Wright, in his book Simply Christian: Why Christianity Exists, argues that God has no intention of “abandoning this world”, instead God has a glorious “rescue operation” planned, raising “all His people to new bodily life to live in it”. (Wright 58) God has begun this magnificent rescue operation utilizing Israel, the Church, and Jesus to complete his plan. Through these three, Wright believes that God intends for the “kingdom of the world to become kingdom of God” in which “the beauty of this world will be enfolded in the beauty of God”, and thus, only completing his rescue operation “when the present world is rescued, healed, restored, and completed.” (Wright 78)
Israel, a nation with a history of rebellion, turmoil, and pain, is ultimately …show more content…
He begins his rescue plan with a promise to Abraham that is still in the process of being fulfilled today. The Lord promises the he “will make of [Abraham] a great nation” which he will bless, even to the extent of blessing “those who bless [Abraham]”, cursing those who curse him, ending His promise saying that through Abraham all of “the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3). Thus, through Abraham’s lineage will come great kings like David, to the ultimate fulfillment to Gods promise. It should be noted that God mentions that all of the families will be blessed through Jesus.
Jesus is God’s answer to the promises laid out in the Old Testament. Today, the majority understand that it is through his death and resurrection that we are covered, we understand that we “are called to leave behind, in the tomb of Jesus Christ, all that belongs to the brokenness and incompleteness of the present world” and to simply “follow Jesus Christ into the new world, God 's new world, which he has thrown open before us.” (Wright …show more content…
In fact, for most people of the time, it was hard to believe that Jesus, the one intended to save them, had to die first. Wright explains that this confusion comes for a misunderstanding of the “Suffering Servant” mentioned in Isiah. “The suffering of which Isaiah spoke of” was thought to be the “suffering he would inflict on Israel’s enemies” (Wright 107). Wright explains that Israel envisioned Jesus as their own knight in shining armor: there to strike down their oppressors and create a new world for the people.
God had a different plan in mind, one expressing love, “not by fighting and violence but by loving one’s enemies, turning the other cheek, going the second mile. (Wright 101). Jesus works against the Jews idea of God as a vengeful being. Through symbols and stories, Jesus reaches the people and is able to teach God’s message of love. Particularly, Jesus explains God’s plans through the parables, such as the parable of the prodigal son and of the sowing seed. Wright goes on to explain that they were to “discover the truth of Jesus” as the way to experience God’s original rescue
Israel, a nation with a history of rebellion, turmoil, and pain, is ultimately …show more content…
He begins his rescue plan with a promise to Abraham that is still in the process of being fulfilled today. The Lord promises the he “will make of [Abraham] a great nation” which he will bless, even to the extent of blessing “those who bless [Abraham]”, cursing those who curse him, ending His promise saying that through Abraham all of “the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3). Thus, through Abraham’s lineage will come great kings like David, to the ultimate fulfillment to Gods promise. It should be noted that God mentions that all of the families will be blessed through Jesus.
Jesus is God’s answer to the promises laid out in the Old Testament. Today, the majority understand that it is through his death and resurrection that we are covered, we understand that we “are called to leave behind, in the tomb of Jesus Christ, all that belongs to the brokenness and incompleteness of the present world” and to simply “follow Jesus Christ into the new world, God 's new world, which he has thrown open before us.” (Wright …show more content…
In fact, for most people of the time, it was hard to believe that Jesus, the one intended to save them, had to die first. Wright explains that this confusion comes for a misunderstanding of the “Suffering Servant” mentioned in Isiah. “The suffering of which Isaiah spoke of” was thought to be the “suffering he would inflict on Israel’s enemies” (Wright 107). Wright explains that Israel envisioned Jesus as their own knight in shining armor: there to strike down their oppressors and create a new world for the people.
God had a different plan in mind, one expressing love, “not by fighting and violence but by loving one’s enemies, turning the other cheek, going the second mile. (Wright 101). Jesus works against the Jews idea of God as a vengeful being. Through symbols and stories, Jesus reaches the people and is able to teach God’s message of love. Particularly, Jesus explains God’s plans through the parables, such as the parable of the prodigal son and of the sowing seed. Wright goes on to explain that they were to “discover the truth of Jesus” as the way to experience God’s original rescue