Module 1—Outline—Eternal Purpose of God

'eternal purpose‘ academy of mission

mission mobilisation through leadership education—academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk 1

2008-09

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

biblical panorama — “big picture”


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

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! "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

purpose of divine covenant

! " revelation of divine intentions, plan

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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”

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

—"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


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

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the faithful God who keeps his covenant and extends grace

to those who love him and observe his commandments…

—"Deuteronomy 7.7-9

Israel – a nation set apart

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

covenant with Israel

! " “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

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

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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

covenant with Israel

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 David

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

effect of covenant with David

! " ‘kingdom’ grafted into covenant purposes

—"Daniel 9.25; 2 Samuel 23.5; Isaiah 55.3

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! " “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

purpose of covenant with David

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


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

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•" 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

Jesus intercession for Israel

! "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

Pentecost

! "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


“all nations”… gentiles?

! " “make disciples of all nations (ethnos)”

•" new covenant with “house of Israel”…

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! " “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…

social incorporation of gentiles

! "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

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


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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

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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

purpose of new covenant

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

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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

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



eternal purpose of God : summary

God, acting throughout history

through a covenant community,

blessing his people to be a blessing

with one unchanging eternal purpose

to bring many people…

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with one unchanging eternal purpose

to bring many people…

from every nation, tribe, people, language

to participate in the kingdom of God

and a glorious new creation!

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

the eternal purpose

academy of mission

a series of presentations published by

Eternal Purpose Institute for Missiological Research and Education

downloadable under licence, free-of-charge

the eternal purpose

academy of mission

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Module 1—Outline—Eternal Purpose of God

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