Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Biblical Theology of Soteriology - Creation
I’d like to begin with a different question: Why did God create the universe anyway? Now I am by no means in a position to answer this question 100% conclusively. Who can know the mind of God??? Yet, I think I might lend some interesting thoughts to get the conversation starting.
First, we must assert that God is completely self-sufficient. In other words, He doesn’t need anything, apart from himself to exist, have meaning, and enjoyment. So He doesn’t need creation at all. Yet we know that God must relate to himself in some way in order for this self-sufficiency to be true.
God, who is loving, loves himself first, wholly and completely. His love is a self-sacrificial love. But to who does “sacrifice” to? God is worthy of all glory, honor and praise. But who is there to give glory, honor and praise to God? God shows kindness, compassion, and justice. Yet who is object of these characteristics of God?
In a strict Monotheistic/Unitarian view of God, one must conclude that God would “need” some creature/creation to manifest these characteristics to. Thus, a Unitarian God is not self-sufficient. In essence God could not BE God without some external creation.
The Bible teaches not a Unitarian God but rather a triune God, consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God, three Persons.
It is not in the scope of this study to go into too much on the trinity here but it is necessary to mention it in the scope of soteriology and of course creation.
Because God is triune, He is able to manifest the fullness of His character utterly self-sufficiently. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit can express the character of God within themselves in a beautiful dance. Creation is not necessary in order for God to be God. Yet, it is in this beautiful expression of God being God with in the trinity that creates the occasion for creation.
Because God is love, and His love is often characterized by self-sacrifice; and because God so enjoys this sacrificial love He desires to share it. God then creates the universe so that His creatures can enjoy the same fellowship and love that occurs in the Godhead.
This is the occasion for creation, and the basis of salvation. Creation is thus, “saved” so long as it is expressing the nature of it’s Creator. When this happens creation fully enjoys the character of God and, in the case of Humanity, is able to mimic this character unto Himself and others.
So God creates the heavens and earth. I don’t have time to exegete all the interesting points of Genesis 1 & 2, nor do I have to patience to enter into the creation/evolution debate, but I would like to focus on two points.
The first point has already been touched on, this is the concept of the image of God. The image of God is assigned to only one of God’s creatures: Humans. As image bearers of God, Humans are to reflect the character of God, live in the character of God, and express the character of God to the rest of creation. Humans are not God, but rather Images of God who uniquely express God’s character in the realm of God’s creation. They are to submit to God, learn from God and act in accordance to God. Humanity is to think, feel and act like God. When this is achieved creation reaches its pinnacle of purpose and enjoyment.
The second point I want to mention in the creation narrative is the idea of God’s rest on day 7 of creation. Why does God rest? Is He tired? Did His rest ever end?
The language of the Old Testament and that of the Ancient near East is very different to modern conventions of communication. The creation narratives reflect language that is often connected to temples.
In the Ancient Near East (ANE) temples were the center of all religious, social and political endeavors. Temples were the places where the gods dwelt. Many temples took the form of a ziggurat, which looks like a flat top pyramid with stairs on one or many sides. People used to think that these were steps going up into heaven, but later archeology and cultural studies revealed that the stairs are not going up, but rather coming down.
The temple was the place where the god would descend from heaven and dwell in the midst of the people/land. When the temples were completed and “invitation” ceremony would initiate the arrival of the god to the temple. When the god took residence in the temple, he rested there.
The rest here does not mean sleep or relax. They didn’t believe that the gods were tired from their journey, but rather the rest of the god meant that the god was taking control of the people and the land for his own will and plan. It’s like entering the cockpit of plane and taking the controls in hand. This is how gods “rested” in the ANE.
So God creates the world as a temple for Himself. He is pleased with creation and calls it good and then takes residence there in order to carry out His plan for His creation.
Both the image of God in humanity and the idea that God desires creation to be His temple in order to dwell, express his character and carry out his will set the foundation of understanding what salvation is.
It is when Humanity is able to submit to the will of God, reflect God’s character to others and carry out God’s plan that Humanity is saved. Consequently, this also includes all of creation as Man is God’s viceroy in ruling the earth, he is to subject it to the reign of God. The role then of one who is/is being saved is manifest this picture and spread it around.
Salvation, therefore is not just limited to being saved from hell. It is much more than that. Salvation is bringing all things under the reign of God, where in which creation can enjoy the character of God and be truly blessed.
Biblical Theology of Soteriology - An Introduction
Starting such a endeavor as to write a Biblical Theology of Soteriology seems to mix two academic exercises in one. In my field of study there is what we call Systematic Theology (or systematics) and biblical theology. The first is a study that entail developing “systems” of doctrine that are generally derived from the bible to be sure, but seek “fill” in some gaps as to how certain doctrines can be formulated and eventually practiced.
A good example of systematics is the Trinity. No where in the Bible is the word Trinity mentioned, yet it stands as a foundational doctrine for orthodox Christianity. The development of the ideas we have around a triune God are developed systematically once the text suggests such a principle. The exercise in systematic theology then goes into using proper language, principles, and logical outcomes of such biblical concepts such as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Biblical theology is limited to the text, and only allows the text to form and create concepts, ideas and doctrines. It is concerned with the literary, historical and cultural devices the text uses to outline God’s truth, actions, and plans. It seeks to place theology in the larger context of biblical narrative and God’s History.
I will start briefly with a systematic introduction to soteriology, and then proceed with biblical theological approach to this idea.
This idea of creating a biblical theology of soteriology came to me after I had finished my theological studies at two schools. I learned so much about the Bible and was very pleased with the quality of education that I received. However I often questioned why I had to go to a paid university to get such a degree.
The information and truths I learned were foundational to what most Christians should learn, think about and study. Yet what I saw in the church was that most Christians were very uneducated when it came to the Bible and Theology.
Very simple things like understanding the general flow of history through the Bible, who are important characters and understanding very basic ideas like covenant and justification were (and still are) foreign concepts to many in the church. Even to those who had been there for years!
So a quest to educate the people of church is sorely needed. I don’t know if a blog is a good place to start but its as good as any.
What compounded my urge to write this biblical theology is my fascination with the doctrine of soteriology. Which, by the way, if you don’t know what it means, means the theology of salvation.
Salvation is such foundational idea to all Christians. Yet, many haven't taken the time to sit down and understand what it means to be saved. What does it mean to be saved? From whom? From what? How is someone saved? What are the minimum requirements to be saved?
You may think that these answers are easy. I am saved from hell. I am saved by belief in the Lord Jesus. Are good answers to start. But when it’s pressed further, are there other forces/places/people I am being saved from? What does it mean to believe in Jesus? What exactly must I believe? If I don’t believe in the resurrection, am I saved? If I don’t believe in speaking in tongues, am I saved? How can I tell if I am saved?
When do I “get saved”? Is it something in the past? Does it happen in the future? What role do I play in my salvation? in the salvation of others? What role does God play in salvation? If I am saved do I “go to heaven”? Are humans the only creatures who are/will be saved?
Many more questions could be asked to confuse the topic, but I think you get the point. It’s not so easy. So instead of pontificating about the answers to these questions, as a systematic approach would be, I would like to look at the Bible as a whole and take a walk through it identifying the key points in the literature and history as it relates to God’s plan of salvation.
There are 16 areas, thus 16 blog posts (17 if you include this one) that I will look at when it comest to a biblical theological of soteriology:
1) Creation
2) The Fall
3) The Flood
4) Calling of Abraham (formation of Israel)
5) The Exodus
6) The Law
7) Judges
8) Prophets
9) Kingdom of Israel - rise and fal
10) Christmas (Incarnation)
11) The teachings of Jesus
12) The works of Jesus
13) The Work of Jesus (atonement)
14) Resurrection
15) The Holy Spirit
16) Eschatology (the end)
The aim is to educate and invite a conversation as we seek to understand God’s plan of salvation as its laid out in scripture as well as applying these ideas to our everyday lives. I also as we gain understanding of who God is and his plan for the world it might open up doors for us to share this with others who don’t yet know Him.
