The History of Redemption: Recent Episodes
John Knox Institute
The lectures in this course focus on the unfolding of the history of redemption as revealed in the Old and New Testaments.
God’s promise unfolds through many twists and turns, revealing bright revelations of God’s glory and his plan of redemption.
God condescends to call Abraham out of idolatry and into the way of faith and obedience in order to dispense gospel blessings to all nations.
God promises of deliverance endure to the very end and train his Old Testament people to yet hope in the even greater promises to be fulfilled in the coming of the promised Messiah.
The Lord reveals himself as the God who saves his people in order that he might dwell in their midst—in this world and the world to come.
The whole Bible reveals the Lord Jesus Christ and the message of salvation in the gospel of his grace. We trace the unfolding of this revelation of God in Christ throughout the stages of the history of redemption found in the Old and New Testaments.
In the work of creation, God lays the foundation for the revelation of himself and prepares us for the greater glory of the new creation in Christ.
God provides revelations of his glory in Christ in unexpected places—outside the lineage of Abraham.
God reveals his plan of redemption by delivering his people from bondage and displaying his glory to them—and through them.
God gives his law to his chosen and redeemed people to reveal his own character, to bring them under his rule and to inform them how to live in holiness according to his will.
God’s people forfeited by their sin all rights to approach God’s Holy dwelling place, except through the blood of Christ’s sacrifice.
God dwells among his people, but he can only be approached through an appointed high priest who offers an acceptable sacrifice for sin.
God redeems his people in order to bring them to the promised land of his heavenly inheritance, where he will dwell with them for all of eternity.
David’s future Son will be greater than David, as the King of kings, and his kingdom will be an eternal kingdom.
God provides his church with a permanent book of inspired songs in which we sing to Christ, of Christ and with Christ.
God establishes a permanent dwelling place among his people in the Promised Land, thereby pointing forward to the coming of Christ and his presence with his people in time and eternity.
God raised up prophets to pronounce judgment and proclaim salvation to his disobedient people.
After the kingdom divides, both Israel and Judah turn away from God’s covenant to idolatry, and God sets before them the path to blessings and curses.
God’s people learn that rebelling against him and breaking his covenant results in the mercy of chastening to train them in his ways and to turn them back to himself.
God displays the fullest and final revelation of his glory in sending his Son into the world.
God reveals his glory to men and angels through the triumphant resurrection of Christ, through which he secures the promised redemption of his people.
The ascended Christ pours out his Spirit upon his people, and the Spirit glorifies the Son, taking the things of Christ to show them to his people.
The Church is built on Jesus Christ, the chief corner stone, as a habitation of God through which he magnifies his glory to the whole world.
God magnifies the Savior by revealing that all the benefits of salvation come through the believer’s union with Christ.
God applies Christ’s completed work of redemption in history to every individual believer throughout time.
God calls his Church to proclaim his gospel to every tribe, tongue and nation, thereby displaying the glory of God through redemption in Christ and its power to bring many throughout the world to worship him.
The culmination of history, like its inception, sets forth the glory of God in Christ, which is magnified through the consummation on the Last Day.