A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

b. Mal. 3.3-4 – He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. [4] Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

9. All people everywhere must repent and believe the good news regarding God’s mercy in Jesus of Nazareth, and they will receive forgiveness, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of salvation.

a. The Life of the Age to Come is now given to each one, near or far, who repents and believes in Jesus as Lord, Eph. 2.13-14 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. b. Upon believing, each one enters into the elect community of the Messiah (the Church), Acts 2.38-39 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

V. Principles and Implications for New Testament Study

Thus it was from the beginning and so it is today. Yet the early Christians had one great advantage over us; then it was clear that the surrounding culture was groping in the darkness of paganism, and thus it was clear that the culture should have no hand in defining the role of God’s people in the world. But today we have grown accustomed to thinking of ourselves as a part of the “Christian West,” living in a “Christian nation.” That habit is hard to kick, for it has the narcotic effect of easing the painful reality of the stark contrast