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White Horse Inn: Conversational Theology

Climbing Jacob’s Ladder?

Featuring:

Caleb Bassett, Craig Marshall, Sam Allberry, Shane Rosenthal

Release date:

February 17, 2019

Series:

The Gospel of John Year-Long Series

Scripture(s):

John

Topic(s):

Jesus Christ The Deity of Christ

Format(s):

Audio

Download:

Episode Audio (mp3)

If you ask people today what they think the Bible is about, you’ll probably be told that it’s a collection of morality tales that encourages people to behave. Even many of those raised in Christian homes tend to think of Scripture primarily as a helpful guide that tries to steer us in the right direction. But in the latter part of John’s opening chapter, we’re told that the ultimate message found throughout the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets actually relates to the coming of Jesus Christ. In short, the Bible’s big picture is not about our ascent to God, but of God’s descent to us in the person of his Son.

SHOW QUOTE

“When we pay close attention to the details of Genesis 28, Jacob isn’t climbing. He’s fast asleep. He’s not building anything. He’s not working on behalf of the oppressed. He’s not fasting. He’s not involved in any kind of ritual. He’s completely inactive.”

Shane Rosenthal

“He didn’t build a ladder nor is he climbing up it.”

Sam Allberry

“Jesus is Jacob’s ladder. He’s the bridge between heaven and earth. We don’t climb our way up into God’s presence, but he descends to us from heaven while we’re asleep.”

Shane Rosenthal

TERM TO LEARN

“Already / Not Yet”

The coming of Jesus Christ at his incarnation marked the beginning of a glorious new redemptive age with a corresponding set of blessings (the already). Yet this new age is not fully consummated and will be fulfilled in the future (the not yet). Christians today can experience a measure of the blessings and promises of heaven while still living in a fallen world that is groaning for the consummation.

The already / not yet concept is expressed in the New Testament’s distinct and pronounced tension between what God has already done in fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament and what God will do yet in the future. It can be said that the already / not yet structure gives the New Testament a strong forward-looking focus.

(Adapted from A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger)

More from this Series: The Gospel of John Year-Long Series

  1. A Sneak Peek at our New Series on the Gospel of John Listen Now ›
  2. Eyewitness Testimony in the Gospel of John Listen Now ›
  3. Richard Bauckham on the Reliability of John Listen Now ›
  4. In the Beginning Was the Word Listen Now ›
  5. The Jewishness of John’s Gospel Listen Now ›
  6. The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us Listen Now ›
  7. The Lamb of God Listen Now ›
  8. Climbing Jacob’s Ladder? Listen Now ›
  9. Water into Wine Listen Now ›
  10. An Interview with D.A. Carson Listen Now ›
  11. Money-Changers in the Temple Listen Now ›
  12. God in Our Midst Listen Now ›
  13. Born from Above Listen Now ›
  14. God So Loved the World Listen Now ›
  15. He Must Increase, I Must Decrease Listen Now ›
  16. The Historical Reliability of John’s Gospel Listen Now ›
  17. Living Water Listen Now ›
  18. Worship in Spirit & Truth Listen Now ›
  19. Can This Be the Christ? Listen Now ›
  20. An Early Date for John’s Gospel? Listen Now ›
  21. Jesus on Trial Listen Now ›
  22. The Scriptures Bear Witness of Me Listen Now ›
  23. The Bread of Life Listen Now ›
  24. Drawn by God Listen Now ›
  25. If Anyone Thirsts Listen Now ›
  26. The Light of the World Listen Now ›
  27. The Truth Will Set You Free Listen Now ›
  28. I Am the Good Shepherd Listen Now ›
  29. My Sheep Hear My Voice Listen Now ›
  30. I Am the Resurrection & the Life Listen Now ›
  31. Jesus’ Death Foretold Listen Now ›
  32. The Triumphal Entry Listen Now ›
  33. Who Has Believed Our Report? Listen Now ›
  34. The Servant Leader Listen Now ›
  35. The Betrayal Listen Now ›
  36. I Am the Way Listen Now ›
  37. The Spirit of Truth Listen Now ›
  38. I Am the Vine Listen Now ›
  39. Father, Son, & Spirit Listen Now ›
  40. Christ’s High Priestly Prayer Listen Now ›
  41. The Arrest & Trial of Jesus Listen Now ›
  42. My Kingdom Is Not of This World Listen Now ›
  43. The Significance of Golgotha Listen Now ›
  44. Naked, Ashamed, Despised, & Rejected Listen Now ›
  45. Reconciling Accounts of the Resurrection Listen Now ›
  46. Peace Be With You Listen Now ›
  47. The Epilogue of John’s Gospel Listen Now ›
  48. Feed My Sheep Listen Now ›
  49. The Identity of the Beloved Disciple Listen Now ›
  50. The Incarnate Word Listen Now ›
  51. The ‘I Am’ Sayings of Jesus Listen Now ›
  52. The Messiah’s Mission Listen Now ›

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