Redeemed, Elect, and Heirs

 God's mission is the expression of His eternal purpose for creation, especially for humanity. Since the fall of man, God has been working throughout history to redeem and restore the broken relationship between Himself and humanity. God's mission, or Missio Dei, is centered on bringing all things back into harmony with His will, and the Church is called to be the primary heir and collaborator in this divine mission.

The Church as the Redeemed
The Church is made up of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. Redemption is a central concept in the biblical narrative, where God rescues His people from the slavery of sin and death into the freedom of life in Christ. As the redeemed, members of the Church are called to live in a way that reflects this new reality. They are called to be light in a world of darkness, living according to the principles of the Kingdom of God and proclaiming the gospel of salvation to all people.

The Church as the Elect
The elect are those whom God has called and chosen to be part of His people. In Ephesians 1:4-5, Paul reminds us that God chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him. Election is not based on personal merit, but on God's sovereign grace. As the elect, Christians are summoned to a life of service and obedience to God, actively participating in the work of reconciliation and restoration that He began and will continue until the consummation of all things.

The Church as Heirs of God's Mission
God’s mission is entrusted to the Church. We are heirs of this mission not only in the sense that we are to continue Christ's work in the world, but also in the sense that we have received the responsibility to proclaim the Kingdom of God. The Church is called to be a sign, an instrument, and a foretaste of the Kingdom to come. This means that the Church must reflect God's love, justice, peace, and holiness in the world. Our mission is to live and proclaim the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord and that His Kingdom is now available to all who believe.

The Kingdom of God: What Is and What Is to Come
The Kingdom of God is a central concept in Jesus' ministry. It is both a present reality and a future hope. Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God at His first coming, bringing healing, deliverance, and salvation. The Kingdom is present wherever God's will is done, wherever justice, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit are manifested.

However, the Kingdom of God is also something that is yet to come in its fullness. The Church’s eschatological hope is that one day Christ will return to establish His Kingdom completely and definitively. On that day, all things will be restored, and God will be all in all. While we wait for this consummation, we are called to live as citizens of the Kingdom, anticipating its arrival through our lives and actions.

Conclusion
As the redeemed, the elect, and heirs of God’s mission, the Church has a monumental task: to actively participate in God's work in the world, to reflect the nature of His Kingdom, and to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of God has already begun, and the Church is called to be a living sign of this reality. As we live out this mission, we wait in hope for the full arrival of God’s Kingdom, where all creation will be renewed, and God will be glorified forever.