THE KINGDOM STORY Phyllis Crosby

Session 1, Essay 1 THE KINGDOM STORY Phyllis Crosby

To live faithfully as a follower of Christ, we 1:28: “God blessed them. And God said to must both think and love as a Christian. Tis them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fll the earth requires an understanding of the broader and subdue it and have dominion over the fsh biblical narrative and an ability to use the Bible of the sea and the birds of the heavens and over as an interpretive lens. every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Te overarching narrative of the Bible In Genesis 2:15, Adam is told to cultivate the is comprised of four “chapters”: Creation, Fall, land. Tough one of his responsibilities was to Redemption, and Consummation. Running develop and care for the garden, his work was to through these chapters are the Bible’s four basic extend beyond the garden to the whole created plotlines of humanity’s relationship with God, order. As image bearers of God, humanity was self, others, and the created order. Tis kingdom made to be sub-creators, to rule, to work, and to story provides a conceptual framework or an worship, continuing the creative process. interpretive lens through which the Christian While the word dominion is a bit archaic, can better understand and engage the world. the idea is very important for several themes in the biblical narrative, especially vocation. As image bearers, humanity was created for Creation: Te World As It Ought To Be leadership. Although we all lead in varying Read Genesis 1 and 2. degrees, we all have spheres of responsibility, God created and it was good. He created even if only for ourselves. humankind in His own image and it was very Dallas Willard describes this leadership: good. In Genesis 1 and 2, we fnd humankind “We are made to ‘have dominion’ within an in right relationship with God, with each other, appropriate domain of reality. Tis is the core within themselves, and with the created order. of the likeness or image of God in us and is the We also fnd humankind employed basis of the destiny for which we were formed. in meaningful work. Consider the frst job We are, all of us, never-ceasing spiritual beings description given to humankind in Genesis with unique eternal calling to count for good in

1 God’s great universe.”1 Our culture tends to have a God granted humanity the responsibility fragmented view of sin that keeps us from of being His representatives and stewards fully comprehending the efects of the Fall. in creation, fulflling His divine will. Tis is Sin is ofen viewed as either merely spiritual or meaningful work and an unbelievable privilege. merely systemic. Tose who tend to view sin as And this mandate, given before the Fall, merely spiritual identify sin primarily as guilt. indicates God’s original intent for the world and In this view sin is located in the human heart for human participation in it. and results in a broken relationship with God. While holding individuals accountable for their behavior, this view neglects the corruption The Fall: The World As It Often Is that was unleashed through sin in relational, Read Genesis 3. physical, social, and cultural areas of life. On the other hand, when one identifes Consider the havoc rendered by the Fall. Guilt sin primarily as corruption, one is in danger of and corruption entered the relationship between embracing a merely systemic view of sin. Tis is God and humanity. Innocence was replaced by when the corrosive aspect of sin is understood shame and fear. Genesis 3:9-10 says: “But the and located throughout creation, but especially LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ in social structures. While taking social He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I injustice seriously, this view ofen fails to hold was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” individuals responsible for sin. Next, blame replaces trust and exposes Guilt and corruption, the twin aspects the corrosion that was taking place in the hearts of sin, are essential to a proper understanding of Adam and Eve that resulted in interpersonal of the doctrine of sin. Embracing either guilt or brokenness between Adam and Eve. In Genesis corruption over the other results in a truncated 3: 12-13 we see that instead of trust there is view of the scope of the fall. blame: “Te man said, ‘Te woman you put Even though human relationship with here with me - she gave me some fruit from the God is broken, the mandate to subdue and rule tree, and I ate it.’ Ten the LORD God said to (take responsibility and lead) the created order the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ Te has not been rescinded; in fact, it was reissued woman said, ‘Te serpent deceived me, and I afer the food (Genesis 9:1-7). Our primary ate.’” job description, given in Genesis 1:28, remains Finally, creation itself is afected by the in place. However, now we live and work in a Fall; both the material earth and the immaterial world that has been marred by sin and there are structure of work sufer brokenness. In fact, opposing forces at work in creation. the corruption of sin touches every aspect of creation: “To Adam He said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree Redemption: The Way The World Can Be about which I commanded you, “You must not eat of it,” Cursed is the ground because of you; God created with purpose and He was not through painful toil you will eat of it all the days surprised or distracted from that purpose by of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles human sin. Foreseeing the Fall before creation, for you, and you will eat the plants of the feld. God planned for the redemption of His created By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food order. He is acting out this plan within the scope until you return to the ground, since from it you and confnes of history, progressively revealing were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will His saving grace. return’” (Genesis 3:17-19). Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection 2 are the central and pivotal events concerning diferent futures available to people. T rough God’s cosmic plan for redemption. Tis Christ, the kingdom of God and a new kind of redemption is touching every domain that has life within His kingdom have been made readily been corrupted by sin including the material and available to humanity. Te kingdom, which has immaterial creation. Along with the redeemed always existed, is now accessible. people of God, Christ’s redemption is for things Dallas Willard explains that the call to like art and industry, work, and leisure. repent because the kingdom of the heavens is Speaking about Jesus Christ and the at hand (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 10:7) “is a call for cosmic scope of redemption, Paul writes: us to reconsider how we have been approaching our life, in light of the fact that we now, in the He is the image of the invisible God, the presence of Jesus, have the option of living frstborn over all creation. For by him within the surrounding movements of God’s all things were created: things in heaven eternal purposes, of taking our life into his life.”2 and on earth, visible and invisible, How can one live within “the whether thrones or powers or rulers or surrounding movements of God’s eternal authorities; all things were created by purposes”? How does the Christian orient his or him and for him. He is before all things, her life to God’s redemptive work in the world? and in him all things hold together. And Tese are questions of lordship, played out He is the head of the body, the church; He within each person’s area of leadership. Proper is the beginning and the frstborn from leadership refects a benefcent life, lived under among the dead, so that in everything the lordship of Christ, bringing all that one He might have the supremacy. For God controls under His lordship. We are to express was pleased to have all his fullness dwell the image of God through our leadership by in him, and through him to reconcile to being sub-creators and cultivators. himself all things, whether things on Before the Fall, lordship was implicit; earth or things in heaven, by making everything that humanity controlled was peace through his blood, shed on the perfectly ordered in subjection to God. But cross [italics added]. Colossians 1:15-20. post-Fall, all spheres of human activity (e.g., vocational, societal, cultural, relational, Paul says that God’s plan for the fullness creational, personal, etc.) are corrupted of time is to unite all things in heaven and earth. and need to be restored. Each individual is Tese “all things” will not be destroyed but responsible to bring all that he or she controls healed and united in Christ: “In him we have back under the lordship of Christ. We align redemption through his blood, the forgiveness ourselves with God’s purposes of redemption, of our trespasses, according to the riches of his starting with self and working outward, by grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom exercising lordship-leadership. and insight making known to us the mystery of Acting for the purposes of redemption his will, according to his purpose, which He set or acting redemptively does not mean that forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, people redeem anything or anybody. It simply to unite all things in him, things in heaven and means that we cooperate with God’s redemptive things on earth [italics added]” (Ephesians 1:7-9). purposes. Redemptive activity, in this sense, Sin is not the only force at play in refers to human agency initiated, infuenced, the world. In the redemption chapter, the and empowered by the Holy Spirit that moves kingdom of God’s beloved prince clashes with created structures away from the guilt and the kingdom of darkness, making two starkly corruption of the Fall and back toward

3 creational norms. we move from time into eternity. Sin, In 1 Corinthians 3: 5-9, Paul refers to death, and all the forces antagonistic to himself and others as God’s fellow workers. But God are now forever put away. he makes it clear that although one plants and another waters, it is God who causes growth. Tis description, the equal of which In this sense we are active agents rather than cannot be found in any other literature of the passive recipients of redemption. Te church ancient world, begins with John’s stating that he is called to be salt and light, both of which are saw a new heaven and a new earth. Tere are efective agents. Salt prevents decay while light two Greek words translated “new” in the New disperses the darkness. Testament: neos and the one used here, kainos, Humanity was designed to be sub- suggesting “fresh life rising from the decay and creators and stewards, in subjection to divine wreck of the old world” (Swete). Terefore, this will. We were created to lead and this is how passage does not teach that the heavens and we cooperate with God’s plan of redemption. earth are now brought into existence for the frst When acting redemptively means exercising time, but that they possess a new character.3 Christ-like leadership, it is proper to describe Let’s look at the biblical plotlines “doing good” as redemptive. mentioned in the introduction and see how Te world will never be perfect until the they are resolved in the fnal chapter of our fnal judgment when Christ returns and makes story. Each of these plotlines can be viewed all things new. But this does not lessen our through an ought-is-can-will framework (see responsibility to steward and lead. We are to next section) and show up in each chapter of cultivate what is ours to bring God honor and the story. Te gospel itself is refected in each to make life a more fully human experience for of these relational plotlines. those whom we lead. As we exercise leadership in the manner that God intended, we honor God’s relationship with humanity. In the Him and build reference points within culture fnal chapter of our story God’s relationship so that people can better understand His with humanity will be completely and forever character. restored as He takes the redeemed as His bride and once again makes His dwelling place with humanity (Revelation 19). Consummation: The World As It Will Be

Read Revelation 21:1-11. Human relationships with one another. Tere In the fnal chapter of our story, Consummation, is a corporate element to God’s relationship with all the plotlines in the biblical narrative are His people; He has one bride, the church, made resolved. Sin and death are forever done away of all His people. Interpersonal relationships with. Te created order is healed. Humanity will be healed and fully restored. People will be is restored to God and the New Creation is reconciled to one another (Ephesians 2:13-16). established. Te Wyclife Bible Commentary explains Revelation 21:1-2 like this: Human relationship with self. When Christ appears, we will appear with Him in glory. We We have now come to the fnal revelation were created in the image of God and we are given to us in Holy Scripture, a glorious currently being “renewed in the image of our climax to all that God has inspired men creator.” And one fne day, each of us will fully to write for the edifcation of his people and rightfully refect the image of Christ as throughout the ages. In this passage corruption, sin, and death are put away forever

4 (Colossians 3:4,10). chapter of the gospel is being played out in a given situation and how one might give a Humanity’s relationship with the created redemptive nudge to the creational structures order. Te groaning of creation will cease as involved or bring the message of redemption to it is renewed and restored on that fnal day. people involved: Compare Romans 8:19-22 with Revelation 21:1-2.

The Ought-Is-Can-Will Framework • Ought – Creation. God created and it was good. Everything in the world, material and C.S. Lewis once told of looking into a dark tool immaterial, was as it ought to be. shed with a small hole in its roof. A beam of • Is – Fall. Humanity fell from grace as guilt light was shining through the hole. Lewis was and corruption entered the world through surprised that as he looked at the light he could sin. Te Fall represents what the world is see dust particles foating in the air, but the light now, apart from Christ. did nothing to illuminate the shed. But when he climbed up on a table and looked down with • Can – Redemption. Tere is an additional the light, he could see everything in the shed dynamic working within the fallen world. clearly. Lewis compared the beam of light with Trough the work of redemption, Christ is the gospel. Looking with the light of the gospel restoring the created order. Redemption is allows us to analyze and interpret the world we what can be. live in. • Will – Consummation. On one future day, Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Christ will complete the work of redemption Consummation correspond with ought-is-can- and completely restore the world under His will and form a framework for examining and kingship. Consummation is what will be. critiquing every aspect of our lives and the world we live in, including the inner self, society, Te framework helps us look at the Word of and culture. Tinking with the kingdom story God. Te Bible has many themes that are shaped explains how any given situation is refected and change as they pass through the diferent in the gospel and recognizes appropriate, chapters of the story. Consider the kingdom of redemptive responses to each situation. Te God, image bearers, the dwelling place of ought-is-can-will framework identifes which 5 God, and vocation and how these themes can might decide that drinking is always wrong be understood within this biblical framework. for everybody. If one takes into account Using the framework to understand references from Creation, Redemption, and themes in the Bible is helpful because it ensures Consummation, one would come to a much that the whole scope of the story is taken more nuanced position. into consideration, limiting the potential for Tis is particularly important when distorted interpretation through proof texting. teaching children and young disciples how to If one were to draw conclusions based read the Bible. Discipleship becomes more on a single verse or even what the Bible has to about teaching others how to think with the say about a topic in one of the chapters of the kingdom story than giving specifc answers story, one might tend to hold overly simplistic with matching Bible verses. Te ought-is-can- positions. For instance, if one were to build will framework is designed to teach the skill a position on the use of alcohol by drawing of Christian thinking, training the student to only from references in the Fall chapter, one think with more nuance.

BIBLE CREATION FALL REDEMPTION CONSUMMATION THEMES Ought Is Can Will

All that God Te created Trough Christ, Kingdom created is order is God’s Kingdom Creation will be healed and of God in perfect corrupted by is made available sin done away with allowing all that God submission to sin and is in through the redeemed to live in the His rule. rebellion. repentance. It is no new creation in perfect rules longer impossible submission to God’s reign. to obey.

Humanity is Te Image Trough When Christ returns the created in the of God, still sanctifcation, redeemed will appear with Image Image of God present in the redeemed are Him in glory – His image humanity, Bearers and declared being renewed in fnally and “very good.” is corrupted the image of their forever restored. and distorted Creator. through sin.

God dwelt with Humanity is Te Holy Spirit God dwells with the Dwelling humanity in the expelled from indwells the redeemed in the new garden. the garden and redeemed, but God creation. Place of a sacrifcial is still experienced God system is indirectly. established.

Work was a Work, although Tough still done Vocational structures will be meaningful still a refection in a broken world, healed along with the rest sequel to being of God’s image, in Christ work is of creation and work will no Vocation created in God’s is corrupted done to the glory of lo image. by the Fall God and for the nger produce alienation. and becomes common good. painful toil.

6 In addition, looking at themes and experience. issues in the broader context of the story ofen But the inclusion of creation and helps explain why portions of the Bible seem consummation should never be to the exclusion to be conficting. Because issues and themes of the Fall and redemption. Without a clear are shaped and change as they pass through understanding of sin and its deadly efect, one the story, one would expect that various topics would lack the motivation to move toward God would evolve with the story. in repentance. Te kingdom of heaven is at hand and available to those who repent. Te framework helps us look with the word Te gospel, when viewed through at the world. Te framework can also provide the four chapters of the kingdom story, helps scriptural insight into social, cultural, and eliminate doctrinal distortions. Without the vocational issues, whether these issues are Creation and Consummation chapters, faith has mentioned explicitly in the Bible or not. As little to say about God’s purpose for humanity creational structures, society, culture, and here and now. Without the Fall and Redemption vocation all pass through the same chapters of chapters, there is no good news; the kingdom of the gospel. By applying ought-is-can-will to any God is at hand, but it is not accessible. issue one can begin to see the issue in a biblical Christ has inaugurated the kingdom light. of God and the redemption of all things, and In the same way, the everyday words we eagerly wait to see it fully consummated on ought, is, can, and will are verbal clues that the last day. As we wait, the church is called to appear in daily conversation. Tese words relate bear witness to the whole gospel in the whole everyday conversations, news stories, or even world for the purposes of redemption (John 1). op-ed pieces to biblical themes and the biblical Te incredible news is that even now, through narrative. union with Christ, we are fellow workers with God.

Conclusion Te Bible uses the terms “good news” and “gospel” in reference to the culmination and fulfllment of all that God has planned and promised to His people. Tese terms are also used to describe what each individual must do to enter into these blessings. Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Life in the kingdom has been made available to us in the person of Jesus Christ. By including both creation and consummation in our concept of the gospel, we provide the context needed to understand God’s purpose and actions in history. Tis ______1. Dallas Willard, Te Divine Conspiracy (San Francisco: context reveals God’s world-afrming view of HarperCollins, 1998), 21 and 23. the created order; He has been redeeming all 2. Dallas Willard, Te Divine Conspiracy, 15 -16. of creation since the Fall of humanity. Without 3. Te Wyclife Bible Commentary, Electronic this context, our faith is limited to our personal Database, (MoodyPress. 1962).