Promise – Page 12 – The Gospel First

The Gospel for the City in Genesis 10-11

Genesis 10-11 show again the effects of the fall in the revolt of humankind against their Creator God. Here fallen mankind seeks to find security and peace through their united efforts in city building. Instead of scattering throughout the earth to fulfill the creation mandate, they build a tower to symbolize their united effort to develop human society their own way. Their common language, which is a gift of God designed to make possible God-centered community, is instead used in an attempt to secure their lives apart from God.

God confuses their language and scatters them in judgment. Yet, in the midst of that judgment there is grace. Hopefully, as humankind begins to experience the fragility of their idolatrous, self-made security, they may begin to seek the True Prince of Peace.

Acts 17:26-27 ²⁶ And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, ²⁷ that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him.

Humankind scattered in judgment and in grace awaits God’s redeeming intervention. That intervention is anticipated in the genealogy that leads to Abraham who will model the way of justification by faith.

The geographical and linguistic divisions of the human race are largely being erased today in a world where travel, commerce, and technology transfer people, products, and information across all boundaries. Also, institutions like the United Nations attempt to bring together this divided world, pursuing a Babel-like security. Cities often become, not the melting pots, but the stews, where these diverse people live in the same city but yet remain separate. Despite all the programs on multiculturalism and diversity, all human attempts to unify the nations that ignore the need to be first reconciled to the Creator God ultimately fail.

The way to re-unify the nations of the world is modeled in Abraham who exemplifies the way of justification by faith and whose descendant, Jesus, will eventually be the One who reconciles people to God and to each other.

Urban church planting has the unique opportunity and joy of experiencing the unity of the nations that only the gospel can bring. People who were formerly divided by economic, racial, and educational barriers now gather together in the gospel to worship Jesus Christ as Lord and King of all the nations. We are beginning to taste this at Grace Church of Philly (www.gracechurchphilly.org) and we long for more.

The Gospel for the City in Genesis 6-9

Genesis Six through Nine reveal the severe holiness of God and His particular mercy. Noah from the godly line of Seth finds favor with the Lord. He is called upon to become a deliverer in the midst of a terrible judgment. The method of salvation (i.e. the flood and ark) dictated by God was curious, if not laughable, in a world of violence, rebellion, and godlessness. Noah obediently fulfills his calling and also experiences God’s saving grace as God shuts him in the ark to protect him and then later remembers him to give him new life in a new world. An entire world perishes and a new world begins.

God in His grace establishes a covenant in which he promises the continuity of the world, despite its sin, until His purposes in redemption are accomplished. God also establishes the rule of civil law in society for the protection of life so that society has the possibility of redemption, if not self-destructing through the kind of violence that existed prior to the flood.

But, even the new world shows its flaws at the outset. The human savior, Noah, and his family reveal the effects of the fall. Though he and his family worship, they fail to serve God in perfect trust and covenant faithfulness. Noah ‘s story leaves us looking for that Deliverer who will not disappoint us – the Deliverer who will deal the final blow to evil and bring about a perfect world where the curse is gone forever.

Often urban life displays a similar disregard for God as did the world of Noah’s day, reflected in the violent crime that takes place. Today there is no less of a reason for God’s judgment on cities. One day at a Police Clergy meeting, the Captain of the 19^th Precinct commented on the percentage of decline in violent crime and murders. He then added, “But since the overall numbers are so large the percentage decrease is really insignificant.” Yes, there is enough violence taking place in urban centers that cry out for a similar flood-like judgment.

But God continues to keep his promise to Noah that he would sustain the created world until His redeeming purposes are accomplished. Meanwhile, urban church planting often happens in places that are less safe, but in desperate need of the gospel of God’s saving grace. The rescue takes place not from a devastating flood, but from the kingdom of Satan, sin, and death; the deliverer is not Noah, who would eventually disappoint us, but One called Jesus, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and now sitting at the right hand of His Father.