One Story in Five Acts

Historically, the books of the Bible were written over a period of more than a thousand years. They were not written at one time or place. Instead, they were written in three different languages with dozens of authors in different cultures and situations. When we read the books in their historical and cultural contexts, we find a lot of nuances and messages aimed at specific situations and audiences.

However, when we step back and read the whole Bible as Christian Scripture, we see an overarching story that stretches from the first creation to the new creation. The story of history includes the writing of Genesis to the writing of Revelation in the past. But the story within the Bible takes us from God to the end of time. We are part of that story.

In his overview of this lesson, Dr. Eric Hallett talks about what he calls a missional hermeneutic. A hermeneutic is a set of lenses through which we look at something. He calls it a map. A hermeneutic tells us how to get around a text. What is the climax of the story? Is there a turning point in the story? Who is the hero of the story? The same text – and especially a massive collection of texts like the Bible – can be read in different ways. An atheist will read the storyline differently. 

Dr. Hallett gives us a sense of a single coherent story in the Bible with five acts. God is the main character. The climax comes with Christ’s death and resurrection, and the ultimate resolution of the story comes with the new creation.

Act 1: Creation

In the opening act of the drama of salvation begins with creation. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). At the same time, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). With one divine brushstroke, God painted the cosmos into existence. He crafted the heavens, the earth, and every living creature. 

This act sets the stage for God’s mission, for at every stage of creation, Genesis tells us that what God created was good (e.g., Gen. 1:31). This is essential background to the story as it unfolded. It is a benchmark for a world that needs to be restored. We understand the need for a mission when we realize what we have lost and what God wants to restore for us again.

God’s mission begins with an understanding of the harmonious relationship between the Creator, creation, and humankind that once was and that God is making possible again through Christ.

Act 2: The Fall

The story takes a dark turn in the second act, when the once harmonious relationship is broken. Every story involves a problem to be solved, and the story of salvation is no different. The “Fall” of Adam and Eve marks the tragic moment when humanity severs its perfect relationship with God. Adam and Eve as our representatives are tempted to rule the creation part from God. The consequences ripple through creation, introducing sin, death, brokenness, and chaos.

This is the problem that God solves in the story of salvation. This is the mission of God, the missio Dei, to seek and save that which is lost. Rather than abandoning the creation to its fate, God initiates a redemptive mission to restore the shattered harmony. God’s mission is the relentless pursuit of reconciliation.

In the midst of humanity’s rebellion, God doesn’t withdraw. Instead, he actively seeks out Adam and Eve. He covers their nakedness in garments of grace. The Fall is the context against which God's redeeming mission takes place.

Act 3: Christ

The human story reaches its climax as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, takes on our humanity in the incarnation. The divine Word becomes flesh and lives among us (John 1:14). Humanity cannot reach up to God so God reaches down to us. God becomes one of us.

Jesus is God’s love incarnate on the earth. Jesus preaches the good news, the gospel, that the rule of God is returning to the earth, the kingdom of God. All we must do is change our direction, put our trust in what God is doing through Jesus, and rely on the Holy Spirit for power to change. Jesus’ earthly ministry is the embodiment of restoration on every level. He physically heals. He spiritually liberates those enslaved to demons. He restores broken relationships on an individual and social level.

The pinnacle of Christ's mission unfolds at the cross, where divine love and justice converge. The crucifixion is the epicenter of God's redemptive mission, breaking the chains of sin and opening the door to reconciliation. The resurrection pronounces that the work is done. Eternal life is once again possible. Christ’s sacrifice and victorious resurrection reverberate throughout the creation, bringing hope for redemption.

Act 4: The Church

As Act 4 dawns, the spotlight shifts to the Holy Spirit in the church. The church is the primary ambassador through which the message of good news will sound throughout the earth. The church is not a mere spectator but an active participant in God's mission. Pentecost becomes a pivotal scene, as the Holy Spirit empowers the disciples to carry forward the missional torch ignited by Christ.

As we have seen, God’s mission is not limited to the church, however. His mission extends beyond the walls of sanctuaries and into the streets, into workplaces and communities. The church doesn’t exist for its own sake but as an instrument in God’s hands, part of the ongoing story of redemption played out in the world.

Mission is not an extracurricular activity for the church. Rather, the church is inherently missional. It is called to embody the love and grace of Christ in every context. A missional lens invites believers to view their vocations, relationships, and daily lives as integral to God’s mission.

Act 5: The New Creation

We are currently in Act 4, but we long for Act 5 in anticipation of the new creation. With the new creation, God’s mission will find its ultimate consummation. A missional hermeneutic invites us to envision a future where God’s redemptive work reaches its fulfillment. The Book of Revelation paints a vivid picture of a new heaven and a new earth, where God’s dwelling is on earth among the redeemed.

The new creation is not a mere restoration of the original Eden. It goes beyond Eden. It is a cosmic renewal where God’s reign is fully realized on the earth. Every tear is wiped away, every broken relationship restored, and every element of creation redeemed.

So we live on now in the tension between the “already” and the “not yet” of God's mission. Christ has made the definitive move in salvation already. We are simply waiting for it to fully play itself out. In the meantime, we are agents of God's mission. We are called to bear witness to the anticipated new creation. We are called to live in a way that reflects the values and realities of the Kingdom.