Restitutio

What is the gospel of the kingdom of God? It’s not about Jesus dying for your sins or going to heaven when you die. In fact, Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom is not new at all; it’s the message the prophets of old proclaimed–that one day God was going to make everything wrong with the world right and extend his reign from heaven to earth. In this lecture, you’ll see how John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the twelve, the seventy, and Philip the evangelist, and Paul the Apostle all preached about God’s coming kingdom. This is lecture 7 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade. Notes: first off, what is the gospel? τό εὐαγγέλιον (to evangelion): good message holding this message results in salvation 1 Corinthians 15.1-2 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you– unless you believed in vain. 2 Timothy 1.10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, Romans 1.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. thus, getting the gospel wrong is huge! since believing in the gospel results in salvation, getting the gospel right is absolutely paramount!   begin by looking at an interesting incident (why did Jesus rebuke peter?) Matthew 16.21-23 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.  22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”  23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Why in the world did Peter rebuke Jesus? he had told him he was going to suffer and die Why was this so shocking to Peter? Surely he had heard Jesus preaching the gospel! note v. 21: “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples…” this was the first time they heard about it how did they react? outrage if he didn’t talk about his crucifixion prior to this, what was he preaching for 16 chapters!?!?!?   John the Baptist preached the kingdom gospel Matthew 3.1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,  2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” what is the “kingdom of heaven?” (same as kingdom of God) heaven probably substitutes as a circumlocution for God or else it derives from Dan 2.44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed” this OT verse may account for the two phrases (kingdom of heaven AND kingdom of God)   Jesus preached the kingdom as gospel Mark 1.14-15 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospe

Sir Anthony Buzzard has led a fascinating life.  He grew up in the Church of England in the 1930s and 40s.  While at Oxford, he attended a “get saved” meeting and went forward.  Next he joined Herbert Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God, but then left and studied with the Christadelphians, before joining the Church of God General Conference.  He’s written seven books, publishes a monthly magazine, co-founded the annual Theological Conference, initiated a thriving mission in Africa, trained dozens of current pastors, launched a radio program, and produced nearly a thousand YouTube videos.  He’s tirelessly promoted Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom and the simple truth that the Father is the only true God (biblical unitarianism).  In this interview, you’ll learn about Buzzard’s journey of faith as well as his hopes for the future of the movement. Notes and Links: Visit Sir Anthony Buzzard’s website: focusonthekingdom.org Subscribe to Restoration Fellowship’s YouTube channel Check out Podcast 71: What Good Is Jesus without His Gospel? Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

What happens when you die? Is there an intermediate state? What does the bible teach about the dead before resurrection? These questions are important for our study of the kingdom of God.  If you go straight to heaven when you die, you’re not going to care very much about what happens when Jesus returns.  You may find it marginally interesting, but it’s what’s next for you.  In this way, the doctrine of heaven-at-death eclipses Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom.  However, as it turns out, the bible teaches that the dead are asleep until the resurrection on the last day.  In this lecture you’ll learn the primary texts that support conditional immortality and you’ll see how this Hebrew notion compares to what other cultures and religions say about the afterlife. This is lecture 6 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade. Notes: difference between conditional immortality and natural immortality natural means immortality is part of nature conditional means immortality is conditioned on God giving it death is sleep (sleep = not awake) RIP = rest in peace sleep is the dominant metaphor the bible uses to talk about death David slept with his fathers 1 Kings 2.10 10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. Solomon slept with his fathers 1 Kings 11.43 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. Jeroboam slept with his fathers 1 Kings 14.20 20 And the time that Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years. And he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place. death is lying down, quietly in sleep, and at rest Job 3.11, 13-14, 17, 19 11 “Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?…13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then I would have been at rest, 14 with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves…17 There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest…19 The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master. the dead know nothing and do nothing Ecclesiastes 9.5, 10 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten…10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. no remembrance or praise of God in sheol Psalm 6.4-5 4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.  5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? help me or else I’ll sleep the sleep of death Psalm 13.3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, the dead do not praise the LORD Psalm 115.17 The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. breath [ruach/spirit] departs, return to earth, plans perish Psalm 146.3-4 3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.  4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Jesus calls Lazarus asleep when he is dead John 11.11-14 11 After saying these things, he said to them, R

Nicholas Hlifka grew up as an atheist until a Christian teacher shared his faith with him in high school.  While attending the State University of New York at Fredonia, he took a class with Dale Tuggy.  When he found out that Tuggy was a biblical unitarian, he was immediately wary of such a heretical belief.  Over time, he challenged Tuggy, his best trinitarian proof-texts to him.  Tuggy explained the various texts and eventually Hlifka felt compelled to follow the evidence where it was leading.  Next, in an online coversation with Kegan Chandler, he learned about how God plans to establish his kingdom on earth (rather than going to heaven at death).  Once again Hlifka didn’t balk at the challenge, but embraced the biblical teaching. Notes and Links: Other faith stories from Theological Conferences More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here. Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

After a bad divorce, Chad Hoffman became a Christian.  He attended a number of different churches and something didn’t sit right at each.  In 2006, he was diagnosed with a inoperable tumor on his brain stem.  After some treatment it shrank and grew back.  During this tumultuous time, he started considering what he believed about the afterlife.  He took some seminary courses to get more information and learned about hermeneutics (how to interpret the bible).  Armed with these tools, he began understanding that the bible taught that the dead are asleep until resurrection.  He continued in his studies and discovered more about God’s nature and his coming kingdom.  He still battles cancer, but since this recording a recent mri has revealed this his tumor is currently stable.  Please pray for the Hoffmans as they continue in the walk with the Lord.   Notes and Links: Other faith stories from Theological Conferences More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here. Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Steve and Phyllis Carouthers have attended many churches throughout their Christian journey.  A couple of years ago Phyllis was researching the gifts of the spirit and came across an article on the Truth or Tradition website and saw that they were biblical unitarians.  Initially she found this quite disturbing as she associated all unitarians with the very liberal Unitarian Universalist denomination.  However, after learning that biblical unitarians actually hold to the inspiration and authority of scripture, she began considering the idea that the Father is the only true God.  She searched around online and began watching the free classes from Living Hope International Ministries.  After much study she came to agree that Jesus is not God the Son, but the Son of God.  She shared this with her step son, Thomas Brewer who had been studying with the Jehovah’s Witnesses for a year.  (He could never quite bring himself to join them because of their opposition to blood transfusions.)  He came to see the light and attended the Theological Conference in 2016.  This year the whole family came.   Notes and Links: Other faith stories from Theological Conferences More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here. Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Even though he grew up in the Calivinist Reformed tradition as a pastor’s kid, Jouke Elsinga was not sure he believed in God’s existence.  After reading Frank Turek’s I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, he came to believe in God and started searching for apologetics.  He came across my apologetics class on youtube (also available on podcasts 50-65) and deepened his reasons for believing in the bible.  Next he began digging into theology, trying to discern the teachings of the bible.  He came to believe in conditional immortality (the sleep of the dead), but still held to the doctrine of the trinity.  However, after researching a little more he came across the Trinity Delusion website and youtube channel and found the arguments there very convincing.   Notes and Links: Other faith stories from Theological Conferences More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here. Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Danny Tanner grew up in the Lutheran Church and later got heavily involved with the Brethren in Christ group.  He’s served as a worship pastor, an associate pastor, and an executive pastor.  Currently he’s involved in a church plant.  Over the years he’s questioned his faith, but never let himself dive in deep enough to reconsider his core beliefs.  He didn’t want to give himself permission to reconsider any of them, because he was worried he might end up renouncing his faith.  After hearing about biblical unitarianism from Jeremy Bowders, he began working through his understanding of God and Christ.  The bible starting making sense and coming alive in a fresh way for him.   Notes and Links: Other faith stories from Theological Conferences More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here. Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

While working in a casket factory as an upholsterer, one day Jeremy Bowders reflected on the fact that he would be in one eventually. He began asking the big questions about his life’s purpose. He began reading the bible and became a Christian. In the course of researching open theism, he read an article by William Lane Craig that mentioned Dale Tuggy. He came to trinities.org and began listening to Tuggy’s podcast, specifically episode 6 where a Muslim, a biblical unitarian, and a trinitarian debated Jesus’ identity.  Strangely enough, he found himself agreeing with the biblical unitarian!  According to Bowders, understanding that the Father is the only true God and that Jesus is his human messiah was like finding the decoder ring in a cereal box.  Suddenly the bible made much more sense to him.   Notes and Links: Other faith stories from Theological Conferences More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here. Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Having overcome his desire to remain in the background, Jonathen Favors boldly shared his testimony of coming to understand who God is.  After a severe football injury, he had a lot of time to spend time with and think about God.  While attending BIOLA University, he had learned that the title “Son of God” is a messianic title, but he didn’t understand how God could be three in one.  He began reading through scripture to discover Jesus’ conception of God.   Notes and Links: Other faith stories from Theological Conferences More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here. Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.