Disciple's Heritage Parallels, Structure and Purpose

[HKHaugan]

A Disciple’s ‘Need-to-Know’

(Biblical Context)

Disciple

Identity---an image and child of God, a follower of Jesus, a spiritually gifted brother or sister in the Body of Christ and a witness for Jesus in the world. Disciples are spiritual beings having a human experience.

Purpose---Be a witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth, all nations, making disciples (Acts 1:8).  Living as a spiritual being.

 

Disciples’ Heritage

(Hourglass ---parallels ---Israel’s history (external problem) and Jesus (internal answer)

 

Old Testament ---Is. 53, 59:20  Mt.17:22

Gen.22  Abraham and Isaac---foreshadowing of the Cross

Gen.18:15,18 Prophet like Moses---40 years in the wilderness, Jesus 40 days in the wilderness

The 10 Commandments (words and light received from without)---The 9 Beatitudes (words and light from within-Transfiguration- Jesus is First Commandment)

12 tribes, 12 Apostles

The Tent of Meeting---synagogues---Moses and the groups of 1000’s, hundreds, 50’s, 10’s ---home groups, home churches, prayer groups (Ex.18:21)

Sending of spies in heartland---12,  Joshua and Caleb (Deut.1:19 on)---missionaries

From circumcision to Baptism, Passover to the Lord’s Supper.

 

Israel, the heartland---The Kingdom of God

Jerusalem, the heart community---The Body of Christ

Temple, the individual heart---the believer

Priesthood---all believers

The eternal Temple---High Priest, Jesus

 

New Testament

John begins his Gospel describing Jesus’ identity (1:1-18).

 

Jesus self-conscious identity as Messiah and Lord.

As the Messiah (4:26)

As Lord, a series of “I am’s (Ex.3:14).”

“I am the bread of life (6:35  Ex.16:13 Manna)…Before Abraham was, I am (8:58  Gen.12:2 and 17:5))…I am the light of the world (9:5  Is.9:2, 49:6))…I am the gate for the sheep (10:7---Gen.28:10-19))…I am the good shepherd (10:11  Ezek.34:23, 37:24))…I am the Resurrection and the life (11:25 Is.26:19 Job 19:25-27))…I am teacher and Lord (13:13)…I am the way, the truth and the life (14:6)…I am the true vine (15:1  Ps.80:14-18)…I and the Father are One (10:30)”

 

Three events---Father (Mt.3:17),  Peter-Jew (Mt.16:16), Gentile (Mt.27:54)

 

Four descriptions--- Romans 1:1-4, Col.1:15-20, 1Tim.2:16 Hebrews 1:1-3

 

His purpose---Salvation and Newness

 

Salvation

Mt.3:11 baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire..vs.15 “to fulfill all righteousness”

John 3:5-15 to give spiritual rebirth, to show God’s love and bring eternal life

John 10:10 abundant life now

1John 3:8 “…to destroy the devil’s work.”

2Cor.5:14-21 to die for all, to change our view of people and to make us righteous

 

Newness

“I make everything new…(Rev.21:5)”

2Cor.5:17 “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.”

Gal.6:5 “What counts is new creation”

Lk.22:30 “This cup is the new covenant in my blood”

 

The key to newness is the Cross of Christ.

“Then he said to them all: ”If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it (Lk.9:23-24).”

 

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith (Gen.15:6, Hab.2:4, Rom.1:16-17).”  Faith is the key to newness.

 

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him (Is.64:4 in Rom.2:9).”

 

Next, the disciple’s lifestyle.