Kendall Soulen #2 "MJ"

http://derek4messiah.wordpress.com/2006/12/24/christian-theology-and-israel-part-2/

God is doing more in the world than just forgiving sin. The forgiveness of sin is crucial, but not the highpoint of God’s work. Soulen makes this point well by saying that “Redemption is for the sake of Consummation, not Consummation for the sake of Redemption” (p.175). In other words, the salvation that was made available in Yeshua’s death and resurrection is not the end of God’s work. It is the turning point (Soulen says this also on p.175), but not the final goal. God has so much more to do with us and with creation than simply forgive sin. All has not been accomplished. Messiah has not ended the place of Israel or God’s work through Israel and the nations. He has taken it on the last and greatest part of what God is going to do.

Note: If redemption is itself corporate then this statement is inapplicable...

God’s work is national and corporate, but the individual needs to join in. Soulen and others rightly criticize standard Christian theology for being too much about individuals. The Bible, they rightly point out, deals with people as nations and families. I think it would be fair to say, Yeshua did not die on the cross for you and me, but for all Israel and the nations. We need to see our place not just as saved individuals, but part of the people of God. Those who are “saved” but have nothing to do with God’s communities (churches, synagogues) are out of fellowship with God and must change or answer to God who forms communities.

But here is my big point, though God works with nations and families, individuals must join in. Let me use as my example circumcision. In Gen 17, God says his covenant with Israel is unconditional, but in order to be part of the covenant, each individual Jewish male must be circumcised (women are assumed to join in through their father/husband). God is doing something with the nation of Israel, but if you want to be part of it, you have to join through circumcision.

Thus, standard Christian theology has not been wrong to emphasize the need of each individual to come to faith in Messiah and secure Messiah’s sacrifice for forgiveness. We as individuals must join in to God’s blessing of Israel and the nations. If you want to be part of it, you have to do something.

Note: Faith in the corporate redemption of Israel, if one is a Gentile, "joins one in." Disbelief, if one is a Gentile, leaves one not "joined in." If one is a Jew, hope and faith in the corporate redemption of Israel is not as black and white. It can exist in a living, life giving form before one even hears of Yehoshua, or hears aright of him...

Go To:

http://derek4messiah.wordpress.com/2006/12/29/christian-theology-and-israel-part-3/

derek4messiah's ideas on the "ongoing redemption" centered in the nation of Israel.

"We're not gnostics."