An Overview of the Outworking of God’s Purposes: StoryLines of the Bible (KDZ)

The Contrast: Two Systems: • Dispensational Theology • Covenant Theology An Overview of the Outworking of God’s Purposes: 3. StoryLines of the Bible (KDZ) If Eschatology is the study of “last” (eschatos) things, there must be “first,” and “middle” things . . . The Story Line of the Bible or The Story Lines of the Bible? • Is there one Story Line of the Bible? • Or are there several Story Lines of the Bible? – I envision a series of arcs . . – beginning at different times but culmination more or less together at the end. The Story Line of God’s Cosmic Purpose—His Own Glory: overarching “eternity to eternity”—All the other story lines are underneath this one. The Decree = His Eternal Purpose. (Universal Kingdom) The Story Line of God’s Creation—for His own Glory: The Maximal Manifestation and Display of His Attributes (which is to say of Himself). All the story lines below are underneath this one as well. The Story Line of Man’s Creation: The Vice-Regent—charged with perpetuating His Pattern of Creation = Create and Refine. (NB The issues sin and redemption are not yet in view!) Gen 1:26-27 (cf. Psalm 8 et. al.) (1st Adam failed—2nd Adam succeeds (NB The issues of sin and redemption are still not yet in view! This is about vice-regency.) The Story Line of Man’s Fall and God’s Grace: Adam’s Original Sin = Death to all In Adam to Christ’s Perfect Gift = Life to all in Christ: Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-19: This is the Story Line of Redemption from Sin and Death. (NB It is not the surface story line in much of the OT.) There is a curse and there is a First Promise (Gen 3:15). The Story of Two Lines: Ungodly Line (Genesis 4) / Godly Line (Genesis 5 and into 6-9 = Noah and the Flood). There is a Promise = Noahic Covenant, Genesis 9.  The Story of the Line of the nations and the Nation: Israel and the Nations: (Here it begins to be “interesting” . . . NB The Story Line of Salvation (“soteriology” = Redemption from Sin and Death) is woven into these Story LineS . . .