God's Homecoming: Redefining Christian Hope and the "Soul
This companion page unpacks a profound conversation with N.T. Wright on his book, "God's Homecoming." It invites a re-examination of core Christian beliefs, particularly our understanding of salvation and God's interaction with humanity.
This sermon challenges the common belief that Christianity is about going to heaven, arguing instead that its core is God coming to dwell with us and redeem all creation. It explores the implications for understanding the "soul," human identity, and the church's vocation.
Overview
This sermon, featuring an interview with N.T. Wright, opens by directly challenging the popular notion that Christianity's main purpose is for people to go to heaven after death. Instead, it posits that the true point of Christianity is for heaven to come to us, with God making His home among humanity and in His creation.
A significant theme explored is the reinterpretation of the word "soul" in biblical texts. Contrary to Platonic ideas of a disembodied entity, the sermon explains that in the New Testament, "soul" refers to the whole person—our entire being, physical and spiritual. This understanding supports a renewed emphasis on "whole person discipleship," acknowledging God's desire to redeem every aspect of human life and all of creation.
The conversation highlights how this perspective changes our view of God, emphasizing His profound intimacy and desire to dwell closely with us, seen in Jesus and through the Holy Spirit. It also reshapes our understanding of ourselves, as human beings called to be image-bearers and temples of the living God, which humbles and empowers us.
Ultimately, the sermon concludes by stressing the importance of grace and restoration. God's initiative liberates us to contribute to His work in the world without earning His favor. The interview closes with a powerful prayer for the church to embody unity and holiness, faithfully reflecting God's powerful yet gentle nature to a world in need.
Key points
- The core message of Christianity is not humans going to heaven, but heaven coming to dwell with humans.
- The biblical term "soul" (nephesh) refers to the whole person, not a disembodied Platonic entity.
- This understanding of God's dwelling with us implies a "whole person discipleship," encompassing physical, mental, and emotional health.
- God's purpose includes the restoration and redemption of all creation, not just human souls.
- The intimacy of God, evident in Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is both endearing and challenging.
- Christians are called to be temples of the living God and genuine image-bearers, responsible for stewarding the world.
- Grace enables believers to fulfill their vocation without putting God in debt, involving restoration and repentance for genuine human living.
In Rick Warren's words
“Grace enables us to be the human beings God wants us to be without any sense that we're putting God in our debt.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: Redefining Christianity's Core Message
- A. The common misconception: going to heaven when you die
- B. The actual point: heaven coming to us, God dwelling with humans
- II. The Journey and Implications of God's Dwelling
- A. A lifetime journey of understanding God's purpose to dwell with us
- B. The problem with reading the Bible through a "going to heaven" lens
- 1. Old Testament focus on race, land, family often misunderstood
- 2. New Testament's "kingdom of heaven" seen as a departure, not fulfillment
- C. Challenging Platonic ideas of the "soul"
- 1. "Soul" (nephesh) in the Bible means the whole person
- 2. Example of the rich fool (Luke 12)
- D. Renewed emphasis on whole-person discipleship and spirituality
- III. God's Purpose for All Creation
- A. Romans 8: The groaning of creation yearning for God's restoration
- B. All creation made by and for God, singing His worship
- C. Reinterpreting hymns: earth celebrating God's glory, not growing dim
- IV. What God's Homecoming Teaches Us
- A. About God: His intimacy and desire to live with us
- 1. The oscillation between a distant God and Platonism
- 2. Jesus as the revelation of God returning to Zion (Isaiah 40, 52)
- 3. God's weeping at the tomb of His friends as who God is
- 4. The Holy Spirit filling the church as God dwelling in humans (Ephesians 3)
- 5. The promise of God making His home with a person (John 14)
- 6. The Emmaus Road story (Luke 24) as an example
- B. About Ourselves: Our identity and vocation as image-bearers
- 1. Allegiance to Jesus validates our humanness
- 2. Called to be the temple of the living God
- 3. Our Christian neighbor as a holy object (C.S. Lewis)
- 4. Enabled to be genuine image-bearers, stewarding the world
- V. Grace and Restoration
- A. God's initiative in His coming and dwelling (all of grace)
- B. Grace enables genuine human beings for vocational contribution
- C. Restoration: God sorting out our "dirty, messed up, broken slates" before vocation
- D. The "embarrassing interval" between baptism and funeral (after you believe, virtue reborn)
- E. John 15: The vine and branches as a picture of living vocationally through grace
- VI. A Prayer and Hope for the Church
- A. The prayer: for the power of the spirit, new vision, vocation, and signs of hope
- B. To be fruit-bearing and the "planting of the Lord"
- C. The two great needs: unity and holiness
- 1. The disunity of the church and its impact on witness
- 2. Holiness as God making His home in us to reflect His glory
- 3. The challenge of pursuing unity and holiness together
- D. Embodying God's powerful yet gentle nature for the vulnerable (orphan, widow, stranger)
- E. Being vocal agents who live out God's vocation visibly for the world
- VII. Speed Round with Dr. Wright
- A. Book of the Bible to spend more time in: Job
- B. Life verse: 2 Corinthians 5:21 (misunderstood justification vs. embodying covenant faithfulness)
- C. Favorite hymn: "For All the Saints" (for its accurate eschatology)
- D. Last book that stuck: Daniel H. Hillel, "The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism"
- E. Preferred event: Opera
- F. Brings joy: Music (Beethoven string quartets, Sibelius symphonies)
- G. Biblical tea companion (besides Jesus): St. Paul
Scripture references
- Romans 8
- Luke 12
- Isaiah 40
- Isaiah 52
- John 14
- Ephesians 3
- Luke 24
- Psalm 91
- Ezekiel 8
- Ephesians 2
- Colossians
- Habakkuk 2
- Psalm 72
- Psalm 96
- Psalm 98
- John 15
- Psalm 80
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- 2 Corinthians 6
- Isaiah 11
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me.
2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
1 Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
1 O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
1 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
Insights
Christianity's point is not where we go after life, but where God comes now.
The soul refers to the whole person, not a disembodied entity.
God's purpose is to dwell with humanity and redeem all creation.
Questions & answers
What is the central argument of NT Wright's book "God's Homecoming," as discussed in the sermon?
The book argues that the primary point of Christianity is not for people to go to heaven when they die, but for heaven to come to earth, with God making His home with humanity and redeeming all creation.
How does the sermon redefine the biblical concept of "soul"?
The sermon clarifies that in the Bible, particularly the New Testament, the word "soul" (nephesh) refers to the whole person, including their physical being, rather than a disembodied Platonic spirit.
What implications does God's desire to dwell with us have for understanding ourselves?
It teaches that allegiance to Jesus validates our humanness, calling us to be God-bearers, genuine image-bearers, and temples of the Holy Spirit. This gives us a deep sense of awe about our own identity and a responsibility for the world.
What two key things does NT Wright pray for the church to embody in this age?
He prays for unity and holiness. He notes that unity is easy without caring for holiness, and holiness is easy without caring for unity, but the challenge and goal are to pursue them together.
What is the sermon's understanding of "grace" in the context of God's homecoming?
Grace is understood as God's initiative and action, enabling human beings to fulfill their God-given purpose without feeling they are putting God in their debt. It's a liberating concept that empowers genuine human living.
Why does the sermon emphasize the "groaning of creation" in Romans 8?
It highlights that God's plan of redemption extends beyond humanity to all creation, which yearns for restoration and liberation. This challenges the narrow view of salvation focused solely on individual souls going to heaven.
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