Running head: BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY
Biblical Metanarrative Essay
Stephanie George
September 10, 2020
THEO-104: Intro to Theology Survey
Liberty University
Biblical Metanarrative Essay
Running head: BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY
Narratives are purposeful stories retelling the historical events of the
past that are intended to give meaning and direction for a given audience in
the present (Biblical Narrative, 2015). The Biblical narrative is God’s story, he
uses his words to create a specific story for all of mankind. There are 3 levels
of narrative when discussing the Scripture. The third level or top level is the
metanarrative. Like a worldview, a metanarrative gives meaning to life and
the individual events that take place in life. Specifically, it is the “big picture”
or all-encompassing theme that unites all smaller themes and individual
stories (GotQuestions.org, 2020). Only a superbeing can create something
out of nothing, that being is God. His words were given to us to give us the
ability to learn about him and his eternal plan for all of us. The bible consists
of four major plot movements, Creation, The Fall, Redemption, and
Restoration (The New Creation). It is through these plot movements that the
concepts of temptation and righteousness will be broken down and
explained.
Biblical Metanarrative
The Biblical metanarrative is an over-arching storyline the provides
meaning and purpose to all life events. Paul writes, “[God] made known to us
the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in
Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring
unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:9–10,
KJV). This passage provides the audience with an over-arching plan, a piece
of the metanarrative. Creation, The Fall, Redemption, and Restoration are the
Running head: BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY
four major plot lines evident within the Bible. God created the very first
atom, which the final result, from an orderly sequence, formed what we know
as our universe. Only an omnipotent creature could have conducted such a
miraculous orderly creation. This perfect creation would succumb to
disobedience and betrayal. Sin would consume God’s creation, causing a
catastrophic fall for all of mankind. God had a plan for redemption, his son,
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a new
heaven and a new earth. The reconstruction of our world would be the
beginning of the forgiveness for the sins committed and the pursuit in finding
eternal life again. Those who have come to know Christ recognize that this
grand narrative, God’s overarching story of redemption gives meaning and
purpose to the world, to history, to all of life, and to all of mankind.
Righteousness
Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly
used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and
affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we
call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true
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achieve righteousness through total faith and dependance upon Christ. Adam
and Eve were created in Righteousness. Created with the imagery as being
upright, sinless, and in right standing with God. These perfect individuals
created in image by God himself, had their position of righteousness
Running head: BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY
challenged. An evil being, a serpent, manipulated the first man and women
in connection to the validity of God’s word. Disobediently, Adam took the
righteousness that God gave him and exchanged it for sin and
unrighteousness, broken fellowship, shame, and judgement. Therefore, just
as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so
death spread to all men because all sinned (Romans 5:12, NIV). God then
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shadowed and overshined the disobedience executed by Adam. God is
asking you to trust him as the source and have faith that it will always be
enough. God made him who had no sin to be sin
[a]
for us, so that in him we
might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). The book of Pete
(3:13) expresses the belief that, according to his promise we are expecting
new heavens and earth, in which righteousness dwells. The new creation can
be viewed in a very different way. Many Scriptures clearly teach us that the
new creation is specific to the world around us. The new creation also creates
a means for Christians to become a new creation within themselves. Found
within the book of Ephesians (4:24), When an individual totally becomes one
with Christ, he is a new creation. God made a way for all of his children and
followers to enter his Kingdom and walk in a relationship with him. This
designated eternal entryway is referred to as the gift of his righteousness.
Receiving this gift makes us perfect in righteousness and enables us to draw
near to God. Completing the cycle of the four plot movements, ultimately
Running head: BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY
becoming a better Christian and a permanent follower of our Lord and savior,
and
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Temptation
The denotation of a trial in which man has a free choice of being
faithful or unfaithful to God is the meaning of temptation. Temptation is an
ever-present danger to the believer and to the cause of Christ in the world.
Yet, temptation also demonstrates that believers may have victory, both
positionally in Christ through His victory and in our own lives (Milton, 2019).
There are three supposed sources of temptation, the flesh, the world, and
the devil. All of which are obvious sources of temptation throughout the
scripture. The devil himself tempted the flesh as in Adam and Eve with the
world by using the forbidden fruit. The victory in the wilderness won by the
devil by his temptations was not only a sign of the reversal of Eden and the
failure by mankind within the wilderness, it is also the sign leading to
historical fall of mankind. This supporting the idea blaming temptation, and
temptation only as the sole cause of the fall of God’s perfect creation.
Deeming ourselves “hidden in Christ”, does not create an exemption from
te
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won by Christ secures righteousness for all human in the eyes of our Holy
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order to regain our redemption throughout Christianity, “For as in Adam all
die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive”. Within the restoration of the
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Running head: BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY
describes the Holy Spirit cleansing our souls and making us alive in a
spiritual aspect. Temptation plays a crucial part in the four plot movements.
As Christians, as well as, human beings it is important for us to remember
that temptation does not come from God, consequently, it comes from out
own sinful desires. Desires that have proven to possess life-altering and
world changing results and consequences. For just as through the
disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through
the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous (Romans
5:19).
Conclusion
Conclusively, temptation and righteousness go hand in hand
throughout the Scripture. God created human beings in his image. He
created moral boundaries that humans would be held accountable for. Earth
was created full of God’s peace, causing a cohesive existence. Temptation
created cosmic catastrophe, the rebellious choices of Adam and Eve resulted
in physical and spiritual deaths. God proves himself a forgiving being, one in
which
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personally comes to renew the world and restore his people. God promises to
renew the whole world and a create a magnificent future. God commands
Christ to be the judge of all sin and evil, additionally he will guide Christians
on a path consumed of righteousness and peace.
Running head: BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY
References
biblical narrative. (2015, March 3). A Radical Journey.
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d
i
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GotQuestions.org. (2020, March 6). What is a metanarrative?
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Milton, M. A. (2019, March 4). What Is Temptation in Christianity?
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hr
i
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om
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