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No he has departed historic Protestant theology embracing the New Perspective on Paul.
Tradition tells us that the Gospel is a message of personal redemption, or better that the Gospel is Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor 15:3-4). But what does that mean, exactly? I think before we quote St. Paul in defining the Gospel, we might first determine what the Gospel really is.
The Gospel is the kingdom (Mt 4:23, 24:14; Lk 16:16; Acts 8:12). That is explicitly what the Bible calls it. The Gospel is also peace (Acts 10:36; Eph 6:15) and our salvation (Eph 1:13). The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mk 1:1) is the Gospel of his glory (2 Cor 4:4). The glory of Christ is the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of heaven is the message of Christ's ministry. Not that when we die we escape the earth but rather that the kingdom is on the earth.
The Gospel is all these things, but first, it’s the kingdom.
Why the kingdom? Because through the kingdom, all these other things are manifest. The kingdom is the very reason for the New Testament. It was Christ’s very ministry.
Christ's parables are about the Kingdom. Let’s look at the Gospel according to Matthew and see that the subject of every parable is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom may be compared to a man who sowed good seed (13:24) or to a mustard seed (13:31) or to leaven (13:33) or to a hidden treasure (13:44) or to a merchant in the market for pearls (13:45) or to a fishing net (13:47). The kingdom is like a king who wishes to settle his accounts (18:23) or a landowner in search of labor (20:1). It is like ten virgins (25:1) or a man on a journey (25:14). You get the idea. The kingdom is the single, common thread in the parables. When Jesus tells parables, in fact, he shares secrets of the kingdom (Mt 13:11; Lk 8:10).
So the parables are about the kingdom. That doesn’t mean his entire ministry was about the kingdom, does it?
On the contrary, the kingdom was, indeed, his ministry.
Note what Jesus commissions his apostles to do when he sends them into Israel to preach the Gospel (Mt 10). He instructs them to preach the kingdom (Mt 10:7).
And note what Jesus does after he is baptized and tempted, when he begins his ministry (Mt 4:17; Mk 1:14). He begins his ministry preaching the kingdom.
Jesus begins his ministry preaching the kingdom. He instructs his own to preach the kingdom. His parables are about the kingdom.
Even after his resurrection, he preaches the kingdom. “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3)
The Gospel is the kingdom, and the kingdom is integral to New Testament theology, and even hinted at in the Old Testament. And what effected the kingdom? Sure, we can say that Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection did that. Sadly, though, that’s all we ever call the Gospel. Ask a random believer what the Gospel is. Will he call it the kingdom? Highly unlikely.
But that’s exactly what it is. So, shouldn’t we know what the kingdom is? I say we don’t really know what it is, mostly because we don’t really think about it. But we should. We preach to each other all the time, yet seldom ever the kingdom.
That is a shame.
So, what is the Gospel? That is, what is the kingdom?
He has been a champion apologist for the historic bodily resurrection of Christ.Indeed. But even though NT Wright is unorthodox regarding justification, he would never deny that Christ will return bodily and he would affirm that the Kingdom of God is both already here and not yet here in its fullness.
I think where some of the confusion comes is that some see the Gospel of Grace in opposition to the Gospel (good news) of the Kingdom Jesus and also Paul taught.I like your post, as it puts a good feeling for the listeners of hope and happiness. I think that within that gospel there was a large focus on the resurrection and redemption of man. Which I could quote scriptures about that: Luke 22:19, Matthew 26:28, Romans 6:23. What came to mind for some reason is the evil spirits for some reason trying to dismiss the resurrection: 1 John 4:2
I think where some of the confusion comes is that some see the Gospel of Grace in opposition to the Gospel (good news) of the Kingdom Jesus and also Paul taught.
The Kingdom is the 'brass ring." We all want to be with the King in His Kingdom forever. Jesus in Matthew chapter 5 set that we are to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect. Tall order but that is the 'price' of admission. By the covenant of obedience given to Adam and Eve mankind failed and disobeyed. We have lived with that condemnation since also adding sin to our account due to being sinners. There is no humanly way to achieve the perfection that is required to enter the Kingdom. That is why Christ became our Perfection and Savior. His sacrifice removed our sins and His perfectly obedient life unto death became the Righteousness we all need to enter the Kingdom of God.
Absolutely. As Paul says in Ephesians "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18)It explains how the fruits of the Holy Spirit can allow us to be obedient: Galatians 5:22-23
I wasn't making reference to Protestant theology when I mentioned "Orthodox" theology. I mean "Orthodox" with a capital "O" as in the church prior to the schism (but maintained in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches today).No he has departed historic Protestant theology embracing the New Perspective on Paul.
I believe there are two different topics being discussed and conflated. It was others who brought in the topic of bodily resurrection. In my opinion (and in my belief) the topic of an inherited Kingdom of God (on earth) is a different topic (and should be discussed separately for the sake of clarity).Did you miss post #31 where the OP explicitly denies that Jesus will return in bodily form?
Simply put, the Kingdom of God is where Jesus Christ of Nazareth is KING and the Body of Christ are in that Kingdom. The rest of the Gospel is how to be part of that Kingdom, how to share that Kingdom and how to overcome sin to stay in the Kingdom. We do not have a clear picture of what the Kingdom physically looks like after Christ comes the second time in scripture but what we do know is we will be united once again to our Creator through His son Jesus Christ of Nazareth in a new creation. In other words, our relationship will be restored in its completeness on the new heaven and earth.So, what is the Gospel? That is, what is the kingdom?
Oh thanks did not know the Anglicans were advancing to the East.I wasn't making reference to Protestant theology when I mentioned "Orthodox" theology. I mean "Orthodox" with a capital "O" as in the church prior to the schism (but maintained in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches today).
"Advancing"?Oh thanks did not know the Anglicans were advancing to the East.
Meaning I did not know there was a movement of Anglicanism to the ancient way of the East."Advancing"?
"The ancient way of the East" is our (the church) origin, not a modern movement.Meaning I did not know there was a movement of Anglicanism to the ancient way of the East.
Didn’t say it was a modern movement although NT Wright is embracing post modern theology."The ancient way of the East" is our (the church) origin, not a modern movement.
If the kingdom is God's rule, and God has always ruled, then what did Jesus bring to the table? Christ renewed his church when he came? He hadn't built it yet (Mt 16:18). To say that the kingdom is here, then not really here, then it's that, then the other thing and so on and on is to not really know what it is.
I don't think traditional Christianity really teaches the Gospel.
Not so.Since everyone is under the curse of the Law (Mosaic) because of the One Act of Disobedience of the first Adam;
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