Is this really the whole gospel? Former soldier “ Thank you for praying for me last night. I’m free now!” Missionary “ This is the power of the Cross, and the reason we must preach the whole gospel.”

“ The point of Christianity is not… to go to heaven when you die. [Rather, it is] putting the whole creation to rights.” N.T. Wright The Four-Chapter Gospel Recovering the First and Last Chapters

Creation Gen 1:27-31 Fall Rom 3:22-23 Revolution Rev 22:1-5 Redemption Rom 3:24-26

Even Chuck Colson is trying to restore the missing chapters Q Conference, NYC ‘08

Chapter 1: Created to Love Genesis 1:27-31 So God created man in his own image… male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it… God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his [children] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…

Genesis 1:27-31

So God created man in his own image… male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it… God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

Ephesians 1:4-6

For he chose us in [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his [children] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…

Chapter 4: Sent Together to Heal Ephesians 1:9-10 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. Revelation 22:2-4 And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

Ephesians 1:9-10

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Revelation 22:2-4

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

“ SHALOM” Not just absence of conflict, but rich human flourishing in all directions. The way God meant for the world to be. First: CREATION Last : NEW CREATION Shalom bookends our existence: it characterizes both the Garden and the eternal City, and so provides the vision for our existence in between.

First: CREATION

Last : NEW CREATION

“ The gospel, then, is not just about individual happiness and fulfillment. It not just about a wonderful plan for ‘my life’ but a wonderful plan for the world; it is about the coming of God’s kingdom to renew all things.” Tim Keller Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC

Creation Gen 1:27-31 Fall Rom 3:22-23 Revolution of Justice & Hope Rev 22:1-5 Redemption Rom 3:24-26