# “God with man” by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2012/05/17/god-with-man-by-kevin-deyoung-and-greg-gilbert/
- Published: 2012-05-17T13:30:18-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“The beginning of the biblical story is about God with man. It is only secondarily
about the perfect world they share. Likewise the end of the biblical story is about
God with man.

It is only secondarily about the renewed paradise in their midst. Heaven shines 
bright because the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb (Rev. 21:
23; 22:5). If we want people to know heaven, we’ll do what we can to get them to
know God.

We must never forget that if any are to enjoy cosmic re-creation, they must first
experience personal salvation. Romans 8 must be read more carefully. Paul does not
say individuals will be redeemed as the whole universe is redeemed. He says the 
opposite.

Creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God, and creation will be
set free from its bondage to corruption only as it is carried along in the freedom
of the glory of the children of God (Rom. 8:19, 21).

Universal shalom will come, but personal redemption comes first—first in temporal
sequence, first in theological causality, and first in missions priority.

God will make all things new, but our job in the world is to help all peoples find
a new relationship with God. We are not called to bring a broken planet back to 
its created glory. But we are to call broken people back to their Creator.”

–Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert, [_What is the Mission of the Church?_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433526905?tag=toletaupanre-20)(
Wheaton: Crossway, 2011), 247-248.

More quotes from [Greg Gilbert](https://tollelege.net/category/greg-gilbert/) · 
More on [Missions](https://tollelege.net/category/missions/)

## Comments

### By: Levi Baker

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2012/05/17/god-with-man-by-kevin-deyoung-and-greg-gilbert/comment-page-1/#comment-5327
- Published: 2012-05-23T15:19:07-05:00

Nick,
 Fruitful blog. I heard from Mike Passaro that you have a system for keeping
track of what you read that you share with people. Would you be willing to share
that with me? I have been challenged by your blog to be more disciplined in reading
and am realizing that I need some kind of system.

Blessings,
 Levi

### By: tollelege

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2012/05/17/god-with-man-by-kevin-deyoung-and-greg-gilbert/comment-page-1/#comment-5337
- Published: 2012-05-27T01:07:27-05:00

Levi,

I just shot you an email.

Cheers,

–Nick