The history of our salvation is marked by a feminine presence that responds actively and fruitfully to God's initiatives: first Israel, which is
presented throughout the Scriptures in feminine terms (as the daughter of Sion or, in those times when the prophets urge her to repentance, as a faithless wife); then Mary; and now the Church (the bride of Christ).
There are
hints throughout Scripture that the reason God created the world and the reason the church exists is to teach the angels something.
It is
used throughout Scripture as a full, complete, and detailed knowledge (Rom 3:20; 10:2; Eph 1:17; Php 1:9; Col 1:9 - 10; 2:2; 3:10; 1 Tim 2:4.
Yet although there are numerous calls
throughout Scripture for people to believe in Jesus for eternal life (John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:47; etc.), there is not only place in Scripture where people are invited to hope and pray to God for regeneration.
Repeatedly throughout Scripture, Israel is referred to as God's elect nation, His chosen people (cf. Deut 7:6 - 8; 10:14 - 15; Ps 33:12; 65:4; 106:5; Hag 2:23; Acts 13:17; Rom 9:11; 11:28).
However, I do think that there are genuinely consistent messages that flow in
streams throughout Scripture, that can not & should not be ignored.
Secondly, picking up on the latter point,
virginity throughout Scripture is an image of obedient, covenantal faithfulness between Israel and God, and between the Church and Christ; it is this fidelity that the virgin is called to embody in herself.
The Bible is clear about our responsibility to help foreigners, immigrants and visitors: Loving our neighbor, helping those in need and defending the powerless are constant
refrains throughout Scripture.
There are several texts
throughout Scripture which seem to indicate that God has specifically chosen or elected certain individuals before they were ever born.
No matter how «good» we think we are, none of our good works can cover up our sin problem, and that is the «soul» purpose of God's plan for
mankind throughout the scriptures.
As Christians, we often fall into the assumption or belief that God desires very much that we be comfortable,
when throughout Scripture, this idea is challenged again and again.
After all, the metaphors for God's love are
diverse throughout Scripture but I'm often reminded in these tender days just after giving birth and caring for a newborn that I'm part of that metaphor, too, with my labour and my pain, with my ferocious protectiveness and my consuming love.
This pattern reflects one of the most common
narratives throughout scripture — that of God using humans to be his hands and feet in accomplishing his purposes in this world.
The long - awaited salvation,
revealed throughout scripture, has to be reinterpreted in the light of the suffering Christ, and the heavenly voice confirms this: the Father tells us that when Jesus speaks of his suffering and death we should listen to him, for this too is part of God's master plan.
It is this: The Powers, which are referred to in many different
ways throughout the Scriptures, are the spirituality of institutions, the «within» of corporate structures and systems, the inner essence of outer organizations of power (p. 5, 107).
Doing these things are more than just okay; this is a beautifully designed gift of a parent - child bond that is repeatedly
woven throughout Scripture to illustrate God's love for us.
This pattern we
see throughout Scripture is what theologians label «word - act revelation,» which basically means God's words interpret God's actions.