too (Rev. 21:26).

• All of this reminds us that the material world is important. It is not just going to be trashed in the end, so we are not to treat it as trash!

THE NEW CREATION

• At the centre of the new creation will be the new community established by God.

THE NEW CREATION


• Three things will characterize it: It will be…

THE NEW CREATION


• Three things will characterize it: It will be…1. A place where God is present.

THE NEW CREATION



God will live with his people and the knowledge of God will fill the earth as the water fills the sea.

THE NEW CREATION




2. A place of fellowship.

THE NEW CREATION




2. A place of fellowship. “Peace, harmony, love and righteousness will reign everywhere.”

– Grenz, 647

THE NEW CREATION





– Grenz, 6473. A place of glorification.

THE NEW CREATION





– Grenz, 6473. A place of glorification.

Not only will we be made perfect, we will get to share in the very love that has existed within the Triune God since eternity past. Being “in Christ” and filled with the Spirit we will truly love and glorify the Father and He, in turn, will love and glorify us just as He does His Son Jesus.

CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION

• The purpose of theology (knowing what we believe) and particularly eschatology (knowing where we believe everything is heading) is to help us glorify God in the here and now.

CONCLUSION


• Knowledge of where things are going calls us to be bold in sharing the good news of Jesus, to live lives that are holy and to be steadfast in the face of persecution.

CONCLUSION


• Knowledge of where things are going calls us to be bold in sharing the good news of Jesus, to live lives that are holy and to be steadfast in the face of persecution.

• Illustration: Night, Day and the Bright Morning Star.

what do christians believe?. review what is the most basic summary (i.e. theology) of the biblical...

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