SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

I must admit to you the reader that I am biased at this point. My systematic theology is not Calvinism or Dispensationalism, but it is Great Commission evangelicalism (cf. Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8). I believe God has an eternal plan for the redemption of all mankind (e.g. Gen. 3:15; 12:3; Exod 19:5-6; John 1:29; 3:16; 4:42; 12:47; Rom. 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 3:4; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:14), created in His image and likeness (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) for fellowship.

The two covenants are united in Christ (cf. Gal. 3:28-29; Col. 3:11). Jesus is the mystery of God, hidden but now revealed (cf. Eph. 2:11-3:13)! The NT gospel, not Israel, is the key to Scripture (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SUPERIORITY OF THE NEW COVENANT OVER THE MOSAIC COVENANT).

This pre-understanding colors all my interpretations of Scripture. I read all texts through it! It is surely a bias (all interpreters have them!), but it is my scripturally-informed presupposition.

The focus of Genesis 1-2 is YHWH creating a place where He and His highest creation, mankind, can fellowship (cf. Gen. 1:26,27; 3:8). Humans cannot find joy, peace, purpose, nor contentment apart from an intimate relationship with their Creator! Physical creation was proposed by God as a stage for this interpersonal divine agenda.

  1. St. Augustine characterized it as a divine-shaped hole in every person that can be filled only by God Himself.
  2. C. S. Lewis called this planet "the touched planet," (i.e. prepared by God for humans).

The OT has many hints of this universal divine agenda.

  1. Genesis 3:15 is the first promise that YHWH will not leave mankind in the terrible mess of sin and rebellion. It does not refer to Israel because there is no Israel, or covenant people, until the call of Abraham in Genesis 12.
    Was the mercy of the God of creation available before Abram (Rom. 4)?
    1. the godly line of Seth, Gen. 4:26
    2. Noah and his family, Gen. 6:8-22
    3. Melchizedek, Gen. 14:17-24
    4. Job (same time period as Abraham), an Edomite wiseman, Job
  2. Genesis 12:1-3 is YHWH's initial call and revelation to Abraham which will become the covenant people, Israel. But even in this initial call, God had an eye to the whole world. Notice Gen. 12:3!
  3. In Exodus 20 (Deuteronomy 5) YHWH gave His law to Moses to guide His special people. Notice that in Exod. 19:5-6, YHWH reveals to Moses the unique relationship Israel will have. But also notice that they were chosen, like Abraham, to bless the world (cf. Exod. 19:5, "for all the earth is Mine"). Israel was to be a mechanism for the nations to know YHWH and be attracted to Him. Tragically they failed (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36).
    Was the mercy of God available outside the covenant of Moses?
    1. Jethro, Exod. 2:16-21; 18:10-12,17-23
    2. Naaman, 2 Kgs. 5
    3. Nineveh, Jonah
  4. In the Psalms this universalism continues ‒ 2:8; 22:27-28; 66:4; 67:7; 86:9 (Rev. 15:4)
  5. Through the prophets YHWH continued to reveal His universal redemptive plans.
    1. Isaiah ‒ 2:2-4; 12:4-5; 25:6-9; 42:6,10-12; 45:22; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 56:6-8; 60:1-3; 66:18,23
    2. Jeremiah ‒ 3:17; 4:2; 16:19
    3. Micah 4:1-3
    4. Malachi 1:11
  6. Jonah may be the most "missionary" book of the OT. YHWH's love for Gentiles is obvious (i.e. both the sailors and the Ninevites)!

This universal emphasis is facilitated by the emergence of the "new covenant" (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; described in Ezek. 36:22-36), (see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT) which focuses on the mercy of YHWH (see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD [OT]), not the performance of fallen humans (cf. Eph. 2:8-10, see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND). Believing mankind is given is a "new heart," a "new mind," and a "new spirit." Obedience is crucial but it is an internal motivation, not an external code only (cf. Rom. 3:21-31; see SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP).

The NT clearly reinforces the universal redemptive plan in several ways.

  1. The Great Commission ‒ Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8
  2. YHWH has an eternal redemptive plan (i.e. predestined) ‒ Luke 22:22; Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:28; 13:29
  3. YHWH wants all humans to be saved ‒ John 1:29; 3:16; 4:42; 12:47; Acts 10:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 3:4; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:14
  4. Christ unites the OT and NT ‒ Gal. 3:28-29; Eph. 2:11-3:13; Col. 3:11. All human barriers and distinctions are removed in Christ (i.e. Rom. 2:28-29). Jesus is the "mystery of God," once hidden but now clearly revealed (Eph. 2:11-3:13). He is "the elect man" (Barth).

The NT focuses on Jesus, not Israel. The gospel, not a nationality or geographical region, is central. Israel was the first revelation (cf. Matt. 5:17-19) but Jesus is the ultimate, final revelation (cf. Matt. 5:21-48; John 1:14-18; 14:8-11; Heb. 1:1-3).

I feel I must address the issue of What about those who never heard or cannot hear/understand?" I have included my exegetical notes on John 14:6.

John 14:6 "no one comes to the Father but through Me"What a shocking claim! It is very restrictive but also very obvious that Jesus believed that only through a personal relationship with Himself can one know God (cf. John 10:7-9; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 5:10-12). This has often been called "the exclusivistic scandal" of Christianity. There is no middle ground here. This statement is true or Christianity is false!

A word must be said about this exclusivistic statement. There is no denying that Jesus is the only way of forgiveness and restoration of fellowship with the Father (i.e. John 3:16; 1 John 5:10-12)!!!

However, it implies that the hearers/readers have heard the gospel message. What about those who lived before Jesus? Obviously from the OT many had some degree of faith in YHWH.

What about those who never had a chance to hear the gospel (geography or family) or those who could not understand (i.e. because of age, retardation, isolation)? This question cannot be answered from Scripture. I think many modern people are perplexed by this question.

So let me share my understanding. I do not think God will condemn people for information they do not have. Now, it is true that all humans have some knowledge of God from His creation (i.e. natural revelation, cf. Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1-2). Theological result of this knowledge is clearly that all humans are responsible for their thoughts and actions (i.e. Rom. 3:23)!

For me, I have come to trust the merciful character of the unchanging Creator God. Our only hope is in Him. Though I cannot answer the question about those who have never heard, I trust God will do the fair and merciful thing! I do not know what that will be.

I hope that you do not take what I have said as an excuse not to share the gospel. There is an urgency in Scripture for evangelism (i.e. Luke 24:46-47; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Pet. 3:15).
SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE
SPECIAL TOPIC: ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

As the years have gone by in my study of Scripture (now 55 years), I have become convinced of an eschatological understanding called "Partial Preterism," which asserts that

  1. Jesus' message to Israel (i.e. Matt. 23-24; Mark 13; Luke 17:21) is fulfilled in the A.D. 70 Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (see my new exegetical notes on these texts free online).
  2. Paul's words about "the man of lawlessness" in 2 Thess. 2 refers to Nero.
  3. John's book of Revelation is an apocalyptic presentation of Jesus' words in Matt. 10:23; 21:33-46; 23:1-39; 24, especially v. 43 (see my new verse-by-verse commentary on Revelation [2024] online free).

If this understanding is correct, then the age of the Mosaic covenant is past. Be careful of "Dispensationalism" or any theological system that focuses on OT national promises to Israel. See Steve Gregg's YouTube video, "Deconstructing Dispensationalism."

I hope you will take a moment to read the following Special Topics:

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO OT COVENANT PROMISE SEEM SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES?

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL

SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "RECEIVE," "BELIEVE," "CONFESS/PROFESS," "CALL UPON"?

SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S VIEWS OF THE MOSAIC LAW

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SECOND COMING

SPECIAL TOPIC: SECOND COMING (lchart)

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