Definition:
The conjunction of God’s ordained ends and God’s appointed means. Promises and commands, grace and discipline, prayer and fulfillment are held together within God’s redemptive economy.
Three Diagnostic Criteria
- Does one side represent the goal, inheritance, or promised outcome?
- Does the other side represent the path, command, obedience, or discipline?
- Does Scripture present both the certainty of the result and the necessity of the pathway?
Means & Ends Tension Pairs:
- Cross ↔ Glory
- Suffering ↔ Reigning
- Death ↔ Life
- Losing Life ↔ Saving Life
- Humility ↔ Exaltation
- Discipline ↔ Holiness