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The Mission of God:Understanding the Kingdom of God fromThe Old Testament to the New Testament

400 Level CourseAl Soto

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Some Facts About Al Soto

• Married to his lovely wife Valerie for 30 years in which he acknowledges he married way above his pay-grade.

• Has five son’s: David (23), Matthew (22), Michael (20), Jonathan (18), and Aaron (16).

• Two Dogs: Millie a Blue Nose Pit Bull who is afraid of her shadow and thinks she is a lap dog. Cassie a demonic Terrier /Mix who the Soto family wants Monster -Quest to come and verify if she is the elchupacabra.

• Planted a church in 1987 and Pastored in San Jose, CA for twenty years. The church planted four other congregations.

• District Supervisor for five years acting as an overseer in the South Bay Area for the Foursquare Denomination.

• Was a Church Planting Leadership Coach and Trainer for ten years.

• Owned an Consulting Company that assisted organizations in creating efficiency in their management systems.

• Has coached football for 25 years and is a certified trainer with the CIF.

• Enjoys Old School Motown and R&B.• Deeply grateful for 28 years of sobriety in Jesus Christ.• Life Quote: “Real Success is Helping Other’s to Succeed!”

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Class Description:

• This class examines in a survey methodology the “Mission of God” from, biblical, theological and historical perspectives. This interdisciplinary study, integrating biblical theology and practice, is designed to move each student toward a holistic understanding of mission in relation to the transformation of individuals, cultures and communities. There will be emphasis and focus on the profile and overall influence of selected biblical characters (great figures of the Old and New Testament). Throughout the class there will be application of the meaning of the Kingdom of God as it relates to spiritual formation of each believer as an empowered citizen of the kingdom of God as well as the relationship of the Church as an agency of the Kingdom of God as a force of Unleashing Compassion both locally and globally.

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Course Objectives

• This class provides an excellent opportunity to examine the role of the Bible in formulating a dynamic theological reflection on the Mission of God being developed through the progressive revelation of Scripture (From the Old Testament to the New Testament) and it’s formation of the Church and its Mission within contemporary cultural contexts. In light of this aim, the course objectives are as follows:

• • Explore themes of mission within the biblical text;

• • Discern the influential cultural forces shaping the world in which

• the ministry toward the future;

• • Apply biblical concepts to mission practice in specific global

• contexts;

• • Define mission dei in view of various theoretical perspectives

• and explain why it is a contested concept

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Continuation Course Objectives

From the progressive revelation of Scripture develop the understanding of the Kingdom of God from the Hebrew mindset into the New Testament concept of the Kingdom being both a present reality and an eschatological event.

Begin to understand how a Trinitarian Perspective of God becomes the perfect system for developing a balanced mission for the local church.

To present the development of God being one who is the ultimate champion for such matters as social justice.

Discuss the relationship between the Church and the Kingdom of God in light of classic and recent literature with some discussion on the danger of the emergent church’s perspective of reframing the historical Jesus.

Ultimately, for the student to appreciate and bend a knee to authority and veracity of the Scripture being the Word of God!

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Recommended Reading

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Abstract John Bright's Book

• John Bright’s book arises out of a concern to find a unity between the Old Testament and the New Testament (p. 10) which will save the Bible, especially the Old Testament, from disuse and misuse (p. 9). The aim of his book is to show that such a unity exists. As the title of Bright’s book shows, he believes “that the biblical doctrine of the Kingdom of God … is the unifying theme of the Bible” (p. 244). “The Bible is one book. Had we to give that book a title we might with justice call it The Book of the Coming Kingdom of God. That is indeed its central theme everywhere” (p. 197). “The two Testaments are organically linked to each other. The relationship between them is neither one of upward development nor of contrast; it is one of beginning and completion, of hope and fulfillment. And the bond that binds them together is the dynamic concept of the rule of God” (p. 196ff).

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Howard Snyder’s Premises

• The entire premise of the book centers around the question, “does the Church bring the Kingdom?” and if so, how so?

• “The church is seen as the community of God’s people — a people called to serve God and called to live together in true Christian community as a witness to the character and virtues of God’s reign (13). “

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Community of the KingHoward Snyder

• Must Read!

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Continuation of Premises

• Howard Snyder sees the church as the primary agent of God’s mission on the earth. The mission (purpose) of God is to bring “all things and, supremely, all people under the dominion and headship of Jesus Christ” (13). Therefore, the Church, that is, the people of God, is the agent, or the means by which God’s mission is accomplished in this world.

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Presuppositions

Presupposition #1: We begin with a very high view of Scripture.

Verbal-Plenary InspirationVerbal Means Every Word

Verbal means that every word of Scripture is God-given. The idea is that every single word in the Bible is there because God wanted it there.

Plenary Means Fully Authoritative

Plenary means that all parts of the Bible are equally authoritative. This includes such things as the genealogies of the Old Testament. All parts of the Bible are of divine origin.

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(Romans 15:4)

• Paul wrote.

• “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

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What does Inspiration Mean?

• Inspiration Means God Guided The Process

• The idea behind the word inspiration is that God supernaturally guided the biblical authors to write the exact things that He wanted expressed. The result is Holy Scripture.

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Premise #2

• All of us are theologians and must approach this topic theologically.

• “Thinking Theologically is thinking about God.”

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Two Areas To Think Theologically

• Natural Attributes:OmnipotenceOmnipresence

• Moral Attributes: All Loving> All Forgiving

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Systematic Theology

• In systematic theology one attempts to summarize biblical doctrine, addressing theological topics one by one in order to summarize all biblical teaching on a particular subject.

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Areas of Systematic Theology

• Prolegomena: Introduction

• Ecclesiology – the study of the Church

• Eschatology – the study of last things

• Soteriology – the Study of Salvation

• Anthropology – the study of humanity.

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Our Approach for this Class is Biblical Theology

• “That discipline which sets forth the message of the books of the Bible in their historical setting.”

• Donald Hagnar

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Progressive Revelation

• Progressive revelation may be defined as the process of God's own disclosure of Himself and His plan given to man throughout history by means of nature (Rom. 1:18-21; Ps. 19), providential dealings (Rom. 8:28), preservation of the universe (Col. 1:17), miracles (John 2:11), direct communication (Acts 22:17-21), Christ Himself (John 1:14) and through the Bible (1 John 5:39).

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The Progressive Revelation Principle

• The Word of God is to be understood from the Old Testament to the New Testament as a flower unfolding its pedals to the morning sun. God initiated revelation, but He did not reveal His truths all at one time. It was a long and progressive process. Therefore, we must take into account the then-current state of revelation to properly understand a particular passage. For example, an interpretation of a passage in Genesis which assumed a fully delineated view of the "new Covenant" would not be sound. As the saying goes, "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed."

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Premise #3

• God chooses to reveal Himself and it is our method of Hermeneutic (Interpretation) that defines where we land.

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Protestant Two Pillar

• The Word

• The Holy Spirit Illuminates

• Grammatical/Historical Exegesis

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Three Pillar Approach

• The Word

• The Spirit

• Creeds and Church Fathers

• Approach Allegorical

• Three Pillars of Inspiration

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Theological Considerationsof our Interpretative Praxis

• All Truth’s must be held in tension in order to avoid extremes.

• God has a redemptive plan that will be consummated in History.

• We must always take a humble posture as finite humanity in regards to the interpretation of an infinite God’s redemptive plan. (Our Response – Worship –

Infinite Reality – Mystery)

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The Tension between Theological and Philosophical Realities

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Setting the stage for Imago Dei

• He states that for our salvation it is necessary to have knowledge revealed by God, in addition to ordinary knowledge built upon human reason. Even though man is naturally directed to God, he needs revelation because God is beyond the grasp of reason. Although some truths about God can be discovered by reason alone, even here revelation serves a useful purpose. Only a few people have the time or skill to reach knowledge of God by reason. It would take them a very long time, and their conclusions might be mixed with human errors. Hence, sacred doctrine derives its principles not from any human knowledge but from divine truth. Since theology is based upon revelation, whatever is found in other sciences contrary to the truth of this sacred science must be condemned as false. (Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica)

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Genesis First Look at God is TrinityGenesis 1:26-27

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

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Moses Uses a Key Word

• Elohim – Only used in the Hebrew Language. (Masculine Plural Ending) Does not translate to mean many God’s

• Hebrew language is used to define function not essence. This rendering allows for a Plurality in the Godhead. Denoting that God is Creator and the First Perfect System for all effects.

• H

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PerochoresisThe Circle Dance

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The Main Point of the “Image of God” language

“The Image of God language in scripture is not about some ability or trait we share with God, its about the mission He has given us.”

(Ray Ortberg)

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Imago Dei: Justice Cannot be Separated from the Gospel

“Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man.

Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed,

For in the image of God He made man.”

(Gen. 9:5-6, NASB)

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N.T. Wright

‘So God has placed his own image, human beings, into his world so that the world can see who its ruler is.'

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Our Destiny

• Your job, your destiny, is to reflect the holy reign of God down on to the earth-to care for all of creation and particularly human beings the way God would want you to;

• The Bibles' language for this is: you will be a king; you will be a priest. And this is not a solo act. We are to do this in community. To be a KINGDOM of PRIESTS.

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What Imago Dei is NOT

• Man as created beings is at the same deified status as God. (Some refer little god’s – This is Heresy)

• Cannot ever redact God as Creator to be at the same status as creation.

• Cannot Ignore the fallen state of man and create a false “Perfection.”

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Genesis 3:15, NASBProtoevangelium- The First Gospel

“And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her seed;

He shall bruise you on the head,

And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

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Implications to Leadership

• If I am to lead in a way that honors the Imago Dei in each person, I must value the formation of their character above the usefulness of their gifts.

• I must value the integrity of our community as well as its visible fruitfulness.

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Continuation of Implications to our Personal Leadership

• I must fear the rise of sin more than I do the loss of productivity.

• I live a life of Honor. (God – Myself – Others) Living this way breaks a victim

Mindset.

* I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

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As a Citizen of the Kingdom Worship is a Lifestyle- Rev. 22:3-5 NASB

“There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

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The Kingdom of God is the Unifying Theme of the Bible

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the gospel.” (Mk. 1:14-15)

•Jesus used the term as if assured it would be understood. The Kingdom of God was embedded in the vocabulary of every Jew.

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Old Testament and New Testament View

“The Kingdom of God involves the whole notion of the rule of God over his people, and particularly the vindication of that rule and people in glory at the end of history.”

John Bright

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Comparison of Four Systems

• Dispensationalism

• Covenant Theology

• New Covenant

• Epochal - Lasor

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