Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 August 2005 22:29:09
I had another perspectives class last night. (This is the course run through our church titled Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. It's about mission.)
I'm really enjoying these classes, it's like doing a really serious bible study - far more in depth than a Sunday morning can be, with articles to read by Very Brainy Christians. We have already covered a fair bit of ground, but the most important thing we've learned so far is this:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Then man fell but in Genesis 12:1-3 God gives a promise to Abram:
"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those that bless you and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
The point to this promise, which is repeated nearly a hundred times in the Old and New Testaments, is that God will bless his chosen people, Abraham's descendents, and that through them the rest of the earth will be blessed. The entire story of the Bible including Jesus' life, death and resurrection can be seen as the story of the fulfillment of this promise, with redemption being the ultimate blessing. In the contemporary world we who are Christians are now Abraham's spiritual descendents, so it is our duty and purpose to continue spreading God's blessing to those around us.