God's Purpose

This teaching stream explores God’s Purpose in time-space history.

Humankind dreams of a better world, but how can that happen? God has a plan for human flourishing – a new world here and now – and it's revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and his Gospel. It is explicated through the biblical motif of 'Kingdom & Covenant'—God's Government and its Constitution as the genius of a New World Order.

The Nativity of Christ: Its Historical Context and Cultural Implications

December 11, 2019 by David Orton

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage … [Read more...]

Romans: Re-Creation by the Spirit—Paradise Restored, Part 5d

September 15, 2019 by David Orton

EXPOSITION: Chapter 8:1-39 Romans 8: The Climax of the Covenant As explained in the Introduction to this section (Chs. 5-8), this chapter reiterates and consummates Ch. 5. In the meantime, Chs. 6 and 7 have addressed the hurdles of sin and the law to the universal reign of grace introduced in Ch. 5 but now fully explicated in Ch. 8. The four chapters form a chiastic ring … [Read more...]

5 Books on the Victorious Christian Hope for History

August 3, 2019 by Virginia Orton

The devastating effects of certain defective eschatological scenarios in the contemporary church are seen in the retreat and decline of the Christian faith and social order in our time. Eschatology is not merely a narrow view of ‘the end’ but concerns more fully the entire direction and goal of God’s purpose in history. It therefore has a profound influence on a … [Read more...]

God’s Beautiful Plan

July 17, 2019 by W. J. Ern Baxter (1914-1993)

In the face of the ugliness of a sin ravaged world, mired in wars and bloodshed, despair and disease, brokenness and corruption, Ern illuminates the beauty of God’s plan. This plan, purposed before time, began in Eden, continued in Canaan, and was fulfilled in the coming of Christ. With the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom on earth through his atoning work, God’s Spirit-filled … [Read more...]

Romans: The Problem of Sin, Part 5b

June 23, 2019 by David Orton

EXPOSITION: Chapter 6:1-23 The Definition of Sanctification The problem of sin in relation to the Christian life is generally termed “sanctification” with the term found only twice in this epistle, here in ch.6 in v. 19, 22. The Greek word hagiasmos means consecration, purification; from hagiadzo – to make holy, purify, or consecrate, which is from hagios meaning sacred or … [Read more...]