Ripe for Harvest

270 • R IPE FOR H ARVEST

A. The answer to fragmentation and idiosyncratic emphases: the Christus Victor framework is our antidote to substituting our petty, idiosyncratic emphasis over the story of God in Christ. 1. Christus Victor saves us from the distraction of themes, concepts, and emphases which are more twigs than branches, trunk, or root, to the biblical story of God’s love in Christ.

2. Don’t be taken captive by substitute centers of emphasis, other than Christ, Col. 2.8-10.

3. Teaching human tradition and not Jesus Christ, Mark 7.3-8

B. The key to apostolic and biblical authority – the Christus Victor Framework is our key to rediscovering biblical authority in its Christ centered motif. 1. Jesus Christ himself is the key both to the subject and interpretation of the Scripture, and therefore of both spirituality, service, and mission.

2. He came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them, Matt. 5.17-18.

3. He interpreted the Scriptures as texts which referred to him.

a. Luke 24.27

b. Luke 24.44-47

4. The Scriptures testify to him, John 5.39-40 – You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

5. He quoted the Scripture as concerning himself, Heb. 10.5-7.

C. The fullness of shared spirituality – the Christus Victor Framework is our invitation to the fullness of shared spirituality.

Context Values/Vision

1. Spiritual wisdom and rootedness consists in being grounded in the person of Christ, united by faith to him in gathered assembly.

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