Hi there everyone. Just finished reading your book, Andrew, and it was a shake down of my theology to say the least. I’m not as well versed and read as most on this site but I love the scriptures and history, so your book as well as the challenge of Jesus which I just read were so refreshing. The Jewish scriptures are really a work of art. and they way they flow in Jesus’ words are so brilliant. I have been struggling lately with the way forward for the church and mine in particular. What does the church of the 21st century look like? What do we as descendants of those who suffered for the continuation of the people of God look like? What does the Kingdom of God look like today? These questions have been giving me many restless nights. I have been so preoccupied lately by these things that I have actually forgot to do the simple things well like love those God has given me practically now, and be part of becoming a bunch of people who show Jesus is King by the love we have for each other and beyond. Anyway its hard when those above u, who have sincere hearts, seem to lead everyone by the Holy Spirit but seem to contradict what scripture says in terms of evangelism and getting numbers etc… But God still seems to be advancing his kingdom in the lives of people here in Durban and we get some stuff right.
Just another question. How was Isreal to be a blessing to the world?
Thanks ryan
Re: The Coming of the Son of Man
How was Isreal to be a blessing to the world?
I know you are asking Andrew, but if I may throw in my 2 cents, Israel was a blessing by ushering in the Messiah and the Kingdom - Israel was the means to bring about God's presence to all (gentiles included) not just Israel specifically (people who have Abraham's genes).
It is important to see the spiritual implications and realities of what has happened in the first century - it was not about world powers, kingdoms and nations; it was about an "invisible" kind of reality rooted in God's spiritual presence restored to people's lives.
Israel as blessing to the world
Ryan, I appreciate your comments. Thanks.
How was Israel to be a blessing to the world? The formula of Genesis 12:2-3 suggests to me that there are two parts to this.
First, the descendants of Abraham are blessed by God: they recover the creational blessing of Genesis 1:28. In the end this is brought to fulfilment through Jesus, through whom creation is renewed and the original blessing transmitted to those who are descendants through faith (cf. Galatians 3:8-9). I’m not quite sure what Virgil is driving at when he talks about an ‘“invisible” kind of reality’, but I would argue that the recovery of the creational blessing has to do with more than the restoration of God’s spiritual presence: it must be the recovery of the wholeness and integrity of the microcosm of God’s new creational people.
Presumably the inclusion of Gentiles in this renewed humanity is at least one respect in which the nations are blessed, but I would argue that in the New Testament, as in Isaiah, the leading thought is of the response of the nations to YHWH’s salvation of Israel.
Secondly, I would say that inasmuch as the renewed family of Abraham has been creationally blessed, it mediates that blessing to the nations and cultures of the world. The extent of this blessing needs to be grasped: it covers our relationship not only to God but also to one another in human community and to the earth. In rather simple terms, I see it activated in three distinct roles through which we exist for the sake of others, as a gift: a servant community embodying the love of God, a priestly community mediating the presence of God, and a prophetic community representing the love of God. But the basic argument would be that we are a blessing to others to the extent that we help them to experience the original blessing of humanity by the creative God.