The Sojourning Mission Of The Ekklesia Part 2

[one_half]Biblical Worldview Course Introduction[/one_half][one_half_last]Development Of Western Worldview[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Introduction To Biblical Worldview Part 1[/one_half][one_half_last]Introduction To Biblical Worldview Part 2[/one_half_last]

[one_half]A Theology of Restoration Vs. Annihilation Part 1[/one_half][one_half_last]A Theology Of Restoration Vs. Annihilation Part 2[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Messianic Expectation Part 1[/one_half][one_half_last]Messianic Expectation Part 2[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Defining The Kingdom Of God Part 1[/one_half][one_half_last]Defining The Kingdom Of God Part 2[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Defining The Gospel Part 1[/one_half][one_half_last]Defining The Gospel Part 2[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The Sojourning Identity Of The Ekklesia Part 1[/one_half][one_half_last]The Sojourning Identity Of The Ekklesia Part 2[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The Sojourning Mission Of The Ekklesia Part 1[/one_half][one_half_last]The Sojourning Mission Of The Ekklesia Part 2[/one_half_last]

A. In light of the sojourning identity of the ekklesia, we are going to look at mission within this context. As a pilgrim nation we are a people without a land. We walk out the time of our sojourn in submission to the rebellious nations of the earth, bearing witness to the long-suffering and patience of God towards the wicked.

²⁰For our citizenship is in heaven, from which alsowe eagerly waitfor a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;²¹who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Phl 3:20-21 NASB)

B. Moreover, this is the primary context for the mission of the church. We acknowledge the sovereignty of God in allowing these nations to persist until the day that He has appointed to judge them and to vindicate and reward the righteous.

¹Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Rom 13:1 NASB)

C. Within this context, the church is called to allegiance to the Messiah, always maintaining clear in our hearts and minds that we don’t partake in the goals nor the pursuits for wealth and comfort of the nations of the earth. Thus, the common confession of all of the ekklesia is that Jesus is Lord since allegiance to any other king is treason.

⁹…if youconfess with your mouthJesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,you will be saved; (Rom 10:9 NASB)

⁹…Godhighly exalted Him, and bestowed on Himthe name which is above every name,¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,¹¹and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.¹²So then…work out your salvation with fear and trembling;(Phl 2:9-12 NASB)

• ⁹…”If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand (i.e. outward sign of allegiance, cf. circumcision),¹⁰he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.¹¹“Andthe smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”¹²Here is the perseverance of the saintswho keep the commandments of God and theirfaith in Jesus. (Rev 14:9-12 NASB)

D. So the ekklesia is called to persevere through the trials, tribulations, and persecution of this present evil age (cf. Gal. 1:3) as we await the coming Kingdom. This kind of strict allegiance to Jesus has always resulted in persecution and resistance from those who love this world. However, historically, the resistance both from within and from without has produced greater devotion to Jesus and greater clarity regarding our identity and function.

⁴therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for yourperseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutionsand afflictions which you endure.⁵This isa plain indication of God’s righteous judgmentso that you will be consideredworthy of the kingdom of God,for which indeed you are suffering.⁶For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,⁷and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when theLord Jesus will be revealedfrom heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, (2Th 1:4-7 NASB)

A. Within this context the ekklesia essentially has a three fold mission:worship, evangelism and discipleship. These three make up thesojourning mechanismwhich keeps the ekklesia walking on a narrow path with endurance, faith, and vibrant hope.

B. This framework—describing the function and mission of the ekklesia—establishes worship as the primary mission of the church. While the neglect of any one of these key elements is always detrimental for any community of believers, it is essential to understand the central role of worship within the life of the believer.

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship does not. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever… All of history is moving toward one great goal, the white-hot worship of God and His Son among all the peoples of the earth. Missions is not that goal. It is the means. And for that reason it is the second greatest activity in the world.”[1]

C. Within a Platonic framework—i.e. immaterial/holy heaven and physical/corrupt earth—worship is approached as the acknowledgment and confession of the ontological attributes of an immaterial God who dwells in an immaterial heaven.

D. However, within a Biblical worldview, we worship a real Person who is seated in the height of the heavens, reigning over His creation with all power. When our worship is directed towards a real God who really fashioned the heavens and the earth and has absolute sovereignty over them, then ourworship is simply the most normal response to revelation. The revelation of God who created the heavens and the earth, and who is committed to lovingly restoring them instead of annihilating them, yields authenticgratitude, thanksgiving, loyalty, and devotion.

²…and One sitting on the throne. …⁸And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; andday and nightthey do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY(i.e. ‘other than’ based on redemptive history) is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY (i.e. is reigning over the heavens and the earth in wisdom and love), WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”¹⁰the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,¹¹“Worthy are You(i.e. proven throughout redemptive history), our Lord and our God, to receiveglory and honor and power(i.e. acknowledgment as being the Lord of all);for You created all things, andbecause of Your willthey existed, and were created.” (Rev 4:1-11 NASB)

E. Biblically, worship is always directed towards the God who is enthroned in the heavens. The revelation of the sovereignty of God, ruling over the heavens and the earth, leads to the logical conclusion that He is patient and merciful towards the wicked, has promised to cleanse the earth from wickedness and tyranny, and sustains us in the meantime.

⁹And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You(i.e. proven at the cross) to take the book and to break its seals (i.e. to rule over the earth); forYou were slain, andpurchased for God with Your blood menfrom every tribe and tongue and people and nation.¹⁰“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (Rev 5:9-10 NASB)

• ¹⁵Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the worldhas become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” …¹⁷saying, “We give You thanks,O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, becauseYou have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.¹⁸“And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, andthe time camefor the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” (Rev 11:15, 17-18 NASB)

F. Worship also serves a very necessary and practical function within the church. As we sing to God within a Biblical context and framework, it actually anchors the heart in faith to the age to come. Throughout the prophetic writings the primary description of the age to come is the joyful singing that will take place in the resurrection.

³⁰And the LORD will cause His voice of authority to be heard, And thedescending of His arm to be seen in fierce anger, And in the flame of a consuming fire In cloudburst, downpour and hailstones. …³²And every blow of the rod of punishment, Which the LORD will lay on him, Will bewith the music of tambourines and lyres; And in battles, brandishing weapons, He will fight them. (Isa 30:30, 32 NASB)

¹The wilderness and the desert will be glad, And theArabah will rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus²It will blossom profusely Andrejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of Carmel and Sharon.They will see the glory of the LORD, The majesty of our God.³Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.⁴Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not.Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.”⁵Thenthe eyes of the blindwill be opened And theears of the deafwill be unstopped.⁶Then thelame will leap like a deer, And thetongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah. …¹⁰And the ransomed of the LORD will returnAnd come with joyful shouting to Zion, Witheverlasting joy upon their heads. They will findgladness and joy, Andsorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isa 35:1-6, 10 NASB)

¹Behold,the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants. …³The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the LORD has spoken this word. …¹⁴They raise their voices, they shout for joy; They cry out from the west concerning the majesty of the LORD.¹⁵Therefore glorify the LORD in the east, The name of the LORD, the God of Israel, In the coastlands of the sea.¹⁶From the ends of the earth we hear songs, “Glory to the Righteous One,” But I say, ” Woe to me! Woe to me! Alas for me! The treacherous deal treacherously, And the treacherous deal very treacherously.” …²¹So it will happen in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth. (Isa 24:1, 3, 14-16, 21 NASB)

⁷And on this mountainHe will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.⁸He will swallow up death for all time, And theLord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.⁹Andit will be saidin that day, “Behold, this is our Godfor whom we have waitedthat He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (Isa 25:7-9 NASB)

• ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them ,⁴and He willwipe away every tear from their eyes; and there willno longer be any death; there willno longer be any mourning, orcrying, or pain; thefirst things have passed away.” (Rev 21:3-4 NASB)

G. So, as the Spirit testifies regarding the coming Kingdom in the midst of worship, joy is released in the hearts of the saints to strengthen them in faith regarding the assurance of the coming Kingdom and resurrection.

⁹For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased topray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will(i.e the Kingdom and the resurrection) in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,¹⁰so that you will walk in amanner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;¹¹strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for theattaining of all steadfastness and patience;joyously¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.(Col 1:9-12 NASB)

• ¹⁶Let the word (i.e. or ‘the promise’) of Christ richly dwell within you (plural), with all wisdomteaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16 NASB)

A. The fundamental message of the Gospel—having been developed in week 6—is always in light of the age to come. Thus the proclamation is always in light of the age to come. Evangelism is simply the proclamation of the ‘good news’ of the coming Kingdom, the resurrection of the dead, and the day of the Lord.

²And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. …⁶Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. (Luk 9:2, 6 NASB)

⁴²“And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. (Act 10:42 NASB)

B. This Gospel is universal ‘good news’ for all people of all time. Death, sickness, and suffering are the primary problem of all men throughout history. The good news for the sick and dying is that they will be raised up on the day of the Lord. The good news for the poor and oppressed of the earth is that they will be vindicated, and judgment will come one day.

³and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”⁴Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:⁵the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. (Mat 11:3-5 NASB)

• ⁴Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.”⁵Then theeyes of the blind will be openedAnd theears of the deaf will be unstopped.⁶Thenthe lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy… (Isa 35:4-6 NASB)
• ¹The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, becausethe LORD has anointed(Heb. ‘mashach’) me topreach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaimfreedom for the captivesand release from darkness for the prisoners,²to proclaim theyear of the LORD’s favorand theday of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, (Isa 61:1-2 NIV)

C. However, the root of death, sickness, oppression, and suffering is sin and wickedness. So, any good news must include a solution to the problem of evil. This solution is two fold—the day of the Lord will abolish sin and tyranny from the earth forever. However, prior to the day of the Lord Jesus commanded that repentance and the forgiveness of sins be proclaimed to the nations as an invitation to take part in the Kingdom and resurrection

²⁶Did not the Christ have to suffer these things andthenenter his glory?” …⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.⁴⁶He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,⁴⁷andrepentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luk 24:26, 45-47 NIV)

• ⁹Do you not know thatthe wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (1Cr 6:9 NIV)

D. The ekklesia functions as a witness to the day of the Lord in our proclamation as well as in our conduct. While it is foolish to imagine that we will inherit the Kingdom even if we preach a right Gospel, but walk in wickedness ourselves, simply ‘witnessing’ with your lifestyle is not effective.

¹⁴[” Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]¹⁵“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and landto make one proselyte; and when he becomes one,you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. (Mat 23:14-15 NASB)

A. In light of the day of the Lord, the coming judgment, and restoration we also order our lives to walk out the time of our sojourn in a manner worthy of the Lord and of our inheritance in His Kingdom.

¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.¹²It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and tolive self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,¹³whilewe wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Tts 2:11-14 NIV)

B. This present age is defined by waiting, and so discipleship is simply the discipline of waiting for the coming Kingdom while we live our lives worthy of our calling.

⁷And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.⁸He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.⁹And it will be said inthat day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waitedthat He might save us.This is theLORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (Isa 25:7-9 NASB)

⁸“Thereforewait for Me,” declares the LORD, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms,To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal. (Zep 3:8 NASB)

• ²³And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.²⁴For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (Rom 8:23-25 NASB)
• ⁵Therefore do not go on passing judgment (i.e. since your Father is not passing judgment yet)before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; andthen each man’s praise will come to him from God.(1Cr 4:5 NASB)
• ²⁰For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also weeagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;²¹who willtransform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Phl 3:20-21 NASB)
• ⁹For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and howyou turned to Godfrom idols to serve a living and true God,¹⁰andto wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. (1Th 1:9-10 NASB)
• ⁷Thereforebe patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmerwaits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.⁸You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. (Jam 5:7-8 NASB)
• ²⁷And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,²⁸so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,will appear a second time for salvationwithout reference to sin,to those who eagerly await Him. (Hbr 9:27-28 NASB)

C. So, discipleship is the ordering of our lives to wait for the day of the Lord. Both corporately and individually, we give ourselves to patient longing for the resurrection and coming Kingdom.While it is the sacrifice of Jesus alone that qualifies us to have a part in the coming Kingdom, the manner in which we walk out holiness and sanctification in this age has a radical impact on the role which we have in the coming Kingdom.

¹⁹“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same,shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be calledgreat in the kingdom of heaven.²⁰“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you willnot enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:19-20 NASB)

D. Since it is the plan of God to have righteous and humble saints ruling the earth under the leadership of Jesus, in this age we are being conformed into those who will rule in this manner.

³Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One, In Your splendor and Your majesty!⁴And in Your majesty ride on victoriously,For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; Let Your right hand teach You awesome things. (Psa 45:3-4 NASB)

¹⁵“Then I will give youshepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding. …¹⁷“At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the LORD,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor will they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart. (Jer 3:15, 17 NASB)

E. Because discipleship is simply a means of training for a future assignment, most standards of discipleship appear arbitrary and relatively powerless within a Platonic worldview. Discipleship within a Platonic framework is ultimately training for a very non-human experience in ‘heaven’. However, within a Biblical worldview, knowing that the saints will inherit this earth with actual roles—it gives us strength to persevere during times of temptation or tribulation.

⁴therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for yourperseverance and faithin the midst of all yourpersecutions and afflictionswhich you endure.⁵This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgmentso that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.⁶For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, (2Th 1:4-6 NASB)

A. In light of the day of the Lord, the coming judgment, and restoration we also order our lives to walk out the time of our sojourn in a manner worthy of the Lord and of our inheritance in His Kingdom.

¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.¹²It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and tolive self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,¹³whilewe wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Tts 2:11-14 NIV)

B. This present age is defined by waiting, and so discipleship is simply the discipline of waiting for the coming Kingdom while we live our lives worthy of our calling.

⁷And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.⁸He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.⁹And it will be said inthat day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waitedthat He might save us.This is theLORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (Isa 25:7-9 NASB)

⁸“Thereforewait for Me,” declares the LORD, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms,To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal. (Zep 3:8 NASB)

• ²³And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.²⁴For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (Rom 8:23-25 NASB)
• ⁵Therefore do not go on passing judgment (i.e. since your Father is not passing judgment yet)before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; andthen each man’s praise will come to him from God.(1Cr 4:5 NASB)
• ²⁰For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also weeagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;²¹who willtransform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Phl 3:20-21 NASB)
• ⁹For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and howyou turned to Godfrom idols to serve a living and true God,¹⁰andto wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. (1Th 1:9-10 NASB)
• ⁷Thereforebe patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmerwaits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.⁸You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. (Jam 5:7-8 NASB)
• ²⁷And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,²⁸so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,will appear a second time for salvationwithout reference to sin,to those who eagerly await Him. (Hbr 9:27-28 NASB)

C. So, discipleship is the ordering of our lives to wait for the day of the Lord. Both corporately and individually, we give ourselves to patient longing for the resurrection and coming Kingdom.While it is the sacrifice of Jesus alone that qualifies us to have a part in the coming Kingdom, the manner in which we walk out holiness and sanctification in this age has a radical impact on the role which we have in the coming Kingdom.

¹⁹“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same,shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be calledgreat in the kingdom of heaven.²⁰“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you willnot enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:19-20 NASB)

D. Since it is the plan of God to have righteous and humble saints ruling the earth under the leadership of Jesus, in this age we are being conformed into those who will rule in this manner.

³Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One, In Your splendor and Your majesty!⁴And in Your majesty ride on victoriously,For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; Let Your right hand teach You awesome things. (Psa 45:3-4 NASB)

¹⁵“Then I will give youshepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding. …¹⁷“At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the LORD,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor will they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart. (Jer 3:15, 17 NASB)

E. Because discipleship is simply a means of training for a future assignment, most standards of discipleship appear arbitrary and relatively powerless within a Platonic worldview. Discipleship within a Platonic framework is ultimately training for a very non-human experience in ‘heaven’. However, within a Biblical worldview, knowing that the saints will inherit this earth with actual roles—it gives us strength to persevere during times of temptation or tribulation.

⁴therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for yourperseverance and faithin the midst of all yourpersecutions and afflictionswhich you endure.⁵This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgmentso that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.⁶For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, (2Th 1:4-6 NASB)

A. So, we embrace a watchful lifestyle—as demonstrated in the Sermon on the Mount and other apostolic writings—since this is the way thatwe condition our hearts internallyfor a rich welcome into the coming Kingdom.

⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature (i.e. the resurrection) and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.⁵For this very reason,make every effortto add to your faith (i.e. faith in the Kingdom and resurrection) goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ(i.e. the cross).⁹But if anyone does not have them (i.e. does not ‘make every effort’ to attain them), he is nearsighted (i.e. seeing only the present age) and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.¹⁰Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager tomake your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,¹¹andyou will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdomof our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2Pe 1:4-11 NIV)

B. Likewise, we embrace the trials and tribulations of this age knowing that thesecondition our hearts externally, and expose areas of pride and unrighteousness hidden in the heart which are otherwise unknown areas of offense and enmity towards God. God is the God of the cross, and every area within me that hates the cross, despises what He is like and must be crucified if we are to inherit the promises.

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,³because you know that thetesting of your faith(i.e. in the resurrection)develops perseverance.⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. …¹²Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, hewill receive the crown of lifethat God has promised to those who love him. (Jam 1:2-4, 12 NIV)

⁶In this you greatly rejoice (i.e. the coming salvation. cf. v. 5), though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.⁷These have come so that yourfaith(i.e. rejoicing in the promise of the resurrection) –of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuineand mayresult in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1Pe 1:6-7 NIV)