Comments on: Reading the Bible in the Right Direction (Part 4) – The Overarching Story of Scripture http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/ theological and devotional musings by Richard Liantonio Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:16:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Jonathan Toenniges http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12329 Jonathan Toenniges Sat, 19 Mar 2011 20:53:15 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12329 I like this too. It is such a premier truth in Scripture, but so overlooked (by me at least). To have this end in mind is so helpful to life. It gives context for the work Christians do today whether it be in the marketplace, the church, or the farm. :) We were created to rule on the earth in total righteousness, sin and Satan and the lost are impeding us, but these impediments are soon to be removed so we can fulfill the creation mandate in fullness. It is exciting ! I like this too. It is such a premier truth in Scripture, but so overlooked (by me at least). To have this end in mind is so helpful to life. It gives context for the work Christians do today whether it be in the marketplace, the church, or the farm. :) We were created to rule on the earth in total righteousness, sin and Satan and the lost are impeding us, but these impediments are soon to be removed so we can fulfill the creation mandate in fullness. It is exciting !

]]> By: Lauren http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12286 Lauren Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:34:46 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12286 I feel like a little kid reading my favorite bed-time story again! I want to read this story over and over in as many forms as possible until I see my own daily life completely consumed in God's unfolding plan of restoration1 I may slightly disagree on the nuances of "humanity’s gracious rulership of the earth ". But I guess you didn't fully develop this theme, so I shouldn't assume I know what you mean by this phrase. I would like to know more on what you see specifically as the task given to man. I feel like a little kid reading my favorite bed-time story again! I want to read this story over and over in as many forms as possible until I see my own daily life completely consumed in God’s unfolding plan of restoration1

I may slightly disagree on the nuances of “humanity’s gracious rulership of the earth “. But I guess you didn’t fully develop this theme, so I shouldn’t assume I know what you mean by this phrase. I would like to know more on what you see specifically as the task given to man.

]]> By: Matt Dettman http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12285 Matt Dettman Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:27:29 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12285 Having been a reader primarily of the New Testament and of Old Testament narratives, this plot summary which includes the Old Testament, has always bewildered me. I mean that flow chart would not have come easily nor was it immediately obvious. It become obvious after several multiple readings of the Psalms and of the Prophets. Another careful read of Deuteronomy will eventually show the obvious cycle, culminating with chapter 28, where the curses for disobeying God are laid forth. As always, starting with the Old Testament provides the fundamentals for the answers found in the New Testament. Having been a reader primarily of the New Testament and of Old Testament narratives, this plot summary which includes the Old Testament, has always bewildered me. I mean that flow chart would not have come easily nor was it immediately obvious. It become obvious after several multiple readings of the Psalms and of the Prophets. Another careful read of Deuteronomy will eventually show the obvious cycle, culminating with chapter 28, where the curses for disobeying God are laid forth. As always, starting with the Old Testament provides the fundamentals for the answers found in the New Testament.

]]> By: James Kufeldt http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12284 James Kufeldt Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:19:59 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12284 I love stories and I especially love the story of redemption. One of the things that I love most about it is its simplicity. The idea that the 66 books of the Bible can be effectively summarized in 7 words makes me giddy. I love stories and I especially love the story of redemption. One of the things that I love most about it is its simplicity. The idea that the 66 books of the Bible can be effectively summarized in 7 words makes me giddy.

]]> By: Kristina Wu http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12280 Kristina Wu Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:09:19 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12280 This is a bit confusing to me because the way that I read it, it sounded like you were saying that humanity ruling the earth was the end in and of itself? But I thought even humanity ruling and reigning the earth was unto something greater, like being able to do these things WITH Jesus. I think I need further clarification.. This is a bit confusing to me because the way that I read it, it sounded like you were saying that humanity ruling the earth was the end in and of itself? But I thought even humanity ruling and reigning the earth was unto something greater, like being able to do these things WITH Jesus.

I think I need further clarification..

]]> By: Katie Thompson http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12275 Katie Thompson Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:51:44 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12275 This is so good. The diagrams and outline are helpful. I need more understanding and knowledge about the OT storyline, but I want to keep this in my mind as I begin to read through the OT. I want to look at God's kindness to give man the task to subdue the earth and His great mercy throughout history, and how He is faithful. I kept thinking about the servanthood of Israel that they are the covenant people that God has chosen to execute His plan to re-establish the purpose of humanity (this is restated from what you said in the "who is the helper?" paragraph). And all is done through Jesus who is the One who reconciles all things both in heaven and earth. I do not fully get it, but I want to know more. This is so good. The diagrams and outline are helpful. I need more understanding and knowledge about the OT storyline, but I want to keep this in my mind as I begin to read through the OT. I want to look at God’s kindness to give man the task to subdue the earth and His great mercy throughout history, and how He is faithful. I kept thinking about the servanthood of Israel that they are the covenant people that God has chosen to execute His plan to re-establish the purpose of humanity (this is restated from what you said in the “who is the helper?” paragraph). And all is done through Jesus who is the One who reconciles all things both in heaven and earth. I do not fully get it, but I want to know more.

]]> By: Kara VanHover http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12270 Kara VanHover Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:14:03 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12270 The plot analysis is a clever yet clear way to explain the story line of Scripture. "God sends man to rule the earth" may seem simplistic, yet Scripture testifies that this truly is what the plot of humanity boils down to. Looking at history through this bottom-line lens can help bring perspective to our daily lives and help explain how they fit in to the grand scheme of things. It helps us answer the questions "What am I here for?" and "Where am I going?" The plot analysis is a clever yet clear way to explain the story line of Scripture. “God sends man to rule the earth” may seem simplistic, yet Scripture testifies that this truly is what the plot of humanity boils down to. Looking at history through this bottom-line lens can help bring perspective to our daily lives and help explain how they fit in to the grand scheme of things. It helps us answer the questions “What am I here for?” and “Where am I going?”

]]> By: Spencer Baker http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12258 Spencer Baker Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:11:18 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12258 I was reading Middleton's article a few days ago and was struck with the hope of believing that God's plan was to have us rule the earth. Middleton talks about how creation started in a garden and ends in a city, and he says, "Creation was never meant to be static, but was intended by God from the beginning to be developmental, moving toward a goal." The amazing part about this is that despite the sinfulness and brokenness of this world, there is still hope and life and beauty to be found in it. God hasn't given up on the earth or the people on it. He's still working to bring us back to that first plotline, that we might live forever on the earth and rule and reign with him. I was reading Middleton’s article a few days ago and was struck with the hope of believing that God’s plan was to have us rule the earth. Middleton talks about how creation started in a garden and ends in a city, and he says, “Creation was never meant to be static, but was intended by God from the beginning to be developmental, moving toward a goal.” The amazing part about this is that despite the sinfulness and brokenness of this world, there is still hope and life and beauty to be found in it. God hasn’t given up on the earth or the people on it. He’s still working to bring us back to that first plotline, that we might live forever on the earth and rule and reign with him.

]]> By: Kay http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12252 Kay Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:34:43 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12252 First, thank you for the visuals! I love visuals. I don't think I would've been able to understand w/o them. Second, wah?! Your summary of the bible is new to me. The statement isn't new, but to say that it's the main point of the entire bible is new. And, as is the case with all new concepts, I need some time to really take it in. I don't see clearly how the ending passages are saying the summary statement, but it's probably b/c I need more understanding on them (I'm still pretty new when it comes to learning how to study/read the bible). Also, when I first read your statement, I thought "but that sounds like humanity is the point of everything. Isn't it all about God, not man?" But then I realized that you weren't saying everything is about us (humanity). You were only saying that the plot of human history is centered on humans ruling earth. God is still has the preeminence in everything. First, thank you for the visuals! I love visuals. I don’t think I would’ve been able to understand w/o them. Second, wah?! Your summary of the bible is new to me. The statement isn’t new, but to say that it’s the main point of the entire bible is new. And, as is the case with all new concepts, I need some time to really take it in. I don’t see clearly how the ending passages are saying the summary statement, but it’s probably b/c I need more understanding on them (I’m still pretty new when it comes to learning how to study/read the bible). Also, when I first read your statement, I thought “but that sounds like humanity is the point of everything. Isn’t it all about God, not man?” But then I realized that you weren’t saying everything is about us (humanity). You were only saying that the plot of human history is centered on humans ruling earth. God is still has the preeminence in everything.

]]> By: Brother Yoon http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/2009/10/reading-the-bible-in-the-right-direction-part-4-the-overarching-story-of-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-12243 Brother Yoon Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:08:21 +0000 http://www.richardliantonio.com/blog/?p=931#comment-12243 Your charts and explanations are helpful to see an overview of the OT storyline. It is satisfying to know that our future involves the earth and that I will not be a disembodied spirit simply resting in heaven, but I still wonder what ruling the earth will look like. Your charts and explanations are helpful to see an overview of the OT storyline. It is satisfying to know that our future involves the earth and that I will not be a disembodied spirit simply resting in heaven, but I still wonder what ruling the earth will look like.

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