Out of Exile
New Testomony theologians have this nice phrase referred to as “the already and the not but.” It’s a means of talking about the way in which by which Jesus has fulfilled and achieved all the guarantees of God. All the guarantees of God are “sure” and “amen” in Jesus Christ. And so all these guarantees have been initiated or inaugurated, however equally, there’s a “not but.” There’s a still-more-to-come realization of those nice redemptive guarantees from God.
When Jesus atones for our sins and is raised again to life, he then ascends again into the presence of God. So, in Jesus Christ we have now the primary man to really and totally return from exile into the very presence of God. After which Paul talks about the way in which we’re united with Christ. And so subsequently, as a result of that man to whom we’re united has returned to the presence of God, we too have returned from exile via our union with the crucified and resurrected and ascended man, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That’s the “already.”
Focusing totally on the journeys of Abraham, Joseph, and Jesus, Nicholas G. Piotrowski examines exile tales all through Scripture, exhibiting how they illustrate humanity’s final want for a Savior.
However the “not but” is that we nonetheless reside in a fallen world. Demise and sin are nonetheless actual. What this does for us is it teaches us to have this hope of what Christ has already achieved in historical past, however equally, to look forward and wean us somewhat bit from the temptation to make this world our house, creating these longings and hopes for our heavenly abode.
However equally, it reminds us that whereas we have now returned from exile, not everyone has. There’s a world filled with unbelievers who haven’t been reconciled to the Father, who usually are not united to the crucified, resurrected, and ascended man. They haven’t returned from exile. And so subsequently, we have now a activity within the age of “the already and the not but” to proceed to evangelize, to proceed to inform folks about the excellent news of Jesus Christ, how they are often forgiven, how they’ll obtain resurrection life via the Spirit, and the way they too may be united and reconciled to the Father via Jesus.
Christians ought to take into account that after we converse the gospel to others, we’re co-laboring with Jesus to name others out of exile.
And so this work of evangelism, subsequently, is the continuing work of Jesus himself. Christians ought to take into account that after we converse the gospel to others, we’re co-laboring with Jesus to name others out of exile simply as we have now been referred to as out of exile. Or to place it one other means, Jesus is making his attraction to the world to return out from amongst them and be reconciled to the Father via them. He’s making that attraction to the world via us. And that’s the work of evangelism. That’s why he’s made us fishers of males.
Nicholas G. Piotrowski is the writer of Return from Exile and the Renewal of God’s Individuals.
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