Gospels, Acts & Epistles. Hermeneutics 05 Dr. Leon L. Sanders

Transcription

1 Gospels, Acts & Epistles Hermeneutics 05 Dr. Leon L. Sanders

2 Law(s) Relationships Priesthood Government Moral Law Ceremonial Law Civil Law

3 Function of the Law(s) Holiness of God Nation of God s People Moral Law Ceremonial Law Civil Law

4 Law(s) Relationships Priesthood Government Moral Law Ceremonial Law Civil Law

5 Function of the Law(s) Holiness of God Preserve the People Moral Law Ceremonial Law Civil Law

6 Gospel-Law Relationships Priesthood Government Moral Law Ceremonial Law Civil Law

7 Religious Relationships Priesthood Government Moral Law Ceremonial Law Civil Law

8 Religious Relationships Priesthood Government Moral Law Ceremonial Law Civil Law

9 Christ s Life Destroyed Religious Relationships Priesthood Government Moral Law Ceremonial Law Civil Law

10 Christ Fulfilled the Law(s) Moral Law Ceremonial Law Civil Law Jesus Christ

11 When Law Meets Lawlessness Proponents of Civil & Ceremonial Law killed their Messiah His balanced life condemned their lawlessness Yet, their actions insured their eternal destruction

12 Gospel Message Law Fulfilled The Gospels depict the necessity of both grace and sin in fulfilling the grace of God Without this interaction there would be NO salvation, no hope Each gospel ends in hope with ALL aspects of the Law(s) fulfill in their proper balance

13 Death is only the Beginning Acts Acts is the continuation of Luke who details how the message of Jesus being the God of both Jew and Gentile begins to move around the world Much of Acts deals with not only the spread of the Jewish message into a Gentile world Acts details the refusal of Jews to bow to their God

14 Acts in Perspective Acts is not primarily about the growth of the Church, though that is occurring Acts is primarily the details of why the Jews were put on the shelf by God and remain there Acts ends with Paul speaking to the Jews at Rome They reject the Gospel Paul quotes Isaiah showing why the Gospel is being sent primarily to the Gentiles henceforth

15 The Epistles These have been divided into so many categories over the centuries Because they are letters they appear to have no particular order Perhaps because men are looking at the wrong reasons they were written

16 Turning Diversity into Unity Through the Gospel Asiatics Europeans Europeans Asiatics Africans Africans Christians

17 The Problem How does God teach a people who have NO understanding of: Him No Ceremonial Law No Civil Law Confused Moral Law Themselves in His world

18 Cultural Neutral The Gospel must be transportable across cultural heritages if it is to be understood by those who do not have the Jewish heritage and training of God People will not readily learn philosophy or creeds but they will eagerly seeks answers to problems By answering their problems they also receive training in God s holiness and how to live together

19 Church Replaces the Synagogue The Epistles, and Acts, show that churches replace the synagogues as the primary vehicle to teach people what they need to know about God s plan Yet, the majority of the messages in the Epistles are for the individual, not the churches Salvation is for each person, not an organization

20 Epistles to Churches What was the best way to reach Christians? Christians came together to Learn from each other Support each other Watch over each other Letters written to churches to reach individuals

21 The Messages of the Epistles Holiness of God Living with Others Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. Purge the evil person from among you. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16 ESVST) (1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ESVST)

22 Bible Has a Consistent Theme We have discovered the intertwined dual theme of the Scripture Holiness of God Ceremonial Law Living with others in God Civil Law Based on the foundation of His moral character contained in His Moral Law This continues in the New Testament via the New Covenant

23 Summary The Epistles show that during this period, which we call the Dispensation of Grace: Ceremonial Law is suspended Civil Law is suspended (usually called Mosaic Law) Yet, the Moral Law in us finds expression in: Understanding God s holiness in thought and deed Living with others in peace with clear conscience