Lifted Veil

This movie looks interesting.

Link: http://www.withgodonourside.com/index.html

“We as Evangelicals have endorsed an Israeli domestic policy that has placed over 3 million people under military occupation and has created the largest refuge population in the entire world. And you have to ask yourself, “Why is this defended by the Christian church? How is it that we don’t see the suffering of so many people?”  (From the Trailer.)

“This film demonstrates that there is a biblical alternative for Christians who want to love and support the people of Israel, a theology that doesn’t favor one people group over another but instead promotes peace and reconciliation for both Jews and Palestinians.” (From the web site.)

Although I have never been one to get caught up in the details of end times prophesies or Israeli/Palestinian politics, in light of the Ephesians studies I’ve been looking at recently I do find the implications of Christian Zionism disturbing. Especially the branches that are actively against their Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ for simply living in their own homes.

The Christian Church aught to embrace the work of Jesus and the teaching of Paul in the New Testament:- we are to rejoice over the ‘one new man’ created in Christ, that Christ has destroyed the barrier of the law that once defined the nation of Israel as a special nation before God, there is no longer “Jew or Greeks” but are all one in Christ, and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

^“11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)—¹²remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

¹⁴For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,¹⁶and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,”           Ephesians 2:11-19

^“27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  Galatians 3:27-29

“¹²The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹³For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

“There have been several UN Resolutions dealing with the Israeli / Palestinian issue. The one we would like to highlight is UN Resolution 242, which was first adapted in 1967 after the 1967 war

• Full Israeli Withdraw from lands occupied in recent conlficts.
• Full recognition from Arab states of the right for Israel to exist.
• Resolution and/or compensation for Palestinians refugees affected by the displacement from war.

The resolution cites the 4th Geneva Convention, article 49. The responsibilities of an occupying power (Israel) have toward peoples living under occupation. The Geneva Convention prohibits the transfer of the occupying powers population into areas that it has occupied.” (From the web site.)

I guess it goes to show all bad teaching ultimately hurts people.  In this case it hurts our brothers and sisters in Christ seeking to live peacefully, it actively promotes the violation of human rights under the UN resolutions and Geneva convention, and also divides the Church unnecessarily.

5 Reasons why community is so important in the Christian life.

(I’m currently working through Ephesians and also am helping lead the community teams ministry of our church this year. These points come out of some considerations in working through those subjects. )

1. Individual growth is a community project. Our growth comes through speaking the truth in love, supporting each other, and building each other up in dependence upon Christ.

“15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Eph 4:15-16

2. Loving life-on-life interaction within community is the way Christian’s learn together and comprehend the love of Christ.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” Eph 4:17b-18

3. We are called to receive the filling of the Spirit as a community through displaying a Christ-like pleasantness to our fellow believers, speaking true words of encouragement, with a praising heart, and thankful attitude.

“Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,” Eph 5:18b-19

“21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Eph 2:21-22.

“15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Col 3:15-16

4. God’s mission is achieved through the witness of community love, fellowship and prayer.

34″A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:24-25

“19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,” Ephesians 6:19

5. In our life-on-life relationships within the church we are called to “be patient, bearing with one another in love” and “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4: 2-3.

Some other bigger picture points:

The church is being built together as a holy temple for the dwelling of God by His Spirit.

21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:21-22
The church is God’s chosen means of displaying His glory through Christ (our head) and His body (the church).

The church is God’s chosen means of displaying His glory through Christ (our head) and His body (the church).

“22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Eph 1:22-23

“10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10
“10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,” Ephesians 3:10

The church exists and grows through life-on-life relationships in community.

15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Eph 4:15-16

To Australian and New Zealand Lovers of Great Theology and Christian Books,

I’m kicking off New Covenant Media (Australia) and am offering a special discounted rate for November.  (Prices are also low at the moment owing to the favorable exchange rate)

Please refer to the book list and prices .

For information on the books see http://www.newcovenantmedia.com (remember that is a US site with US$ prices - but a good source of info on the books). Please email me your request - my email is on the book list.

Also, I still have ESV Study Bibles (Hardcover) left from my bulk order from Crossway - AU$50 each.

And the Mick Porter and Steve Wilson DVD, ‘A Question of Mercy’, is discounted to $10 each at present.

Price assumes pickup in Brisbane - happy to post it to you but you’ll have to add the cost of postage from Brisbane.

Preferred payment via direct deposit.  3% surcharge for credit card payments.

Grace,

Shane.

Sanctification by Grace
or . . . How to Sweat for Jesus with Gospel Power
(Series: Doctrines that make a difference)
Overhead (pdf) (ppt)

What Does Sin Do? (Series: Whiter than Snow)
Overhead (pdf) (ppt)

New Covenant Privileges. (Series: Christ’s Glorious Covenant)

New Covenant Power. (Series: Christ’s Glorious Covenant)

Notes / Overheads for Christ’s Glorious Covenant Series

” 1. Using the Mosaic covenant as though it is the covenant between you and God.

2. Attempting to be justified by one’s own works.

3. Attempting to be sanctified by one’s own works

Continue Reading »

I showed this to my girls.  Melanie said, “Is that what the new world is going to be like? With everybody happy everywhere?” Encouraging insight.

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

I find these videos compelling and disturbing on a number of levels.  To name a few:

1.  Reminds me of the brokenness all around me I almost never see but am called to bring the healing of Jesus to.
2.  Helps me enter into a longing for the return of Jesus and the redemption and restoration he brings in my resurrection and that of His world (Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 15).
3. I hear the sentiments of “go and do likewise” echoed throughout (Luke 10:37).
4. Makes me thankful for the police, for God’s servant appointed to do me good (Romans 13:4), and a country where they are a positive force.
5.  Helps me see the ugliness of sin and makes me appreciative to Jesus for the sin he had to endure- afflicted upon him in his life and what he bore upon himself on the cross.
6. I’m reminded of the call to suffer. That as part of His body - the church - I am still filling up “what is lacking in Christ’s sufferings” (Colossians 1:24).
7.  Helps me rejoice at Jesus, the ultimate minister of God for our good, the perfect and final harbinger of justice.

At the wedding reception of Deborah Lovely and Josh Acason I was asked to deliver the toast to the parents of the bride.

Most who know Deborah Lovely know her as a successful Australian weightlifting champion athlete.  To me she is a wonderful sister in the Lord and close to a real sisters.  And although an Olympic weightlifter I can boast of beating her in our one and only arm-wrestle - it was quite some time back and I think she was nine years old at the time (and it wasn’t an easy victory even then).  And “no”, I won’t participate in a re-match.

I didn’t grow up in a Christian home and I was taken into the Lovely family in my late teens after I had left home.  And although I was a Christian, I was spiraling downwards in so many ways and there received the real help and guidance I needed at the time.

In many respects Bruce and Ainslie are a spiritual mother and father to me in the Lord.  And much of what I learned and saw while living with them I seek to put into practice today in my own family.

And thank you also to Daniel, David, Deborah, Esther and Rebekah for putting up with me over that time.  (To put it in perspective for those that know the Lovelys, when I moved in Rebekah was still in nappies, some of which I personally changed!).

While fighting back tears, here is what I said in my toast to Bruce and Ainslie:

—

I met Bruce and Ainslie almost 20* years ago now when I was a mess and needed help. They opened up their hearts and home to me and helped me get settled and focused and got me back on track to get my degree.

I became an adopted son and was welcomed by the whole family and lived with them for quite some time. And I love them all very much.

Joshua, as fellow adopted son into the Lovely family, we have in common the enjoyment of their love and welcome and I know you will enjoy many years of blessing from being a part of the family.

Bruce and Ainslie are a blessing to others. They exemplify the principle of the overflow of blessing.  As they walk with Jesus and receive blessing from him it doesn’t stop with them but overflows in love. They are always helping others.

2 Scriptures come to mind.

• In Proverbs 11 it says “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices”. The reason is God’s blessing doesn’t stop with them but flows out to those around them –> the principle of overflow of blessing.
• And Paul writing to the Corinthians speaks of “the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” and they “gave even beyond their ability”. (2 Cor 8:2)

Bruce and Ainslie are like that!  For better or for worse they not only stuck together but beyond that sought to love and bless others.

They set before me a wonderful example. In good times and in hard times, and I know I was the cause of some of those hard times, they found ways to help those that needed it.

I’ll say two things in this regard.

Firstly, to Bruce and Ainslie, thank you! Thank you for all your love and help. And I know I speak not only for myself but speak also for the many that are here that have received help from you when they needed it. Thank you.

Secondly, I encourage you Deborah and Joshua to “go and do likewise”. Once you’ve consolidated your marriage and are ready to move to the next level of marraige enrichment, open up your home, your hearts and your lives to those that can benefit from your strength.  Reach out to those you can encourage and help and bless.

Proverbs 11 also says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (from Prov 11:25).  And Paul encourages us to “help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35).

After living with the Lovely’s, the goal of achieving “Marital Bliss” (often the highest goal by the World’s standards) seems shallow in light of the richer example of “Marital Bless” – Marital Blessing overflowing in love to help others - that was set before me.

Please stand and join me in raising your glasses to Bruce and Ainslie.

—

“*Any* sermon that fails to impress upon its hearers the centrality of Christ to *any* given passage, including those with imperatives, is inherently joyless and legalistic.  In *any* homiletic consideration of an imperative, the Christological-eschatological indicative *must* always be in play.”  Chad Richard Bresson

“Stir up and strengthen yourself to perform the duties of holiness by a firm persuasion of your enjoyment of Jesus Christ, and all spiritual and everlasting benefits through him.” Walter Marshall.

“By nature, you are completely addicted to this legal method of salvation. Even after you become a Christian by believing the gospel, your heart is still addicted to salvation by works. In your heart you still want to make the duties of the law come before the comforts of the gospel…You find it hard to believe that you should get any blessing before you work for it…This is the mindset you tend to fall into: You sincerely do want to obey the law of God. Therefore, to make sure you obey the law of God you make all of God’s blessings depend upon how well you keep his law…Some preachers even tell you that you had better not enjoy the blessings of the gospel! They tell you to diligently obey the law first, and that only by doing this will you will be safe and happy before God. Just keep in mind, however, that if you go this route, you will never enjoy your salvation for as long as you live in this world.” Walter Marshall

“There is such a thing as sanctification by vinegar. It makes a man accurate and hard. When people come being tempted by sin, broken by it, ashamed to confess the mess they made, it is not a Calvinistic pastor who has been sanctified by vinegar they need, but a pastor who has been mastered by the unconditional grace of God, and from whom iron clad orthodoxy has been torn away and the whole armor of a gracious God has been applied; the armor of him who would not break the bruised reed or quench the dimly burning wick.” Alexander Whyte.

Alexander Whyte speaking on John 15: “We receive all our holiness of heart, as well as all our peace of conscience, out of Christ’s fullness of both these things. Our holinesss of heart is a thing already prepared for us and laid up for us in Christ. And thus, even as we are justified by a righteousness that is first wrought out for us by Christ, and which is, from Christ, imputed to us; even so, we are sanctified by a holiness that is first prepared for us in Christ, and is, then, imparted to us out of Christ’s fulness. Every atom of our soul-sanctifying holiness is as truly, and as wholly, derived from Christ as every atom of our conscience-justifying righteousness. . . Many serious-minded men take an infinitude of pains to produce a true holiness for themselves out of their own corrupt hearts; squeezing, all the time, oil out of a flint. Whereas, the true way, and the only possible way for them to get the mastery over the indwelling sin is by receiving into their hearts a new spiritual nature out of the fulness of that new spiritual nature that is in Christ.” (The Spiritual Life, p 146).

“The means or instruments by which the Spirit of God accomplishes our union with Christ, and our fellowship with Him in all holiness, are the gospel, by which Christ enters into our hearts to work faith in us, and faith, by which we actually receive Christ Himself, with all His fullness, into our hearts. And this faith is a grace of the Spirit, by which we heartily believe the gospel and also believe on Christ as He is revealed and freely promised to us in this, for all His salvation.” Walter Marshall

“I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Vine Dresser. Abide in Me, and I in you. For without me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15).

There are a few more things to add to my ‘Gospel Sanctification’ series.  First, I’ll close off my response to an objection I received and later continue with a few more thoughts on the subject.

Here are the first two responses to an objection:
Gospel Sanctification 7 - Response to Objection, Part 1 - General Comments
Gospel Sanctification 8 - Response to Objection, Part 2 - Specific Reply  

Closing Reply to Objection

Pastorally, here’s a key area where these matters become important:  When a believer has sinned away all their spiritual strength, and is sorry, sad, despairing and demotivated; how are you going to counsel them?

a) “Do your duty, it’s God’s command.  We have church on Sunday, a prayer meeting on Wednesday, and an outreach on Friday.   You’ve let yourself and God down in all these areas so you really should be there.” Or,

b) “Receive afresh the comforts of the Gospel.  You’re in Christ and that won’t change.   Pour out your sorrow before God and take your sick heart to the great physician, Jesus Christ, who is the only one that can bring any help and healing to your struggles.   Return to Christ, seek him, rest in his grace.  And once refreshed you’ll find a fresh wellspring of love for Him which will overflow in unconstrained and joyous obedience.”   (And you might at this point add, if you must,  “And I think it would help if you came to church on Sunday, and . . . .”).

The main thing I’m concerned for pastorally, in this area, is that our people know that our Lord comes to us at all times with both a Sceptre in one hand and a Pardon in the other.  If we ever focus on one of these truths to the neglect of the other we fall into either antinomianism or legalism.  

Additionally, there is a logical priority to consider.  It is firstly taking a good look at the terms of the Pardon that secondly enables us to rejoice in, and honor, the Sceptre. Otherwise, the Sceptre brings a sense of fear and condemnation to the believer whose eyes have been opened to their sin. 

I hope these last few posts on Gospel Sanctification clarifies where I am coming from.

Shane.

The 2007 revision of the ESV has made a number of minor revisions to the 2001 edition.  One notable change is . . .

2001 ESV - Gen 30:35
But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in charge of his sons.

2007 ESV - Gen 30:35
But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons. 

The latter translation is to be preferred as we now know Laban only entrusted minor reponsibilities to the spotted goats.  It was the unblemished turtle doves that were actually put in charge of his sons.

Shane.

Wow!  This looks great.  And a special deal for ‘friends of Acts29′:  http://www.esvstudybible.org/ministries/8sb29

Shane Becker.

Dear friends,

Introducing NewCovenantTheology.org. - my latest team project.  I’ve set it up and have invited a number of key New Covenant Theology (NCT) representatives to be added as editors to the list of contributors.

Goal:  An NCT hub to act as a portal to key NCT information and sites.  Continue Reading »

Here is the audio and associated notes from the Think Tank in New York.

To download any files right click on the associated text and select ‘Save Target As . . .’

Session 1 NCT Journey (Joe Krygier)
  Part 1 of 1

Session 2  Holy Spirit Dynamics in the New Covenant Community
(Moe Bergeron)
  Part 1 of 3
  Part 2 of 3
  Part 3 of 3 
 
  Notes

Session 3 A Re-examination of Atonement in the New Covenant
(Reid Ferguson)
  Part 1 of 2
  Part 2 of 2

  Notes

Session 4  Christ as a Covenant for the People (Chad Bresson)
  Part 1 of 2
  Part 2 of 2

  Notes

Session 5 A New Covenant Approach to Biblical Counseling (Joe Krygier)
  Part 1 of 1

  Notes

Session 6  The Future of NCT (Ed Trefzger)
  Part 1 of 1

Master Files:  http://www.fbceny.org/audio/cherith/

“Hi Shane, I’m thankful that the Lord has given us many powerful motives in the form of doctrinal truths (indicatives) as reasons why we should obey Him. However, would you agree that the Bible uses an indicative to motivate only some imperatives? But, other imperatives are given with no motives, just sheer duty?Do you believe it’s OK to obey God out of duty, with no conscious motive? (No, that’s not Phariseeism or legalism. Christ rebuked the Pharisees for obeying from sinful motives, not NO motives.)  Can I suggest that much if not most of our obedience is without conscious motives? Every day we obey our Lord from disciplined habits of godliness. And, you know what? That’s not a sin.  Sure, I prefer to stop and think about why I should obey.  But, we often don’t have time to think.  And, God accepts our obedience in Christ, whether from conscious motives or no motives. . .”

This post is a continued response which started by making some general comments to clarify what I believe (last post).  In this post I will interact specifically with the above objection. Continue Reading »

“Hi Shane, I’m thankful that the Lord has given us many powerful motives in the form of doctrinal truths (indicatives) as reasons why we should obey Him.However, would you agree that the Bible uses an indicative to motivate only some imperatives? But, other imperatives are given with no motives, just sheer duty?

Do you believe it’s OK to obey God out of duty, with no conscious motive? (No, that’s not Phariseeism or legalism. Christ rebuked the Pharisees for obeying from sinful motives, not NO motives.)

Can I suggest that much if not most of our obedience is without conscious motives? Every day we obey our Lord from disciplined habits of godliness. And, you know what? That’s not a sin.

Sure, I prefer to stop and think about why I should obey. But, we often don’t have time to think. And, God accepts our obedience in Christ, whether from conscious motives or no motives. . .”

I’ll respond by making some general comments to clarify what I believe (this post) and then interact specifically with the above objection (next post).  Continue Reading »

New Covenant Person - Joe KrygierNew Covenant Person - Joe Krygier

New Covenant Power - Shane BeckerNew Covenant Power - Shane Becker

“The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One. While he looks at Christ, the very things he has so long been trying to do will be getting done within him. It will be God working in him to will and to do.”
A.W. Tozer from his ‘Pursuit of God’.

From Thomas Brooks. . .
 
“Jacob’s meeting with Rachel, and enjoying of Rachel, make his hard service to be easy and delightful to him; and will not the soul’s enjoyment of God, and meeting with God, render his service to be much more easy and delightful?”
 
“Oh, ‘none but Christ, none but Christ’.  Oh my prayers are not Christ, my hearing is not Christ, my fasting is not Christ. Oh! one smile of Christ, one glimpse of Christ, one good word from Christ, one nod of love from Christ in the day of trouble and darkness, will more revive and refresh the soul than all your former services, in which your souls rested, as if they were the bosom of Christ, which should be the only centre of our souls.  Christ is the crown of crowns, the glory of glories, and the heaven of heavens.”

“So poor souls that see not the excellency of that resting-place that God has appointed for their souls to lie down in, they wander from mountain to hill, from one duty to another, and here they will rest and there they will rest: but souls that see the excellency of that resting-place that God has provided for them, they will say, Farewell prayer, farewell hearing, farewell fasting. I will no more rest in you, but now I will rest only in the bosom of Christ, the love of Christ, the righteousness of Christ.”
 
“God never gave a believer a new heart that it should always lie a-bleeding, and that it should always be rent and torn in pieces with discouragements.”
 
“A sheep may often slip into a slough, as well as a swine. . . there is a great difference between a sheep that by weakness falls into the mire, and a swine that delights to wallow in the mire. “

The following is an objection I received to some of the tenents of ‘Gospel Sanctification’ that I’ve been espousing.  Although I disagree with these objections they are well stated, come from a sincere brother, and represent the very issues I personally struggled with for some time. So here it is as I received it:

- - - -

Hi Shane,

I’m thankful that the Lord has given us many powerful motives in the form of doctrinal truths (indicatives) as reasons why we should obey Him.

However, would you agree that the Bible uses an indicative to motivate only some imperatives? But, other imperatives are given with no motives, just sheer duty?

Do you believe it’s OK to obey God out of duty, with no conscious motive? (No, that’s not “Phariseeism” or “legalism.” Christ rebuked the Pharisees for obeying from sinful motives, not NO motives.)

Can I suggest that much if not most of our obedience is without conscious motives? Every day we obey our Lord from disciplined habits of godliness. And, you know what? That’s not a sin.

Sure, I prefer to stop and think about why I should obey. But, we often don’t have time to think. And, God accepts our obedience in Christ, whether from conscious motives or no motives.

- - - - 

I’ll give my response to these challenges over my next few posts.

Yours in Christ-

Shane.

Applying the truths of Gospel Sanctification to Repentance means maintaining a deeply sorrowful sense of indwelling personal sin while also rejoicing in the present reality of the full and free forgiveness in Jesus Christ, looking forward with expectation to the final delivery ‘from this body of death’.

“. . . God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.” Rom 2:4

A high view of our Holy God mixed with a sorrow over our own personal sin leads to a treasuring of Jesus Christ and complete surrender to His wondrous, gracious and extensive Gospel promises, and gift of Himself, as the only way to return us to the embrace of our loving heavenly Father.

Repentance therefore ought to be coupled with a relishing of the full & free gospel promises of love, forgiveness, acceptance, justification and of union with Christ Himself. Otherwise, repentance can become a defeated and mournful wallowing in the very slough we are being saved from rather than a turning from it and glorying in the eternal happy state we are being saved to. Thus even your repentance ought to be to the heart-felt praise and glory of God!
Although we are miserable creatures, of ourselves, we don’t wallow in defeat or remain self-focused but rather look to God, with thankful heart, for the provision of a solution in Jesus Christ.  True repentance leads to Christ-exultation:

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Rom 7:23-25

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” 1 Tim 1:15-17

Our repentance must not be characterised by wallowing or self-focus because, ” . . . whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.” Phil 4:8

When you are convicted over sin, don’t wallow in defeat, but simply confess your sin and weakness to God, thank Him that even in this Christ is sufficient to cover your sin and present you faultless before the throne of grace, and He is the one that will bring deliverance from the very sin you struggle with.  He loves you anyway and always - thank and praise him for it.  And in this you will glorify God in your repentance.

Is your repentance done to the heartfelt praise and glory of God? 

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Cor 10:31-32

At one point I came to understand the need for the ministry of grace to strengthen believers.  I struggled knowing exactly how or where the preaching of commandments came into things.  I was challenged by a legalist to explain why we can’t simply take an ‘imperative’ text and preach it, by which he meant rebuke believers for their lack of faithfulness and exhort them to obedience ( i.e. club believers with the commands). After all, it’s in the Bible, we need to hear it, and be exhorted to obey, right?  It took quite a while for me to figure out what was actually wrong with what he was saying (and doing).

I came to realise that an assumption was brought to the commands by the legalist that forgets that the indelible mark of a Christian is he “loves to keep God’s commandments because those commandments are no longer grievous” ( I John 5:1-3). 

The assumption implicit (and sometime explicit!) in legalistic preaching is that believers don’t want to obey and need to be dragged against their will to obedience.  Taken out of the equation is the new heart, the Spirit’s work, New Covenant realities, and ultimately Jesus Christ Himself.  

Legalists underestimate the power of a believer’s new heart feasting on the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.  So legalists turn their attention to subduing the flesh through rebuke and sharp exhortation.  Scripture teaches this doesn’t help bring about obedience but rather fuels the sinful nature by either leading to pride in those who feel successful or leading to despair in those that feel the burden of failure. 

In one illustration, Walter Marshall says that much preaching is like telling a man to take his weapons and go and enter a battle.  If the man is a soldier he will do it readily.  But we are more like sick men on our death beds without the strength to so much as pick up our weapon. The question that needs answering is: How can I, without any strength in myself, perform such an overwhelming task?

The strength to enliven us, and give us power to get out of our sick beds to face the battle, is the gospel alone - to be embraced afresh every day.  So our first duty is to believe on Christ and receive healing strength from the great physician who alone gets the glory. 

“1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain? 5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith– 6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?” Galatians 3:1-6.

Resting in grace-

Shane.

Probably the greatest help to me, during deep personal struggles in understanding the Biblical process of Sanctification, was the book “Gospel Mystery of Sanctification” by 17th Century puritan Walter Marshall.

If you seek to stir guilt in yourself or your people to motivate obedience then this post is for you!  

So, let me share a little about Marshall’s book, his times, and the influence on me.  I think you’ll find the history interesting and the noted quotes worth the read.

Marshall, in his book, examines what he calls is ”The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification”.  His aim was to minister the much needed balm to those beaten under the weight of legalistic teaching and ultimately to save lives from the depths of what Bunyan calls, “The Slough of Despond”.

Marshall’s Battle

Marshall struggled despairingly with the issue of seeking after holiness in himself and his people although he preached it hard and often. He went to a number of preachers and writers in his time but found little help. He also went to a hero of his, Richard Baxter, who didn’t help although at the time he still much appreciated Baxter’s writings and largely modelled his own ministry after the same pattern – this later changed.

Regarding the discussions with Marshall, Baxter later stated that he felt Marshall had misunderstood him and taken him “too legally”. Still, Marshall found Baxter useless as regards sanctification.

Can you relate!? Have you ever struggled with obtaining a peace filled life of obedience and have sought help only to find legalistic dung where sweet streams should be sourced? I’ve sure been there!

Thomas Goodwin to the Rescue

Later, when Thomas Goodwin visited the congregation and heard Marshall preaching, he accused Marshall saying, “You are trying to squeeze oil out of a flint” (an expression that became popular among grace preachers describing legalists). That is, he was trying to squeeze holiness out of the efforts of the flesh. Goodwin explained that holiness is to be sought by “Gospel Means” and he also exhorted Marshall to stop “railing against his people”.

The two became friends and Goodwin spent much time with Marshall explaining and discussing the ‘gospel mystery of sanctification’.

Marshall took on board the instruction of Goodwin and throughout his life studied Sanctification further. It was towards the end of his life that Marshall wrote his book.

Marshall Identifies the Problem

In his book he discusses, among other reasons, he is writing that some might not commit suicide as a result of the despair arising from much of the preaching of the time. The problem was not so much what was said but what was left out. Much preaching was very clear on the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the duty of man (and rightly so). The problem, as Marshall saw it, was the means of attaining holiness and the means of dealing with failure was not understood and preached. In Marshall’s day, people were exhorted, in the words of Bryan Chapell, to live the principles of:

- “Sola-bootstrapsa” (I must keep the law in my own strength & effort) and

- “Ego-nomianism” (I am able to keep the law).

In his book, Marshall takes Baxter to task for being legalistic. He doesn’t name Baxter but a knowledge of the times & Baxter makes it clear who he’s speaking of.

John Murray on Marshall’s Book

John Murray calls Marshall’s book the most important work on Sanctification ever written. I think I agree but unlike John Murray I haven’t read every work on Sanctification ever written!! ; )

If you’re interested in a modern version of Marshall’s book you could read “Holiness by Grace” by Bryan Chapell. I’ve not read it all but have read good chunks and skimmed a lot. A friend of mine has read both books and said that “Holiness by Grace” is simply a modernized version of Marshall’s book and much easier to read. It also extensively quotes Marshall’s book. Personally, I think you can’t beat the original although the old style may be difficult for a modern audience.

Another book that has been recommended (by Chad Bresson) is Jerry Bridges’ “Transforming Grace”.

Others on Marshall’s Book

William Cowper expresses my own feelings regarding this book when he wrote, “The doctrines Marshall maintains are, under the influence of the divine Spirit, the very life of my soul, and the soul of all my happiness”.

And, “James Harvey began life with strong prejudices against the truths which he was afterwards honoured so signally to advance. But about the year 1741 his preaching underwent an entire change, partly in consequence of the influence of his lifelong friend Whitefield, but chiefly from the perusal of certain books. Marshall’s Gospel Mystery of Sanctification first lead him to the great spring and secret of gospel holiness. . .” Quote from the Editors introduction to the 1902 reprint of the 1645 classic, “The Marrow of Modern Divinity”.

Where to Get Marshall’s Book

The version of Marshall’s book updated and simplified into modern English can be found here:

http://www.monergismbooks.com/gospelmystery0543.html

An electronic version of the original can be found here:

http://www.covenantofgrace.com/gospel_mystery_of_sanctification.htm

This page has a great single sentence summary of each chapter – let this page alone minister to your soul and whet your appetite for more.

A hardcopy of the original can be purchased here:

http://heritagebooks2.org/bookstore/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3922

Marshall, Whyte and Me

The reason I tracked down a copy and worked through the book is that it was so strongly recommended by Alexander Whyte in one of his books. Alexander Whyte, the Scottish Presbyterian, has probably been the single most helpful writer and greatest post-apostolic influence over me - although my New Covenant Theology (NCT) views and overall understanding of the structure of Scripture doesn’t come from Whyte, of course!  

Interestingly, both Marshall and Whyte name Goodwin as a primary influence on their thinking.

From Whyte: “In his classical book on Sanctification Walter Marshall tells his readers that he had been labouring all his days to squeeze oil out of a flint. That is to say, he had been labouring all his days to squeeze holiness out of his own sinful heart. And he had gone on performing that fruitless toil till a great spiritual teacher took him and told him that he was to have all his sanctification, as well as all his justification, out of Jesus Christ alone. That great spiritual teacher tells us that he himself for nearly seven years sought for satisfactory signs of grace in his own heart. It took him all that time till he was taken off entirely from searching for the grounds of peace and the source of power within himself, and was lead to look simply to the grace of God and thus to live and grow by faith in Christ alone. Up to that epoch-making conversation with Thomas Goodwin, Walter Marshall’s whole life had been one long and painful and fruitless endeavour after inward holiness of mind and heart. But when he opened his whole mind and heart about that matter to Thomas Goodwin, that great spiritual teacher told him that he was to look to Jesus Christ for the sanctifying of his sinful heart, as well as for the cleansing of his sinful conscience. And ever after that illuminating and enfranchising interview with the great Puritan, Marshall set himself to study the person and work of Christ in a new way, and to preach the person and work of Christ in a new way, till he attained to that eminent spirituality of mind and heart and doctrine out of all which he wrote in his ripe old age his standard work on ‘The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification’ . . . .

The congregation will not have forgotten dear old James Stewart of the cab office at the Dean Bridge, who was wont to sit in the front seat down there with all his eyes and all his ears always open to the pulpit and to the desk. Well, at the last pastoral visit I had the privilege of paying to James Stewart’s deathbed, laying his hand on Marshall’s book . . . and he kissed that old brown book after his own passionate manner and said again: ‘O! that heavenly direction on the Mystical Union!’ Now, if your interest in this matter survives until tomorrow morning, your bookseller will supply you with ‘Walter Marshall’. . . .

Well, then, all you people of sufficient interest and of sufficient enterprise in the life of Sanctification; all you who are old enough and deep enough in the Divine life, be sure to buy and to read again and again, that true classic of the soul. And send it to some of your most intimate friends as a Christmas gift. To all them who are sufficient intellect and of sufficient heart to appreciate such a great book. . . . And, if you do so, I warrant you they will thank and bless you all their days for so remembering them and for so honouring them and for so enriching them.” Alexander Whyte

Spot the Influence

After reading Marshall’s book I wrote our Nurturing Philosophy. I wanted to clearly spell out how believers would be nurtured coming into our fellowship. This is something that is often not clear in church creeds, confessions, doctrinal statements, constitutions, etc. Two churches can look the same on paper but one will minister grace, strength, power & Christ, and the other feed the flock the wood, hay, and stubble of will-power religion.

For anyone interested, a copy of our nurturing philosophy can be found here (and a keen eye will also spot the influence of John Piper and John Reisinger, as well as Marshall):

swf: http://treasuringchrist.com/_TCCC/TCF_NurturingPhilosophy_1-2.swf

pdf: http://treasuringchrist.com/_TCCC/TCF_NurturingPhilosophy_1-2.pdf

Section 7 succinctly covers what I consider to be the heart of what Marshall was driving at (although the entire document is ‘ Marshall’ flavoured).

Marshall Strays into NCT

Marshall holds to Covenant Theology (CT), yet like many (e.g. Andrew Murray, John Owen, etc) this hasn’t stopped him from making observations such as this one:

“You also should learn the true difference between the two covenants, the old and the new, or the law and the gospel: that the former shuts us up under the guilt and power of sin, and the wrath of God and His curse, by its rigorous terms: ‘Do all the commandments, and live; and, cursed are you if you do not do them, and fail in the least point’; the latter opens the gates of righteousness and life to all believers ( i.e. the new covenant) by its gracious terms: ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and live,’ that is, all your sins shall be forgiven, and holiness and glory shall be given to you freely by His merit and Spirit.”

Although I don’t agree with the CT of Whyte and Marshall, I still owe a great debt to both! The influence of Marshall’s book on my thinking and life has been deeply profound!! It was just what I needed at the time when I was enduring week in, and week out, legalistic thumping while Christ’s help and grace were hardly ever in view.  Marshall (and Whyte) ministered to my soul and has changed my life.

(The only other post-apostolic book that has had a similar impact was “Christian Take Heart” by Tom Wells. A simple book but for a messed-up Pentecostal becoming a messed-up Calvinist it was also just what I needed at the time – some overlap with Marshall’s work also but it took many years before I ‘got it’ thanks to Marshall.).

Finally I Finish My Post

Get a copy and read Marshall’s book. If you’ve made it this far into this overdone post of mine then I’m sure you are of ’sufficient intellect and of sufficient heart to appreciate such a great book’.

Take your time, linger over it, let it soak in, and then read it again. If you (or your people) are ’sanctified by vinegar’, as Alexander Whyte would say, under legalistic counsel, you will rejoice at the soothing oil of grace and love that will flow as a result of Marshall, or rather Christ through Marshall, moulding you into a person who has ‘been mastered by the unconditional grace of God, and from whom iron clad orthodoxy has been torn away and the whole armor of a gracious God has been applied; the armor of him who would not break the bruised reed or quench the dimly burning wick’ (A Whyte).

“How can we command holiness without causing despair among saints who know that they are still sinners? Walter Marshall’s answer to this ‘mystery’ not only saved lives in his time, but continues to bring renewed zeal for God to believers in the generations since. The relief and resolve of grace are the Gospel mystery that elude so many but find rejuvenating expression in the firm grasp of Marshall.” Dr. Bryan Chapell, President, Covenant Theological Seminary.

Gospel: The free gift of forgiveness of sin, and gaining of eternal life, all received through faith in Jesus Christ.

Sanctification:The process of becoming more like Jesus Christ throughout this life; personal growth in conformance to the law of King Jesus.

Gospel-sanctification: Conformance to the holy law of Christ through prizing the promises, performance, person and perfection of Jesus Christ freely given by means of His gospel. The process of seeking personal holiness through abiding in Christ and He in you to produce the inner holiness of a joyful and contented heart resulting in natural and unconstrained obedience to His commands.

Gospel sanctification is seeking to continually preach to yourself, and display to your conscience, all the treasures freely given to you in Christ and to ingrain yourself with an understanding of your right standing in Christ. This forms a sure foundation from which to grow in grace.

Believers are those that have a new nature in Christ and therefore desire and are enabled towards the enjoyment of Christ, to walk in the Spirit, glorify God and have the victory over sin. Therefore, believers are helped in this endeavor by the power of the Spirit through prayer, meditation and the Word.

While it is important to recognise the conflict within every believer dealing with their indwelling sin, it is equally important that you take care to not treat yourself, or other believers, as though this struggle with sin is the governing principle because the work of the Holy Spirit within is greater than any other influence in a believers life (1 John 4:4).

Gospel sanctification is aimed toward Spirit-powered holiness through treasuring Christ and abiding in Him. The opposite of Gospel Sanctification is will-power holiness: that is, doing the best that lies in your own power and trusting on the grace of God and Christ to help you in various resolutions of your own will.

Rather, the power of true holiness is received when we trust on Christ, to work in us ‘to will and do, by His own power, according to His own good pleasure’. Will-power holiness is a trusting on the flesh for holiness through acts of the will, resolutions, determination, and personal efforts, instead of trusting on Christ. Christ is to be enjoyed and trusted upon as the author and finisher of our faith.

This is why we encourage you toward ‘vertical’ effort for the achieving of ‘horizontal’ results; looking ‘up’ to behold Christ for achieving our spiritual growth ‘down’ here with benefits spreading ‘outward’ throughout our lives; savoring the sweetness of the Savior to sanctify the soul and sever the root of sin.  Seek to learn the art of personal holiness through abiding in Christ and He in you to produce the inner holiness of a joyful and contented heart resulting in natural and unconstrained obedience to His commands. 

True holiness is primarily relational and flows from your connection to Christ.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4

Therefore, we encourage you to learn to linger: Through prayer, the word, and meditation we encourage you in the empowering reality of doctrine cherished and adored, in particular as it pertains to and flows from the gospel and person of our Lord Jesus Christ. True holiness is obtained and sustained by the grace of our Lord working in our hearts to prize all we have in the Lord Jesus.

We encourage external obedience to flow from satisfaction in God lest service for God be performed with a legalistic heart far from the Lord (Mark 7:6).

– // –

For a more technical discussion of Gospel Sanctification refer to Chad Bressen’s article linked below:

http://breusswane.blogspot.com/2006/07/imperative-command-is-grounded-in.html

Anyone struggling with this issue would benefit from reading the above linked article and then getting a hold of, and mastering, “Gospel Mystery of Sanctification”, by Walter Marshall.  If you think you may find Marshall’s 16th century style a bit challenging as a modern reader, as an alternatively, I’d recommend you read the more modern equivalent, “Holiness by Grace” by Bryan Chapel.  Another book that has been recommended (by Chad Bresson) is Jerry Bridges’ “Transforming Grace”.     I’m sure mastering any one of these books will do you much good. 

Enjoying grace!

Shane.

I was recently part of a great discussion that all started with this short video clip: 

http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/vftp_promo05.mov

(Reference: Sound of Grace discussion Group April/May discussions: http://freegroups.net/groups/soundofgrace/)

Over the next few posts I’ll be explaining the importance of Gospel Sanctification, sharing some of the discussion details, and answering some of the questions raised - which were some of the very issues I have struggled with and perhaps some of you also struggle with.

Shane.

John Piper makes statements such as,

“The chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying him forever.”
“Maximizing our joy in God is what we were created for.”
“Pursuing pleasure in God is our highest calling.”

Yet in the Bible, Jesus tells us the greatest command is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”. (Matt 22:37).

Therefore, does it not appear that Piper is exalting ‘enjoying God’ above ‘loving God’ contrary to the command of Christ? (This was the question raised recently on the Sound of Grace Discussion Group - http://freegroups.net/groups/soundofgrac…). There is no question that that the Bible teaches that loving the Lord is the greatest command and is to be exalted above all other requirements.

So, to clarify this question in my own mind, I looked up my Thayers Greek Lexicon on the meaning of the word ‘love’ used in Matt 22:37 (Strongs # 25). In describing the meaning of the word, the lexicon uses terms such as “to have a preference for, wish well to, regard the welfare of . . . involves the idea of affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, grateful recognition of benefits received . . . denotes to take pleasure in the thing, prize it above other things, be unwilling to abandon it or do without . . . to welcome with desire, long for.”.

Matt 22:37 states, ” . . . You shall love the Lord your God . . .”.  Expanded, in light of the meaning of the Greek word, this is the same as saying:

“You shall have preference for, wish well to, and regard the welfare of the Lord your God.”

“You shall have affectionate reverence for, prompt obedience to, and grateful recognition of benefits received from, the Lord your God” (I’d suggest ‘prompt obedience’ in context could better read as ‘unconstrained prompt obedience’ since constrained obedience is not obedience “with all your heart”.).

“You shall take pleasure in, prize above other things, and be unwilling to abandon or do without, the Lord your God.”

“You shall welcome with desire and long for the Lord your God.”

Therefore, to pursue obedience to the greatest command, with all our heart, mind and soul, is to be a Christian Hedonist.

Relishing Christ with you all-

Shane.

The Masters Seminary (TMS) is currently critiquing New Covenant Theology (NCT) in their current faculty lecture series.  These are available for download from their site: Download Link.

Also be sure to keep up with the In Depth Studies (IDS) ongoing response by Steve Lehrer on their blog:

http://idsblog.org/

As I am associate editor of SoloChristo.com the comments by Prof. Dennis M. Swanson, regarding the growth of NCT being largely attributed to the internet, makes me do the happy dance. SoloChristo.com was the flagship of the NCT internet web sites.  Full credit to senior editor Dale LaVoie who early recognised the significance of the internet medium for the spread of the great gospel truths expounded in NCT, who built the site from scratch and launched it back in 1994.  I can take no credit for the early impact of SoloChristo.com but am privileged to be part of this great project in taking over the running of the site and keeping its impact going.  The story of how I came to take over this great work can be found here.

Full credit also to Jaime Adams who has built the IDS.org site and blog and keeps it going. The quality of IDS.org sets a new standard in web site excellence that the rest of us webmasters in the NCT community struggle to keep up with. Prof. Dennis M. Swanson also mentioned the quality of this site and its ongoing impact.  It was a real joy for me to meet Jaime last year and discuss options for working together.

And I must also mention Moe Bergeron, who has single-handedly launched the following:

• SoundofGrace.com, the web ministry of John Reisinger.
• Piper Notes, the original John Piper library web site launching his ministry on the internet.
• Christway Media, for Donald A. Carson and others.
• Biblical Studies, the web ministry of Fred Zaspel.
• The Grizzly Bible Institute web site.
• The Sound of Grace Discussion Group, which continues to be a key web forum where NCT representatives sharpen one another.

Moe has become a wonderful friend and role model for me.  In addition to his web work Moe has maintained a full time secular job as well as maintained a Pastorate.

There are others who I haven’t mentioned because I don’t know who they are although I am very familiar with their web sites and the authors they support.  The work of an NCT webmaster is largely ‘behind the scenes’ and not recognised although the impact has been significant.  Maintaining the prominent NCT web ministries come down to only a handful of people.  For the most part we don’t have paid webmasters or faculty staff to do this work.  It is a labor of love to our glorious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

A friend at church asked me how I would describe New Covenant Theology. Below is my reply.

–//–

Regarding your question about the characteristics of New Covenant Theology.
 
I would describe New Covenant Theology in terms of ‘flavour’ and ‘distinctives’.
 
1. Flavour
 
You are familiar with the flavour.  It is the same flavour of Christ Community Church (NB: Church we both attend) . That is, seeing the totality of God’s redemptive program culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ and living daily in the joy and grace of that reality.  For the most part, when I think of NCT, I think of people, churches, and theology that use the entire Bible to help us “look unto Jesus”, “preach nothing but Christ and Him crucified” and display Christ’s work through “Moses and all the Prophets”. (Heb 12:2, 1 Cor 2:2, Luke 24:13-27).  NCT is centred upon the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
 
This article describes NCT with an emphasis upon that ‘flavour’:  http://liftedveil.org/theology/nct/MurrayMcLellan_GloryofGodinFaceofJesus.html
 
2. Distinctives
 
The distinctives, like Covenant Theology & Dispensationalism, have some variance among the NCT individuals.  However, I believe this article summarises the key distinctives well: http://liftedveil.org/theology/nct/GaryLong_NewCovenantTheologyDistinctives.html
 
Your brother in Christ, Our Covenant-
 
Shane.
 
“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness;
   I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
   a light for the nations” Isaiah 42:6
 
“Thus says the LORD:
‘In a time of favor I have answered you;
   in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
   as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
   to apportion the desolate heritages,’ ” Isaiah 49:8
 
 
 

I have attached an article I find myself coming back to again and again - especially when I find my prayer life flagging or find myself putting more effort and faith into method/strategy than into Christ.

May God revive His Church!

Shane.

–//–

The New Pioneers of Revival by David Smithers

While driving to town the other day I unexpectedly came upon a busy stretch of highway that was under construction. Bumper to bumper, the line of cars ahead of me waited their turn to follow the directions of the brightly colored detour signs. Seemingly, without any thought or hesitation they all quickly sped away from their original course in pursuit of smoother traveling. The road ahead was unquestionably rough and unpaved, but it was still open to traffic and definitely the most direct route to town. Suddenly I found myself thinking about the state of the modern Church. Many Christians today are being enticed into the well-paved highways of convenient Christianity at the expense of their personal calling and original destination. No doubt just the sight of that rough, unpaved road communicated “RISK” to many of the drivers that day. It threatened all of us with the risk of uncertainty, inconvenience and even the risk of physical danger or loss. As I sat there waiting for my turn to move, something else hit me. “All the well-paved roads in the Church today are only going places that most of us have already been.” Those big, flashing church signs too often lead us away from where God’s pioneer work is being done. By the time the concrete sets up and the paint is dry, most of the heaven and earth moving is all over! How long will we continue to travel down the same old, predictable, powerless highways while the promises of God beckon us to enter into a fresh move of the Holy Spirit? There is still so much of the presence and power of Jesus Christ that is readily available and yet untouched. Be assured God is not standing still! He is even now seeking out and raising up a NEW generation in the Church who is willing to take extreme risks to REDISCOVER the highway of holiness and revival power. God is raising up a new generation of revival pioneers! Continue Reading »

"Since there is but one covenant, and the Scriptures speak of it as though it were two, we must consider in what particulars the old and new covenants agree and in what they differ." Dr. Zacharias Ursinus

Continue Reading »

The lookout reported, "He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi — he drives like a madman."  2 Kings 9:20

Study Notes

16So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. 20Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations– 21Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22which all concern things which perish with the using–according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.  Col 2:16-23
 

The “Sabbath(s)” of Colosians 2:16

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths . . . “

Four interpretations – 3 Sabbatarian & 1 Non-Sabbatarian:

1.      Sabbath = “Ceremonial” Sabbaths and not the Sabbath of the 4^th Commandment. (Common among Sunday Sabbatarians such as the puritans).

2.      Sabbath = Old Testament ceremonial and civil elements which are abolished. However, a 1 day in 7 cycle still remains.

3.      Sabbath = a perverted “Sabbath” practiced in Collose which bears no resemblance to the Sabbath of the 4^th Commandment. The condemnation is against this new and perverted “Sabbath” with no reference being made to the true Sabbath.

4.      Sabbath = The Weekly Sabbath day of the 4^th Commandment.

Continue Reading »

A copy of my email to “New Focus” regarding their latest attack on ‘New Covenant Theology’ (NCT).
____

Dear brothers in Christ,

I have a few queries about George Ella’s remark regarding New Covenant Theology.

1. Has he actually read Wells and Zaspel’s book or is he basing his criticisms on material written by others? If he has not read the book word for word does he intend on doing so?

2. Has he sought to dialogue with Zaspel and/or Wells? If not, would Ella be willing to dialogue with some NCT theologians regarding his views? Would he be willing to open himself up to some loving theological dialogue and cross examination in an open forum or via email?

3. Some questions in regard to the following Ella quote:

“Our Reformers distinguished between error and heresy. The former was a mere misunderstanding of the gospel here and there; the latter was a total rejection of the gospel and the bringing in of a new religion. New Covenant Theology is thus most definitely a heresy. The ‘new’ in it is a new law and a new gospel with a new ecclesiology, a new Christology and a new doctrine of the Word of God. It has a new view of the natures of both man and God and a new view of God’s dealings with man. In the following months, I hope to show in detail what are the basic tenets of this false religion and how we can armour ourselves against it.”

Do you (or Ella) believe that those who hold to NCT are unbelievers going to hell as implied by such vitriolic and misleading statements regarding NCT such as “heresy” (as opposed to “error”), “total rejection of the gospel”, “a new gospel”, “new Christology”, “false religion”, etc.

If you/he does believe that we, who hold to NCT, are all a bunch of hell bound rebels, does he also believe that the foundation for our faith is false? I remind you that those who hold to NCT also hold Calvinistic views of salvation. We have likewise repented for our sins and trusted in Jesus Christ alone: as the only Son of God, our Lord, King, Saviour and treasure. Are we not saved on this basis? We all confess him as Lord, forsake our sin, hold to the infallibility of Scripture, etc.

In my case I was converted and much later embraced Calvinistic teaching. Later again I embraced Presbyterianism as taught by the Westminster Confession of Faith. Many years later I changed my understanding of how the covenants fit together (i.e. embraced NCT). At this point did I enter a “false religion”? So, if we are unbelievers, as implied, do you or Ella believe it is not enough to hold these basics of Christianity to be saved? Is there more that we need to embrace? Must we agree point for point with Mr Ella over additional theological truths in order to be saved? (If so, you’ve added an awful lot of propositional truths to the gospel required to be embraced in order to be saved. Such a view can not be substantiated by Scripture!)

If I have misunderstood you or Ella, and you are not implying that we are all hell bound, may I suggest you tone down your language and speak more accurately concerning our beliefs. Please stick to the points of difference and stop making sweeping statements like you have so far. Broad brush, unqualified and misleading statements are not helpful. That is, saying we embrace a “new gospel with a new ecclesiology, a new Christology and a new doctrine of the Word of God. It has a new view of the natures of both man and God and a new view of God’s dealings with man.”, etc. Unqualified these overstatements appear designed to make us appear to hold views further divergent from the reformed faith than is correct. Please exercise more care in the future.

4. Do you consider the following to be “law”?
“Let your speech always, be gracious” (Col 4:6a)
“Rather, *speaking the truth in love*, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” Eph 4:15.

Your brother in Christ-
Shane Becker.