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The Cosmic Drama

THEME: RESTORATION
Its a story weve all heard before in many formsa story about a lover and his beloved. The beloved is stolen away by a force of evil, and the lover must undergo a perilous journey to save her. He faces many trials, but in the end he overcomes evil and is reunited with his beloved. They both live happily ever after. This narrative is written into the very fabric of the universe because its Gods story. God is the lover and we are his beloved. We ran from God and our sin estranged us from him, but he will do anything to win us back. He is willing to be rejected and abused, even at the hands of his beloved, in order to be reunited with her. Ultimately, he was willing to go after her by coming to earth and dying for her salvation. So what does this have to do with the Engage Course? Before you begin learning about missions to Muslims, you must have a firm foundation in the broad scope of the cosmic drama. In Lesson 1 we will examine redemptive history and pinpoint where our ministry to our Muslim neighbors fits into Christs mission of restoration.

All of history follows the arc of Gods story. The original creation was corrupted, but Christ made it his mission to restore humanity to himself. Our ministry to Muslims is part of his overarching plan to rescue the creation. At the end of this lesson:

Understand the storyline of Gods relationship to humanity, i.e. the six acts of history and how they relate to one another. Understand the main characteristics of the original Creation, how Corruption entered the world, and the nature of the Old and New Covenants. Understand Redemption and the meaning of Re-creation and Reunion.

Copyright Horizons International: The Engage Course

COSMIC DRAMA

This chapter will reorient you with the ow of Gods cosmic creating, intervening, redeeming, restoring, and reuniting of fractured, fallen humanity and creation.

Objectives

COSMIC DRAMA

It will ground you confidently in the mission of the Church from Gods view of culture, mankind, and history instead of mans view, as seen through sociology, anthropology, and science. It will lead you through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, covenants to the cross, demonstrating the relentless missionary nature of God and how the Church is to bear witness to what Christ has already provided for alienated, lost people.

God is at war. Satan is the obvious enemy. How he works is not as obvious to many. False religion, cults, idolatry and deception are some of the obvious strategies of Satan. One of the most destructive strategies that is more sly and less conspicuous is the conspiracy of the nations.
Georges Houssney, Conspiracy of the Nations

NOTES
It will tell the epic story of Satans war against God and humanity, Christs victory over death and sin on the cross, and Satans sure and final defeat. Act I: Creation Two Views of History
1. Mans view is man-centered. Man is in charge. God serves man. Humanity has the final authority. 2. Gods view is God-centered. God is in charge. Man serves God. God reveals his Word to humanity.

NOTES

God created humans in his image to be the crown of his creation. He established an intimate relationship and fellowship with them. God called his creation very good and put natural laws in place over the universe.

Three Characteristics of Creation:

The Plot
Its a love story between God and his bride, the human race, whom he created in his image to have an intimate fellowship with him. Satan, Gods enemy, kidnapped Gods bride, with her consent and cooperation. God plans a rescue operation and promises to bring his bride back if she is willing. God fulfills his promise and embarks on the dangerous mission. The bride is rescued, restored, and prepared for the great wedding. Their relationship is fully restored, and the enemy is utterly defeated.

1. USEFUL:

Everything was useful for man and had a good purpose.

2. PURE:

Everything in nature was good, not evil or contaminated, but innocent.

3. WHOLE:

Everything was in good condition, united, not broken or dysfunctional, but harmonious and integrated.

Act II: Corruption

Corruption entered history through sin and reversed the effects of creation, causing dysfunction between heaven and earth and disintegration in all relationships, both vertically and horizontally. Humans continued in their rebellion and tried to bridge the gap between them and God by their own efforts and in their own ways.
Copyright Horizons International: The Engage Course

The Flow of History

Old Testament: Old Covenant New Testament: New Covenant CreationCorruptionCovenantsRedemptionRe-creation/RestorationReunion

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COSMIC DRAMA

Three Major Crises in Human History:

1. MANS FALL:

Separation between God and man, man and his fellow man (Cain and Abel, Genesis 3-4)

2. PURE:

Contamination by sin, leading to evil hearts and minds (Genesis 5:6).

3. WHOLE:

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Additional Sources
Mans Part 1. Obedience (Genesis 12:1-4; 17:9) 2. Trust (Genesis 15:1-6; 18:16-18; 22:16-18) God Confirms his Covenant with Abrahams Two Branches 1. The Physical Branch: The Jews (Romans 9:4-8) A. Isaac (Genesis 26:24) B. Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15, Genesis 35:9-15) C. Moses (Exodus 19:4-6) D. Joshua (Joshua 4:24) E. David (2 Chronicles 21:7) F. Solomon (2 Chronicles 6:32-33) G. Isaiah (Isaiah 49:6) H. Daniel (Daniel 7:14) I. Micah (Micah 4:1-3) 2. The Spiritual Branch: Jews inwardly by faith: A man is a Jew if he is one inwardly (Romans 2:28-29) A. Matthew 3:9 B. John 1:12-13, 8:33-58 C. Galatians 3:7; 4:21-31

COSMIC DRAMA
NOTES

Man-centered solutions and a conspiracy against God (Genesis 11:1- 9)

Act III: Covenants

God forges a series of covenants to reverse the effects of corruption and to restore his broken relationship with humanity. He takes it on himself to help humans recover from the effects of corruption in their minds and hearts. The drama takes centuries of revelations, during which God raises up a series of emissaries to call people to return to him. Humans continue to rebel and prove that all human efforts to get rid of corruption are futile. At the appropriate time, God takes on human form and rescues his bride from the enemy who had kidnapped his beloved (Hebrews 1:1-3).

NOTES

Old Covenant: The calling of Abraham to bring the nations back to God
Gods Part: Promise of Blessing 1. Personal: I will bless you; I will make your name great... (Genesis 12:2) 2. National: I will make you into a great nation you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2) 3. International: All peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:3)

2 Kings 23:1- 4 Isaiah 44:22 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Luke 1:68, 3:6, 22:2 Romans 3:24 Galatians 3:13-14 Ephesians 1:7-10 Colossians 1:14 Hebrews 8:7-10

God is at war. Satan is the obvious enemy. How he works is not as obvious to many. False religion, cults, idolatry and deception are some of the obvious strategies of Satan. One of the most destructive strategies that is more sly and less conspicuous is the conspiracy of the nations.
Georges Houssney, Conspiracy of the Nations

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Copyright Horizons International: The Engage Course

COSMIC DRAMA

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Act V: Re-creation/Restoration
The work of redemption is to reverse the curse and the effects of corruption by recreating man according to the original purpose and plan of God. Man is born anew through supernatural regeneration by the Spirit of God. Children born not of natural descent... but born of God. John 1:13 See also: John 3:3 2 Corinthians 5:17 1 Peter 1:23 God brings redeemed mankind through a transformational process of renewal, restoring his image within corrupted humans. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lords glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. Acts 3:21 After this I will return and rebuild Davids fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things that have been known for ages. Acts 15:16-18
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COSMIC DRAMA

NOTES

NOTES

Act IV: Redemption

The New Covenant comes through Abrahams physical branch, Jesus, who brings redemption by his blood sacrifice. Human original sin is cancelled. Jesus is the substitute that satisfies Gods justice and love. Jesus is the messenger of the New Covenant (Malachi 3:1), which brings salvation, forgiveness of sins, and justification before God. For this reason Christ is the mediator of a New Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance now that he has died as a ransom (redemption in Greek) to set them free from the sins committed under the Old Covenant.

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COSMIC DRAMA

Putting It All Together

CREATION Image of God Life Light Good/Sinless Unity Whole CORRUPTION Contaminated Death Darkness Evil//Sinful Scattering Broken Imperfect Idolatry REDEMPTION Recreated New Life Victory Cleansed/Forgiven Gathering Renewed Transformed God-centered RESTORATION Image of God Enternal Life Light Good Unity Whole Perfect God Alone

COSMIC DRAMA
NOTES

NOTES

...the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:10 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. Revelation 21:1 He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! Revelation 21:5

Perfect God Alone

I have set before you life and death... now choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19 The great celebration in heaven: After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands Revelation 7:9 The triumph of Gods kingdom: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:15

Act VI: Reunion/Gathering the Nations

Our role in Gods cosmic drama is to be gatherers of Gods sheep from all nations. In the end, Gods kingdom will triumph and all the elect will glorify the King of kings and Lord of lords. A great feast will be celebrated, and the Bride of Christ will be gathered to her husband. I have other sheep I must bring them also. John 10:16 Jesus reconciled us, and we reconcile others to him. 2 Corinthians 5: 17-20 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

Discussion Questions
1. What were the characteristics of the original creation? What was mans place in it? How did corruption come into the world? How did it spread? What were the consequences for humanity? 2. How does the New Covenant differ from the Old Covenant? What is Gods role in it, and what is mans role? How are we to respond to it or participate in it? 3. How are you a part of the cosmic drama? How are your Muslim neighbors a part of it?

Copyright Horizons International: The Engage Course

Copyright Horizons International: The Engage Course

COSMIC DRAMA
Devotional
God saw all that he had made and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

COSMIC DRAMA

There is an innate inexplicable ache for the restoration of the intimate friendship between God and man, man and the creatures over which God made him caretaker, and humanity one to another. Consider this staggering reality: God came down in the cool of the evening and had fellowship and conversations with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8). What did they say, discuss? Did they laugh? Did the man and woman ask questions? Did God ask questions? Did God survey his work for Adam and Eve and the animals to marvel at? There is an ordering of creation that calls us to the cool of the evening. A Christian has been restored to God through Christ and has an invitation and access to abide with the Lord in the cool of the evening. In addition to morning devotions and prayer, practice a discipline of cool of the evening devotions to be present to the Lord. The Lord of the Universe is always communicating, redeeming, restoring, and regathering. Be still, watch, and listen. Reflect back to God how wondrously you have seen him that day. Put all to rest because God is in control of tomorrow and of eternity, not you. Work tomorrow will flow out of your rest today in the cool of the evening. It is very good.

Why It Matters...
NOTES
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Required Reading
Go to www.engagecourse.org or use the link you were provided when you registered for the course to access the required reading for this lesson.

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Copyright Horizons International: The Engage Course

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