Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

186 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

of him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

B. The Church is central in understanding God’s divine covenant of redemption.

Gal. 3.8-9 – And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 1. The promise of Abraham, Gen. 12.1-3 – Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 2. The promise and plan in the history of Israel, Heb. 1.1-3 – Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 3. The incarnation, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus as revelation to and redemption of the universe, John 1.14-18 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. 4. The coming of the Spirit and the birth of the Church, Acts 2.16-21 (cf. Acts 2.14-21 – But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all