The Presence of the Future

Transcription

1 The Presence of the Future Session 3 When I was a kid, I first saw the future of the world with the help of Hanna-Barbera in a little show called The Jetsons. I couldn t wait for the days of flying cars and robot maids. What s interesting and constant about the Hollywood picture of the future, however, is that it isn t perfect. There are the blatantly dystopian visions of The Terminator, The Hunger Games, and The Matrix. But even the seemingly happier visions of the future have underlying conflict. After all, a movie without conflict isn t much of a story. How fascinating and completely unimaginable it is, therefore, to conceive of a future in which conflict and struggle are completely eradicated! A world where death, disease, sickness, sorrow, and sin are undone, all that is wrong is made right, and everything sad comes untrue, as J. R. R. Tolkien put it. A glorious eternity is precisely the picture that emerges from the pages of Scripture. Even more amazing, the Bible presents the church as a foretaste of this faultless and unfading future. We are the presence of the future, a present colony of heaven to be fully populated at the consummation of our marriage to the Bridegroom. And because this future world is soon coming, its beauty penetrates and permeates the present as it casts a foreshadow of the future back into the present. Why do you think it is so hard for us to imagine a fully faultless and flawless future? 26 Date of My Bible Study: 2014 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

2 How does the picture of a perfect and peaceful eternity make you feel? Why? Who are we? In this session, we will see what it means for the church to be the presence of the future a foretaste today of the new world God has promised to establish. As God s future-minded people, we seek what is above, live as a colony of heaven, and actively anticipate the day we will join Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb as His bride. 1. We set our minds on future glory (Col. 3:1-4). What does it mean for us to be the presence of the future? To be the foretaste of the new world that is coming? It begins with setting our minds on future glory and seeking what is above. In Colossians 3:1-4, Paul pointed to this broad biblical command and specified the direction of our desire. Since Christ is in heaven, we are to look there, for He is our treasure and joy. Life Voices from the Church We resemble what we revere, either for restoration or ruin. 1 G. K. Beale and purpose and pleasure are not buried in the ground but raised into the heavens and seated at the right hand of the Father. 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Underline the two commands in this passage. How do they relate to each other? Session 3 27

3 What we most treasure, we seek. As many have noted, the greatest gift of the gospel is that we get God Himself. Since He is our treasure, it stands to reason that we would naturally yearn to seek after Him more and more (Ps. 63:1-3). The Bible says we are to seek what is above as a general pattern for our lives in Christ. This is not some new-age spirituality or Buddhist longing for nirvana. Our seeking is not mindless or careless. We are not searching for purpose but for a Person. Our purpose has already been revealed, and it is fixed upon this Person, Jesus Christ. What terms do you tend to use when you describe your devotion to Jesus? Why do you think many are uncomfortable describing their thoughts of Jesus Christ with words such as treasure, savor, long for, yearn, desire, and cherish? The Bible has much to say about what we set our minds on (Phil. 4:8). Christians do need to dwell upon whatever is virtuous, but in Colossians 3, Paul wasn t speaking generally. He was focusing on future glory as the main thing our minds should be fixed upon. Take another look at verse 4: When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. We are to think about this future revelation of the Son of God and the effect it will have upon us. This future picture of what Christ will do and who we will be reaches back into the present. The Christian s tomorrow infuses today with passion and purpose and even now compels us to a life of purity and passion for the gospel. Why do you think the Lord calls us to think about and meditate on and pray for these things? 28 Personal Study Guide Spring 2015

4 2. We are a colony of heaven (Phil. 3:17-21). Colonization is not looked upon favorably today. The concept has been diluted and tarnished by a history of negative examples. So, when we think of the church as being a colony of heaven, we might enter the conversation already a bit predisposed toward suspicion. Fortunately, the Bible redeems the images that humankind has corrupted and allows us to recapture the beauty and glory to be found therein. Watch in Philippians 3:17-21 how Paul wrote about our heavenly citizenship and how it impacts the way we live on earth. Voices from Church History If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven. You are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world. 2 Vance Havner ( ) 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. The Bible describes the church as a colony of heaven, a people whose citizenship is in God s kingdom. Ruled from a foreign land, the church dwells upon this earth as citizens of that far country. Originally a colonial outpost of Rome, Philippi had long enjoyed the privileges of citizenship. From what we know of that time and place, most Philippians would have been quite proud of their citizenship. (Citizenship in the Roman Empire was a precious thing.) This fact makes Paul s words all the more incredible. Some might have even considered them treasonous. For Paul, the truest and most important citizenship of Christians was not to Rome but to the kingdom of God. Thus, as a natural implication, ultimate allegiance would not be owed to Caesar but to Christ. He alone is Lord. For us today, this means that even if our passports are stamped with the seal of the USA, the UK, or the UAE, it is ultimately the Lord to whom we belong. Session 3 29

5 What should a citizen of heaven be known for? What characteristics should be true of our kingdom identity? As believers, we abide in a world full of chaos and disorder, a creation corrupted by the futility of sin, fractured and fallen, and desperately dark. But at the same time, we have been shown a vision of another land, a time and place free from disease and death, sin and sickness and sorrow. And we have been called to make this earth look as much like that world as possible. The church is called to bring life and light to the world, to bear fruit and multiply through the work of discipleship. As a colony of heaven, the church is a gathering of citizens of God s kingdom in glad-hearted submission to a generous and good King. Peter, speaking of our longing for a faraway land, called Christians to a life of exile: Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul (1 Pet. 2:11). A first-century audience saturated by Old Testament hope would instantly recognize the identity of sojourners and exiles. Other translations speak of strangers, temporary residents, aliens, and pilgrims. This world, as it is today, is not our home. We are a colony of heaven, and our ultimate hope and expectation is that heaven will come to earth and we will be transformed. For this we wait. But the type of waiting that we experience is not passive. 30 Personal Study Guide Spring 2015

6 In the meantime, in our waiting, what are we to do? Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (1 Pet. 2:12). Our waiting is to be marked not by a casual apathy or neglect for the land of our sojourning but rather by a general sense of goodwill and the active pursuit of good deeds. Only Jesus will bring heaven to earth, but we as His people are called to be a foretaste of that future. Voices from Church History The church there was a colony of heaven. It was a little bit of heaven set down in a pagan world. Its citizens were to permeate its environment with the principles of heaven. 3 Herschel Hobbs ( ) What s the difference between passively waiting for Christ s return and actively waiting? 3. We are the bride of Christ (Rev. 19:6-9). After 34 years of singleness, I recently got married. I ve had numerous family and friends get married and even officiated my fair share of weddings as a pastor. But I never knew just how much went into a wedding until my own. Weddings take preparation. What was the most elaborate wedding you have ever attended? What was the most simple? We are the bride of Christ. And the Bible speaks of a day in which our marriage to Christ will be consummated in unending joy. The last book of the Bible paints a picture of a glorious wedding feast, with Jesus as the groom and the church as the bride: Session 3 31

7 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true words of God. As the bride of Christ, we are to make ourselves ready for the coming marriage supper, the consummation of our faith and hope. We have something to do as we wait. Until the final glorious day, our duties are not done. What are some good ways we can prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb? The Bible speaks of at least two separate tasks that the saints are to carry out in preparation for our future: evangelism and good works. Evangelism Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. In Luke 14:12-24, Jesus tells a story known as the parable of the great banquet. In this parable, a powerful man is throwing a party, and he sends out invitations to attend this event of the year. Unfortunately, all who were invited offered various excuses and refused to attend. Thus, the master sends out his servants near and far to invite others into the feast. We are like the servants compelled to go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in (v. 23). We are to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). Or, as Paul would write, because of the reconciling work of God, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). 32 Personal Study Guide Spring 2015

8 Good Works It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. In addition to inviting others to join in the feast, the bride has the responsibility to adorn herself with good works, an evidence of the internal wonder of faith. Voices from the Church The church exists today as resident aliens, an adventurous colony in a society of unbelief. 4 Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon God looks upon the heart (1 Sam. 16:7), but His seeing doesn t stop there. Why? Because the heart is made evident by the hands and feet that follow wherever the heart leads. Those who love goodness and holiness and justice will pursue those things and thus adorn themselves accordingly. Those who consider others greater than themselves and have minds and hearts set on what is above will gladly serve Christ by serving His body. Those who are the bride of Christ will prepare themselves for this glorious day. What are some good works that adorn the gospel and prepare us for the wedding day? What can we do to increase our participation in inviting others to the Lord s wedding feast? Conclusion Who are we? We are the bride of Christ. We are a colony of heaven. We are a people with hearts and minds set on future glory. We are the presence of the future. Session 3 33

9 HIS MISSION, YOUR MISSION The life and fellowship of Christians in history is to be a foretaste of life in the Kingdom of God and is to reflect in the world something of what the [future] will be. 5 George Eldon Ladd ( ) Your insights: _ Live on Mission 1. How can we begin to seek what is above even in the more mundane details of life? _ 2. What should be true of our church as a colony of heaven in a foreign world? _ 3. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel and invite others to the marriage feast of the Lamb. _ 34 Personal Study Guide Spring 2015

10 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Personal Study Guide ESV Volume 3, Number 3 Spring 2015 Eric Geiger Vice President, Church Resources Ed Stetzer General Editor Trevin Wax Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Philip Nation Director, Adult Ministry Publishing Faith Whatley Director, Adult Ministry Send questions/comments to: Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Personal Study Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Personal Study Guide ESV (ISSN pending; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations marked (HCSB) are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Unit 1: Geoff Ashley is the Groups Pastor for The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas. He received a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2009 and has been on staff at The Village since 2006, overseeing development of theological resources. He is married to Kaci. Unit 2: Walter Strickland (sessions 7-9) serves as Special Advisor to the President for Diversity and Instructor of Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is pursuing a PhD from the University of Aberdeen. He is married to Stephanie and has two daughters, Hope and Kendra. Jason C Dukes (sessions 10-12) is married to Jen, and they have six children. He helped start Westpoint Church and ReproducingChurches.com and now pastors First Baptist Church, Booneville, Mississippi. He s the author of Live Sent and Beyond My Church, and he periodically blogs at SENTkids.com. Alvin Reid (session 13) is Professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry at Southeastern Seminary. He also leads the Young Professionals Ministry at Richland Creek Community Church. He earned his MDiv and PhD at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Michelle, have two married children. Philip Nation (session 14) is the Teaching Pastor for The Fellowship, a multi-site church in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Director of Adult Ministry Publishing for LifeWay Christian Resources. He received a DMin from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. WRITERS

11 Notes SESSION 1 1. David Dockery, The Church in the Pauline Epistles, in The Community of Jesus, eds. Kendell Easley and Christopher Morgan (Nashville: B&H, 2013), Ambrosiaster, Commentary on Paul s Epistle, quoted in 1 2 Corinthians, ed. Gerald Bray, vol. VII in Ancient Christian Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 1999), Augustine, Letters 99, quoted in 1 2 Corinthians, ed. Gerald Bray, vol. VII in Ancient Christian Commentary: New Testament, Peter Walpot, The True Yieldedness and the Christian Community of Goods, in Early Anabaptist Spirituality, ed. Daniel Liechty (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1994), Theodoret of Cyr, Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 247, quoted in 1 2 Corinthians, ed. Gerald Bray, vol. VII in Ancient Christian Commentary: New Testament, Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3 rd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013), 961. SESSION 2 1. John Hammett, Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2005), Chrysostom, Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians 8.7, quoted in 1 2 Corinthians, ed. Gerald Bray, vol. VII in Ancient Christian Commentary: New Testament, N. T. Wright, Simply Christian (New York: Harper-Collins, 2006), Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2006), C. H. Spurgeon, The Tabernacle of the Most High, The Spurgeon Archive [online], 14 August 1859 [cited 17 June 2014]. Available from the Internet: 6. A. W. Tozer, Tozer on Worship and Entertainment, comp. James L. Snyder (Camp Hill, PA: Wingspread Publishers, 1997) [ebook]. SESSION 3 1. G. K. Beale, We Become What We Worship (Downers Grove: IVP, 2008), Vance Havner, quoted in The Westminster Collection of Christian Quotations, comp. Martin H. Manser (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001), Herschel Hobbs, Baptist Faith and Message (Nashville: LifeWay, 1971), Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon, Resident Aliens (Nashville: Abingdon, 2014), George Eldon Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993), SESSION 4 1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York: HarperOne, 1954), Jonathan Leeman, The Church and the Surprising Offense of God s Love (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010), Thabiti Anyabwile, What Is a Healthy Church Member? (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), Oswald Chambers, in The Quotable Oswald Chambers, comp. and ed. David McCasland (Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 2008), Christopher W. Morgan, The Church and God s Glory, in The Community of Jesus, eds. Kendell H. Easley and Christopher W. Morgan, 232. SESSION 5 1. C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Touchstone, 1996), David Nasser, A Call to Die (Redemptive Art, 2000), Jim Elliot, quoted in Good to Great in God s Eyes, by Chip Ingram (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007), Hilary of Arles, Introductory Commentary on 1 Peter, quoted in James, 1 2 Peter, 1 3 John, Jude, ed. Gerald Bray, vol. XI in Ancient Christian Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2000), 119. SESSION 6 1. Cyril of Alexandria, Explanation of the Letter to the Romans, quoted in Romans, ed. Gerald Bray, vol. VI in Ancient Christian Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 1998), Richard B. Gaffin Jr., By Faith, Not By Sight (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2013), William Tyndale, A Prologue upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans, trans. Michael Marlowe, Bible Research [online], 1534 [cited 26 June 2014]. Available from the Internet: 4. Steve Mathewson, in The Resurrection Changes Everything: A Conversation with Steve Mathewson, by Trevin Wax, Kingdom People [online], 24 January 2013 [cited 26 June 2014]. Available from the Internet: thegospelcoalition.org. SESSION 7 1. Adapted from Kingdom Man, by Tony Evans (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2012), Billy Graham, in Billy Graham in Quotes, eds. Franklin Graham with Donna Lee Toney (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011), Faith Baptist Church, Youngsville, North Carolina, Becoming a Member of Faith (May 2014), Martin Luther, First Lectures on Galatians, quoted in Galatians, Ephesians, ed. Gerald L. Bray, vol. X in Reformation Commentary on Scripture: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2011), Timothy Keller with Katherine Leary Alsdorf, Every Good Endeavor (New York: Dutton, 2012), 57, Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, XV.26, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, vol. 7, eds. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1894; reprinted 2004), Andy Chambers, Exemplary Life (Nashville: B&H, 2012), Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, and Eric Geiger, Creature of the Word (Nashville: B&H, 2012), Gene Edward Veith Jr., God at Work (Wheaton: Crossway, 2002), 17. SESSION 8 1. Harry Truman, Executive Order 9981, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum [online], 26 July 1948 [cited 15 July 2014]. Available on the Internet: 2. Trillia J. Newbell, United (Chicago: Moody, 2014), Skye Jethani, With (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011), Ibid., A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Radford, VA: Wilder, 2008), Joseph H. Hellerman, When the Church Was a Family (Nashville: B&H, 2009), Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 2.1.5, quoted in Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, ed. Mark J. Edwards, vol. VIII in Ancient Christian Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 1999), 219. SESSION 9 1. Edmund P. Clowney, The Church, in Contours of Christian Theology, ed. Gerald Bray (Downers Grove: IVP, 1995), Mark E. Dever, The Church, in A Theology for the Church, rev. ed., ed. Daniel L. Akin (Nashville: B&H, 2014), Charles Spurgeon, Consecration to God Illustrated by Abraham s Circumcision, in The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon, ed. Daniel Partner (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour, 2009), John S. Hammett, Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches, B. H. Carroll, An Interpretation of the English Bible: James, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, ed. J. B. Cranfill (Lake Charles, LA: Cor Meum Tibi), David E. Garland, 1 Corinthians, in Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003), 554. SESSION Calvin Miller, The Vanishing Evangelical (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013), David Platt, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Matthew (Nashville: B&H, 2013), John Stott, The Contemporary Christian (Downers Grove: IVP, 1992), 325. SESSION Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God (Downers Grove: IVP, 2006), Adrian Rogers, in Adrianisms: The Wit and Wisdom of Adrian Rogers, vol. 2 (Memphis: Love Worth Finding, 2007), Michael Frost, The Five Habits of Highly Missional People (Centreville, VA: Exponential Resources, 2014), 17. SESSION Ed Stetzer, Finish the Mission (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), Francis Dubose, The Pilgrimage of New Life, in The Mission of God Study Bible, eds. Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation (Nashville: B&H, 2012), Gregory the Great, Forty Gospel Homilies, 26, quoted in John 11 21, ed. Joel C. Elowsky, vol. IVb in Ancient Christian Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2007), Robert Speer, quoted in The Contemporary Christian, by John R. W. Stott, 328. SESSION Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Soul-Winner (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, reprint 1994), Kyle Idleman, Not a Fan (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011), 164. SESSION Michael Bird, Evangelical Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013), Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy (New York: HarperOne, 1998), 271, quoted in Faithmapping, by Daniel Montgomery and Mike Cosper (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), Daniel Montgomery and Mike Cosper, Faithmapping, Clement of Alexandria, Stromata , quoted in 1 2 Corinthians, ed. Gerald Bray, vol. VII in Ancient Christian Commentary: New Testament,