A Biblical Vision - Conclusion

A Biblical Vision is an expositional theology of Scripture.  It is not the definitive perspective but it seeks to demonstrate that the Bible is the definitive rule of faith for all Christians.  We must look to Scripture to know God in every doctrine and to understand His calling for us.  The conclusion of this series then is to look to the theocentric and Biblical theology of Scripture and to not compromise to the contemporary perspectives and trends of culture.  Departing from the truth of Scripture either directly or indirectly will result in Spiritual death for the church, the culture and the family. 

Since the initial writing of this series I’ve referenced Francis Schaeffer’s work, Death in the City, which I read over thirty-five years ago.  The influence of this book made a profound impact upon my thinking and I credit any references or parallel thoughts to Schaeffer.  I’ve been blessed to read and study many great Reformed theologians who also point us to the truth of Scripture, and I credit all of them as well.  The Biblical vision has been upheld by many, and brings a theology that reforms us back to God, to a Reformed theology that brings a theocentric perspective to all of life.  This perspective highlights the Spiritual life in Christ. 

The Spiritual vitality we can find in Christ can only come from the Word of God.  Salvation is a supernatural conversion from being dead in sin to being alive in Christ.  And in Christ we are called to grow to maturity in the faith and the likeness Christ, to obedience to all His commandments, so as to turn away from the world.  We need a theocentric or supernatural vision of Scripture for this obedience even as Jesus himself was God centered in all that He did.  There are many areas of brokenness and Spiritual death in the world, but only the Spiritual life of the Bible can bring true redemption, restoration and reformation in Christ.

An emphasis on a Biblical vision of God will also bring unity to the church as the church seeks to grow in the knowledge of God.  There is just one Truth and yet there are many necessary applications of this truth of God.  We therefore must seek the vision of the one truth of Scripture as it was inspired, and then the many applications for our modern culture.  The following is just a summary of the Biblical truth of God.

Du.6:4-5, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

Mk.12:29, "Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these."

- The centrality of God is revealed in both the OT and the NT.  God makes it clear that He must be the center of all our doctrine, worship and lives.

Is.6:2-3, "Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory."

Re.4:8, "The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come."

- The holiness of God is the only attribute of God that is repeated three times in Scripture.  It is elevated to the third level of supremacy, that God is absolutely pure and perfect, and He is worthy of our worship.

Jn.17:3-4, 20-21, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent, I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do ... I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

Ep.4:4-6, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

- Jesus declares there is only one true God, and knowing Him is eternal life.  This knowledge of God is personal, it is Spiritual, it is eternal life.  And He prays the church would be one in Him.  The only unity possible is the unity in the one true God.  Paul also declares there is one God, one Father of all, and thus one Spirit, and one church.  Thus we must seek Him in all things and not our individual preferences.

Ro.12:4-5, "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another."

1Co.12:4-6, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all."

- Paul teaches us there is one body in Christ.  There is the one Spirit, and one Lord, and the one God who works His truth in all the church.  We can only be Spiritually empowered from this one true God.

1Ti.1:3, 6:3, "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine ... If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness."

2Ti.4:3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."

- Paul exhorts us to give the highest priority to the doctrines of Scripture as the truth of God, which is essential for a healthy, vibrant, Spirit filled faith.

Ro.11:33-36, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  For who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has become His counselor?  Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."

Re.21:22-23, "But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light."

- The revelation of the truth, character and glory of God is the shining Light that propels us out of ourselves and into a new vision of reality, found in a Biblical vision of God.  He is glorious, powerful, full of all goodness, truth and light.

A Biblical vision seeks to inspire all Christians to the truth of Christ in Scripture.  For without the truth of Christ we cannot know God.  This truth is the only path that can redeem and restore us individually, in relationships, in churches, in communities, and in all of culture.  This Biblical theology has preserved the church throughout its history and can preserve it for the generations to come.  It can do so for the PCA as well.  We must make the truth of Scripture the priority for all of life and faith so as to live in the Spiritual life of Christ.  It is to our great Spiritual blessings and to God’s glory if we live in this Biblical vision.  

A Vision of Reformation

The tenth and final in A Biblical Vision series is the vision of Reformation.

Biblical doctrine brings change to our faith and our lives if we accept it if we believe it.  It changes us from the inside out so that we no longer are inherently self-centered but we become Christ-centered.  Our lives become reformed, with new forms, new priorities, a new goal to live for.  The Christian Reformed faith causes us to live for Christ in all things.

Ge.2:16-17, "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

- God commanded them not to eat of the one tree, otherwise, they would die.  And all humanity did die Spiritually, we all have a sinful nature.

Ge.17:7,21, "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you ... But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."

- God establishes an everlasting covenant of grace through Abraham and Isaac.  This covenant brings increasing reformation in every generation.

Ex.20:1-2, "And God spoke all these words, saying: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  You shall have no other gods before Me."

- God gives us His Law, and He is a covenant-keeping God and allows no other gods before Him.  The Law of God expunges any form of idolatry and causes new forms.

Ps.137:5, "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.  We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it."

- In our grief, we remember the blessings of God, and that God will let us suffer exile if we turn from Him.  The ways of God can also be degenerated instead of reformed.

Is.48:10-11, "Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.  For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; for how should My name be profaned.  And I will not give My glory to another."

- God seeks His own glory and He will not give His glory to another.  The reformation of God is to the glory of God alone.

Lk.13:4-5, "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

- Jesus instructs his followers to repent, to accept the sovereignty of God over all.

Jn.1:14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

- Jesus is not just the grace of God, He is the truth of God as well.  And we are to behold His glory as the only Messiah from God.  The new structure of Christ is the new form of the Christian Reformation.

Jn.6:65-66, "But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, “ Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."

- Jesus teaches us that unless it is granted to them by the Father some will not believe.  The new form of the sovereignty of God reigns over all. 

Ro.1:17, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith."

- Justification is not infused with our works, but completely given by grace.  The new form of justification by faith alone.

Ro.3:10-12, "As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.  They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one."

- God describes how we are all sinful, we are all unrighteous and no one seeks after God.  The new form is that we are not even just a little bit righteous. 

Ro.9:14-15, "What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion."

- God is sovereign over man.  God will have compassion on whomever He wills.  God’s sovereign grace is reformational to modern man. 

Ro.12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

- We are not to conform to the world but be transformed by knowing the Word of God.  Spiritual transformation precedes reformation. 

Ep.1:4-5, "(J)ust as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."

- God predestines before the foundation of the world those whom he loves to salvation. 

Ep.2:4-5, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)."

- God makes us alive in Christ and this causes us to come alive in faith.  Regeneration precedes faith.  We find the new form of grace preceding faith in Scripture. 

Ph.2:11-12, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

- The Lordship of Christ requires us to live in submission to Him, even as He loves us in grace.  The new form of Lordship is reformational for all of life.

1Co.10:30, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

- With the new form of the sovereignty of God, we seek to live all of life to the glory of God.

2Co.10:5, "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

- We are called to the new form of turning away from everything that seeks to challenge the knowledge or truth of God.

Re.21:6-7, "And He said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

- Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last.  The new form of a structure of a beginning and culmination of all things brings purpose to life. 

The character of God changes everything in our faith.  If God isn't holy, or if He isn't sovereign, if He really isn't eternal and immutable, then God really isn't God.  But He is all these, and God is also gracious.  He is a covenant-keeping God so that we can know and trust Him.  He has made us for our worship so that He can be glorified.  God has made all things for His own glory.

A Vision of Missions

The ninth of A Biblical Vision series is the vision of Missions.

Christian Mission is a central part of the faith as God commissions people in all parts of the world to develop the kingdom of God in Christ.  Even in the OT God sent people on missions in preparation for the Messiah.  God sent Christ Himself on the greatest mission ever.

Ge.3:21, "Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them."

- In the first mission in the Bible we see God clothing Adam and Eve, a mission of mercy.

Ge.6:13-14, "And God said to Noah, the end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch."

- God commissions Noah to build an ark in a mission of rescue, from the wrath of God.

Ge.12:1-4, "Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.  I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing."  

- Abram was called from his homeland to a new country, to become a great nation.

Ex.3:9-10, "Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

- Moses is sent back to Egypt on a rescue mission, to set His people free.

Nu.3:1-2, "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them."

- God commissions Moses to spy out the promised land, to show the courage of the Israelites.

Jo.1:1-2, "After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to the, the children of Israel."

- God commissions Joshua to carry on the mission of Moses, to go into the promised land.

1Sa.16:12-13, "So he sent and brought him in.  Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good- looking. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah." 

- David was commissioned as a young man and anointed by the Holy Spirit, to become a king.

Ne.2:4-5, "Then the king said to me, “What do you request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it."

- Nehemiah was given inspiration and a longing to rebuild Jerusalem, and he returns to do it.  He is given the mission to recover his homeland.

Is.61:1, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."

- Isaiah gives prophecy for the coming Messiah as the greatest mission of the grace of God.  Spiritually we all are the poor, brokenhearted and captive, and we are recipients of the mission of grace in Christ.

Mt.2:1-2, "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

- The wise men were commissioned to go to Bethlehem, to worship the promised Messiah.  They are called to a mission of worship, which we all have to worship Christ.

Mk.12:29-31, "Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these."

- Jesus describes the primary calling or mission of Christians is to love the Lord God with a four-fold love.  And then we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Lu.4:1-2, "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry."

- As Jesus began His earthly ministry He was sent into the wilderness to face temptation and hunger.  He was given the mission of obedience. 

Lk.22:20, "Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you."

- Jesus declares the new covenant of grace, now to be sent to all the nations.  Jesus commissions his disciples to become apostles of the covenant of grace to all nations.

Mt.28:18-19, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

- Jesus commissions the disciples to go into the whole world to make new disciples. 

Ac.2:42-43, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles."

- The mission of the church is to continue in the Apostles' doctrines and then the fellowship.  The doctrine is the teaching, the Word of God.  It is the primary mission of the apostles and all disciples.

Ac.5:29-31, "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."

- Peter declares the mission of obedience to Christ as being first and foremost over any men.  Our mission is faithfulness to God in all things.

2Co.5:18-19, "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation."

- Paul describes the mission, or ministry, of reconciliation to God through Christ.

Ga.2:10, "They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do."

- Paul describes the ministry to the poor, the mission of mercy.

Re.4:10-11, "The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

- John teaches us the consummation of all things is the worship of God in His glory and power.

There are many missions of the church as different circumstances arise.  There are missions of preaching and teaching, of being sent to foreign countries, of rescue, of rebuilding, and of mercy.  There are missions to individuals, families, churches and cultures, just as the first disciples were called to go in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth.  But the ultimate mission of the church is to give worship and glory in all of our lives to the Lord for His holiness, and because He has brought salvation to us.

A Vision of Vocation

The eighth in A Biblical Vision series is the vision of Vocation.

A vocation is a calling, and for a Christian it is our calling in life to serve God.  It will be consistent with the gifts, talents, and interests that we are born with and in which we find strength and joy.  Throughout the Bible God has led people in faith by the gifts He has given them.

Ge.1:27, "Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

- God created man and woman and He gave them a commission, a vocation, to fill the earth and subdue it.  This is the cultural mandate to use our talents and all the resources of God's creation to propagate God's kingdom.  

Ge. 2:1-2, "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done."

- The calling to work is not the result of sin as we see even God did work.  He created the universe, and all of life and humanity.  He worked and called it all very good, and then He rested.

Ex.20:9-10, "Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work."

- The commandment to honor the Sabbath is built from the creation account of God working six days and then resting.  It is the creation design for work, and then to cease from labor, to worship God.

Ex.35:34-35, "And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.  He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver—those who do every work and those who design artistic works."

- God has given different skills to different people, and even creative skills for beauty and design.  We all have skills for the building of the kingdom of God.

2Ch.2:7, "Therefore send me at once a man skillful to work in gold and silver, in bronze and iron, in purple and crimson and blue, who has skill to engrave with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided."

- We are called in relation to our skills, and Solomon called various workers for building the temple.

1Ki.5:6, "Now therefore, command that they cut down cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know there is none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians."

- Solomon finds the skilled labor he needs to build the temple and pays their wages accordingly.  We see both the call of skilled labor and the just requirement for appropriate wages.

Is.41:4, "Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning?  I, the Lord, am the first; and with the last I am He."

- Isaiah describes the calling of the people of God.  God is building His kingdom and He calls us to it.

Is.41:9-10, “You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

- God has chosen His people, and called His people, and He strengthens them.  

1Co.12:4-6, "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."

- God has gifted the whole body of Christ to build up the church.  We are called to God so that we can be called to the building of God’s kingdom.

Ep.4:7-8, "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."

- God gives gifts and talents to people as a measure of His common grace.  He also uses people’s gifts for the building of His church.   

Co.4:22-24, "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 

- Paul calls us all to work with excellence in our labors, to bear witness to God and not as pleasers of men.

2Th.3:8-11, "(N)or did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.  For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."

- Our vocation from God is to work unto His glory, we all are called to work even to eat.  Our dignity comes from being created in God’s image, and also from our work as God’s agents, to do the work God has created us to do.

1Pe.4:10-11, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen."

- Peter reminds us that each of us has a gift and we are called to use it for the glory of God.  We are not called to hide our gift or be irresponsible in our labors.

Ja.5:12, "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath.  But let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No, lest you fall into judgment."

- James is telling us not to swear an oath in place of honest commitments.  Our work contracts should be based upon our character of honesty and integrity.  We are called to an honest days work for an honest day’s pay.  

The Christian's vocation is to worship God in all of life, and specifically to work, serve and live for the Lord.  He has created us for this purpose and we are to walk with Him in faith, and then to produce good works.  The Christian work ethic comes from Scripture and brings dignity and productivity to individuals and society.