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 SALVATIONGustafAulén, 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. 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. 5:17-21; John 3:16; Gal. 1:4; 4:4-7; Titus 3:3-7; John 16:8; Gal. 3:13, 14; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; Rom. 10:17; Luke 17:5; Mark 9:23, 24; Eph. 2:5-10; Rom. 3:21-26; Col. 1:13, 14; Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 3:26; John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Rom. 12:2; Heb. 8:7-12; Eze. 36:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Rom. 8:1-4; 5:6-10.)

6. 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”

7. What Understanding of Salvation do Adventists have? Fundamental Beliefs # 10 --- Experience of Salvation: In infinite love and mercyGod 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. 5:17-21; John 3:16; Gal. 1:4; 4:4-7; Titus 3:3-7; John 16:8; Gal. 3:13, 14; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; Rom. 10:17; Luke 17:5; Mark 9:23, 24; Eph. 2:5-10; Rom. 3:21-26; Col. 1:13, 14; Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 3:26; John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Rom. 12:2; Heb. 8:7-12; Eze. 36:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Rom. 8:1-4; 5:6-10.)

8. 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 3:16; Isa. 53; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4, 20-22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19-21; Rom. 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Col. 2:15; Phil. 2:6-11.)

9. What Understanding of Salvation do Adventists have? Fundamental Beliefs # 8 --- Great Controversy: All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satanregarding 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. 12:4-9; Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:12-18; Gen. 3; Rom. 1:19-32; 5:12-21; 8:19-22; Gen. 6-8; 2 Peter 3:6; 1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 1:14.)

10. 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 . . .

11. 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 Gospel—the Good News – that we are to share with the World?”

12. What is the Gospel (Good News)? • Grace --- Forgiveness • Righteousness by Faith=Justification by his faithfulness • Penal Substitution (Latin—Objective); Jesus’ Death • Lutheran (Evangelical Protestant) View • Power --- Overcoming • Righteousness by Faith=Living righteously by faith • Moral Influence (Love – Subjective); Jesus’ Example • Schleiermacher’s (Liberal Protestant) version! • Liberation --- Justice • Path of the Just=Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly • Moral Influence (Love – Subjective); Jesus’ Actions • Liberation Theology (Ecumenical Protestant) version • Truth --- Church • Remnant Church = Teaches God’s Truths • [Gnostic] (part satisfaction, part subjective, part dramatic) • Catholic View (Outside the Church, there is no Salvation)!

13. 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

14. “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

15. “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)

16.  “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

17.  “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 Christ’s 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

18.  “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 • Christ’s solidarity with us • Optimistic view of humanity • Can lead to high commitment

19.  “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

20.  “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

21.  “Mission Adventism” Institutional-Catholic WEAKNESESS • Religious ideology rather than Christian gospel • Over-simplistic • Can’t 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.

22. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • A Mystery Hid From Eternity • Col 1:25-27; 1 Cor 2:7-10; Rom 16:25-27 • A Mystery that is Christ Himself • Col 1:25-2:3; 4:3; 1 Peter 1:20; 2 Tim 1:9,10; 1 Tim 3:16

23. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; 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 God’s 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 8:29-39

24. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; 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. 1:16-23

25. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • 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. 3:14-21

26. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 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)

27. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; • “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 2:1 • “Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” (NRSV) 1 Cor 4:1

28. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; • 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 11:25

29. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • 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 6:19

30. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • A Mystery Hid From Eternity • Col 1:25-27; • 25I became its servant according to God’s 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 1:25-27

31. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • A Mystery Hid From Eternity • Col 1:25-27; 1 Cor 2:7-10; • 7But we speak God’s 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

32. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • A Mystery Hid From Eternity • Col 1:25-27; 1 Cor 2:7-10; Rom 16:25-26 • 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 16:25-26

33. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • A Mystery Hid From Eternity • Col 1:25-27; 1 Cor 2:7-10; Rom 16:25-27 • A Mystery that is Christ Himself • Col 1:25-2:3; 25I became its servant according to God’s 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 God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (NRSV) Col 1:25-2:3

34. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • A Mystery Hid From Eternity • Col 1:25-27; 1 Cor 2:7-10; Rom 16:25-27 • A Mystery that is Christ Himself • Col 1:25-2:3; 4:3; • 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 4:3

35. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • A Mystery Hid From Eternity • Col 1:25-27; 1 Cor 2:7-10; Rom 16:25-27 • A Mystery that is Christ Himself • Col 1:25-2:3; 4:3; 1 Peter 1:20; • 20He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. (NRSV)

36. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • A Mystery Hid From Eternity • Col 1:25-27; 1 Cor 2:7-10; Rom 16:25-27 • A Mystery that is Christ Himself • Col 1:25-2:3; 4:3; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 Tim 3:16 • 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 3:16

37. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • A Revolutionary Message • Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:16-23; Eph 3:14-21 • A Mystery • Mark 4:11; 1 Cor 2:1 (NRSV); 4:1; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19 • A Mystery Hid From Eternity • Col 1:25-27; 1 Cor 2:7-10; Rom 16:25-27 • A Mystery that is Christ Himself • Col 1:25-2:3; 4:3; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 Tim 3:16; 2 Tim 1:9,10; • 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 1:9-10

38. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • Christ the Goal of Creation Itself • Col 1:15ff; • 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 powers—all 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 1:15-19

39. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • Christ the Goal of Creation Itself • Col 1:15ff; Rom 11:33-36; • 33O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35“Or 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 11:33-36

40. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • Christ the Goal of Creation Itself • Col 1:15ff; Rom 11:33-35; Eph 1:5, 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

41. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • Christ the Goal of Creation Itself • Col 1:15ff; Rom 11:33-35; Eph 1:5, 9, 11 • Wisdom of God (Extended Passage) • 1 Cor 1:18-2:16 • 24. . . to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ [is] the power of God and the wisdom of God. . . 2:1 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 God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. (NRSV) 1 Cor 1:24-2:7

42. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • Christ the Goal of Creation Itself • Col 1:15ff; Rom 11:33-35; Eph 1:5, 9, 11 • Wisdom of God (Extended Passage) • 1 Cor 1:18-2:16 • 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 1:4-10

43. The Mystery of the GospelWhat is the Focus of the NT? • Christ the Goal of Creation Itself • Col 1:15ff; Rom 11:33-35; Eph 1:5, 9, 11 • Wisdom of God (Extended Passage) 1 Cor 1:18-2:16 • Purpose of God (Extended Passage) Eph 1 • Promise of God (”Our Destined Glory”) • Rev 1:6; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5 • 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father . . . 3:21 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. . . 5:10 10you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.” 20:4-6 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. . . 22:5 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)

44. The Mystery of the GospelWhat 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 God’s 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.

45. The Mystery of the GospelWhat 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 us”—At-one-ment—is: • “to bring us to our destined glory” 1 Cor 2:7 (REB) • “adoption, fellow-heirs with Christ” Rom 8:14-17 • “now children of God, what we shall be, has not yet been revealed, but we will be like him” 1 John 3:2 • “sharing in the very being of God,” (REB) “partakers of the divine nature” (KJV) 2 Peter 1:4

46. E. G. White Quote “In His [Christ’s] 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

47. 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

48. Help us with doctrine . . . Doctrines: From beads on a chain . . . To facets of a jewel

49. 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 • The Remnant and Its Mission • 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 • The New Earth

50. God Man Last Things Advent ‘God with us’ Jesus Christian Life Creation Salvation Church Facets of the ‘Advent of God’