Expedition 44

Ryan and Matt take a look at the ideas of salvation and sanctification as part of the Good News. They discuss the idea of salvation as a momentary experience vs a journey and consider what a better method of introducing someone to the good news may be.

Pastor Matt and Dr. Ryan answer the question what is the gospel. Some look at Salvation alone as the gospel, but we will show that Salvation itself is simply described throughout the Bible as a journey of being faithful and obedient (Allegiant); giving our life (Nephesh) as Jesus gave his. A king, a kingdom, freedom from slavery, and restoration of an Edenic plan for all people the  NT and OT would affirm that the Gospel is is the journey of obedience to a complete vocational calling as a lightbearer. It is essentially Man’s free will choosing to pledge his complete heart and life to following King Jesus. Can it also be considered as a singular experience? Watch the video to help formulate your view.

Our Westernized (American church) thinking, heavily influenced by Reformational theology has left most of us confused about what the Gospel (good News) is and how Salvation and Sanctification work in the life of a Believer. We have sought to use ways to communicate God's plan of Salvation and the start of the journey of following Jesus by simple steps or something called the Romans Road. Unfortunately both models have likely caused more problems than Good. Today in part 1 we simply take a look at some of the issues that have arisen through simple Salvation thinking and why they don't really make sense in the lens of scripture.       •       idolatry (allegiance to other spiritual beings) and sin has separated us from our original calling and communion with God  • We  need reconciliation and that was made in Jesus’ sacrifice • We need to respond in faith (allegiance- not just belief or a one-time confession- nephesh, everything we are) • Romans road is problematic in that it rips these verses out of context and it doesn’t fit the thesis of Romans 1:16-17.  • it prioritized “getting saved” and “going to heaven” over our calling to participate in God’s glory • Romans is about reconciliation and the one people of God returning to their original calling through faith(fulness). This was made possible in Jesus’ faithfulness that fulfilled the covenant to Abraham (to bless the nations) in the way Israel could not under the Law.

Wright Wise Wisdom Hebrew Rabbinical salt Tychicus Onesimus Aristarchus Mark Timothy Titius Justus Proselytes Epaphras Luke and Demas   Nympha Archippus The Lost Letter to the Laodiceans The Shepherd of Hermas Ephesians Ephesus Canon Infallible Inerrant Inerrancy

Works Contract: Collosians/Ephesians/Genesis/Mosaic law   Within this narrative, creation itself is understood as a kind of Temple, a heaven-and-earth duality, (body becomes a temple of the HS) where humans function as the “image-bearers” within a cosmic Temple, part of earth yet reflecting the life and love of heaven.     Humans don’t simply “keep moral standards” but “live” enjoying God’s presence here and hereafter: to celebrate, worship, procreate, and take responsibility within the rich, vivid developing life of creation.     According to Genesis, (literally reading the scripture) that is what humans were made for.   The problem we humans have gotten ourselves into, the “sin” that has exiled us from God, is that we have rejected the vocation or purpose for which we were created — to be God’s image in the world, his royal priests who reflect his glory back to him in worship and into the world in faithful stewardship — and we have turned from thus serving the living God to worship idols. This has unleashed the powers of disorder and corruption to enslave humans and the good creation and we now essentially have turned God’s good creation of earth into HELL.   - death is the intrinsic result of sin, not simply an arbitrary punishment

imperatives out of context   3:15aorist passive Household codes house Greco Roman Deuteronomy 32 garden   Eden Josephus Aristotle gender roles Exegetical egalitarianism Kingdom now egalitarianism Complementarianism   hypotassō agapaō submit Children slaves masters

Regathering of the Nations Mystery  Christ’s sufferings instructed in love Mystery   o As you received Christ Jesus the Lord.” As—it’s the Greek word hōs; it’s just a conjunction. It can mean “just as,” (likeness) o rooted, built up, established, and abounding o Salvation based on faith o 3 Graces • Philosophy, Traditions, & Elemental Spirits (stoicheia)   o BASIC PRINCIPLES=unseen powers of evil o Heiser Walton Wright o The Deity – not  theiotēs, ‘divinity’, but theotēs, ‘Deity’ o Circumcision itself did not produce salvation: Romans 4:9-12   • The “Works Contract” • Christus Victor   • The problem we humans have gotten ourselves into, the “sin” that has exiled us from God, is that we have rejected the vocation or purpose for which we were created — to be God’s image in the world, his royal priests who reflect his glory back to him in worship and into the world in faithful stewardship — and we have turned from thus serving the living God to worship idols. This has unleashed the powers of disorder and corruption to enslave humans and the good creation and we now essentially have turned God’s good creation of earth into HELL.   • Heaven is the ‘intermediate state’ not the ultimate goal. • It is where Christians go to await the resurrection and new creation.  Gal 3:19 WHY THE LAW? Transgressions (plural) • Colossian Heresy   • Worship of Angels   • Deuteronomy 32 • Dualism • New age • Kabbala  • Pluralism • Hyper-spiritualism/hyper-charismatics • Jewish Roots

We take a look at Colossians chapter one and explore some of the themes and issues of the chapter to include: Saints/Holy ones   Inheritance   Deuteronomy 32 worldview Nahalah= kleros   The new Exodus Cosmic Geography Domain of darkness Redemption Ransom Theory The Christ hymn and the Jewish Wisdom Tradition   Epignosis   Gnosticism or Pre-Gnosticism Mysticism Stoicism Luke 11:49 vs Matt 23:34 = Jesus is God’s wisdom Image of God Firstborn Firstborn of the dead plērōma Reconciliation Disinherited Reconciliation of the nations   Gen 10 vs Acts 2- a reversal of the disinheritance   Dualism supersessionism Replacement Theology Covenant Theology Pre-Millenialism Dispensationalism Mystery Rom 8:17 and Phil 3:10- Co-suffering

Pastor Matt and Doc Ryan look at the book of Colossians and introduce a class and series of videos discussing date, authorship, location, heresy, greek, christology, codes, styles, diaspora, stoics, judaism, false doctrine, lost letter, Colossae, Ephesus, Rome, Onesimus, Aristarchus, prison Epistles, Theology, language, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria, Gnosticism, Lycus Valley, earthquake, destruction, worship of angels, Deuteronomy 32, Trinitarianism, Second Temple Jewish binitarian monotheism, powers of Heaven, Revelation,Muslims, scientology and Christian  science Mormons masons some charismatic movements new age mysticism Kabbalah and a bunch more!!!

The book of Ruth has reminded us of God's love for, and faithfulness to, His people in all situations, and this final chapter shows us how all the elements of a once seemingly-hopeless situation are part of God's incredible plan for Ruth's life.