The Good Life – Sharing in Gods Restoration Task

What a wondrous and gracious plan to reconcile us who were the rebellious enemies of God back to our Father, restoring us as members of His family with all the rights and privileges of royalty!
Now that we have been saved from the sin that defiled us and separated us from God, what does the abundant and full Good Life that Jesus said He came to provide (John 10:10) consist of?
We have already seen this week that our life is lived in peace with God, absent of guilt, and free from sins power to keep us from living as He always designed us to live. But how does this happen?
First of all, just like our first parents in the Garden of Eden who walked with the Creator God daily in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8), we have an abiding sense within of the Gods Spirit, the very One who made it possible for us to share in the new life in Christ (Romans 6:4). Paul expressed his longing to live the Good Life this way:

“I want to know Christyes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.“
Philippians 3:10-12 (NIV)

The Good Life is not one as the cultures of this world describe it. In fact, what our culture describes as necessary is not at all what our hearts and spirits crave. The Good Life is one of intentional, worshipful, intimate, personal knowledge of God. This alone satisfies what we were made for.
However, keeping the Good Life of God just for ourselves is not all of Gods restoration plan. The very last words of Jesus before He left earth to return to heaven were for his Apostlesto wait.
They were to wait (and they did for 10 days) for a promised gift. What they received is the gift given to every believer in Jesus. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Rather than just being with us, He is in us, covering us, cleansing and empowering us, just as we see Him doing to those who waited on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2, especially verses 1-4).
But why this gift? It was certainly to empower us to live the Good Life always in His presence. But, according to Jesus, it was to empower us to take Good News (the Gospel) about the Good Life that He had purchased for all persons to the ends of the earth, telling and inviting others also to share in the Good Life.
Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have Heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:4-5, 8 NIV).
The Good Life is ours by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God. This life is not as good as it gets until, at our Lords command, we share that this Good Life is available to all persons by faith in Him!
Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

Explain the specific ways that the Good Life continually effects restoration after one has encountered Christ.
Describe how the Good Life is not meant to be just personal in its benefits, but how Jesus intends the Good News of its possibilities to be told to others that they might also enjoy the restoration and the Good Life in relationship with God.

Resources

Bible: A standard translation (New International Version)
Website: Bible Gateway

Web page: Dictionary of Bible Themes

File: Week 5 Readings on Restoration.docx