Is the Abrahamic Covenant a Lot of Mumbo-Jumbo?

I never imagined that the Abrahamic Covenant was so complex and so challenging as I just recently experienced.  The richness of study is worth it.  But as a pastor of an equally complex and challenging congregation, I thought yesterday, someone might still be asking, "What relevance is that for me?  Isn't this just a lot of theological 'mumbo-jumbo'?" 

So here is one paragraph that I wrote hoping to show everyone the important relevance this promise, covenant,  has for every Christian.   Here's the paragraph (it comes from the last 5 sermons):

Modern debates such as predestination,  eternal security, racial prejudice, holiness, grace, God's sovereignty and human responsibility, Israel, Gentiles, law vs. grace, etc., etc. are all resolved in the Abrahamic Covenant.  Just as US citizens tend to find their national identity and direction in the American Constitution, Christians find their hope, their rest and their comfort in the Covenant God made with Abraham.  It is one of the most important studies a Christian can spend their time on in reflection and worship.

To be a Christian, is to “… Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:29, ESV).

Future or Final Justification

How would I define future or final justification?   Well it is predicated on a verses such as this found in Romans 2:6–8 (ESV),

⁶ He will render to each one according to his works: ⁷ to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; ⁸ but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

The Greek text in verse 6 is: ὃς ἀποδώσει ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ [emphasis mine].  κατά the preposition is correctly translated by the ESV as "according to" does not necessarily mean "because of".  Now Dr. Douglass Moo does not favor the following interpretation (which places me on thin ice) but I think it's a favorable choice.  We might interpret this verse this way: "because of God’s grace in Christ and the indwelling Spirit, are enabled to produce works that will count favorably in the judgment of God (see, e.g., 2 Cor 5:10; Jas 2:14–26)." [1]

I think Dr. Richard Gaffin summarizes this so well:

"For Christians, future judgment according to works does not operate according to a different principle than their already having been justified by faith. The difference is that the final judgment will be the open manifestation of that present justification. . . . And in that future judgment their obedience, their works, are not the ground or basis. Nor are they (co-)instrumental, a coordinate instrument for appropriating divine approbation as they supplement faith. Rather, they are the essential and manifest criterion of that faith, the integral 'fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith.'”  [2]

The danger and the most frequent "push-back" is to suggest we are saying something contrary to "justification by faith alone in Christ alone".  This cannot be too strenuously affirmed.  We are not. Just like Abraham's works (Genesis 22)justified him, after he was previously imputed the righteousness of God in Genesis 15, (“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?” (James 2:21, ESV).  ) so too our works, at the final judgment will affirm that we indeed were justified, saved by grace, and sanctified. 

I quote Dr. John Piper: "Present justification is based on the substitutionary work of Christ alone, enjoyed in union with him through faith alone. Future justification is the open confirmation and declaration that in Christ Jesus we are perfectly blameless before God. This final judgment accords with our works. That is, the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives will be brought forward as the evidence and confirmation of true faith and union with Christ. Without that validating transformation, there will be no future salvation." [3]   That last sentence is not meant by Piper to suggest that imputed righteousness of Christ is insufficient to save.  He means by this that those who are indeed granted the free gift of justification, will out of inherent necessity bring forth fruits, evidence and confirmation of that gift.  In plain English, if there is no evidence of sanctification, then there has never been justification (“And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30, ESV))

The Westminster Confession of Faith [4] affirms this:

Section II.—Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.  [Emphasis mine].

Romans 2:13 (ESV) reads this way: "¹³ For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified."   The ESV notation states, "Paul reaffirms the principle enunciated in vv. 6–11, that the doers of the law are the ones who are righteous before God, and that their justification will be pronounced on the last day." [5]  Taking that to be a correct interpretation we could then say that those who are counted righteous by God through faith in His Son, will be pronounced righteous at the final judgment; and Spirit-empowered works will give evidence that this in fact is valid.

Again, I am in grave danger of being misinterpreted. No one is justified by works, but no one will be justified without works.  There are inherent, intrinsic elements that accompany salvation by faith in Christ alone (“Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.” (Hebrews 6:9, ESV).  There are things that belong to salvation that will be evident on that last and final judgment.

Robert Haldane  gives us a great summary statement here:  "The works of believers will not be appealed to as the cause of their acquittal, but as the evidence of their union with Christ, on account of which they will be pronounced righteous, for in them the law has been fulfilled in their Divine surety." [6]

That's future, or final justification.  

____________________________________________________
1. Quoted as an option by Moo, D. J. (2002). Encountering the book of Romans : A theological survey (66). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
2. Richard Gaffin By Faith, Not By Sight (Paternoster Press, 2006) pp. 96-97 noted in http://feedingonchrist.com/paul-the-law-and-eschatological-justification-three-views-on-romans-213/
3. http://www.trinityfoundation.org/horror_show.php?id=46
4. http://www.reformed.org/documents/shaw/index.html?mainframe=/documents/shaw/shaw_11.html
5. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2160). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
6. Haldane, R. (1996). An exposition of Romans (electronic ed.) (90). Simpsonville, SC: Christian Classics Foundation.

"He Interpreted to Them in All the Scriptures the Things Concerning Himself."

"The Bible does not teach that salvation was ever possible by the works of the law. Salvation has always been by grace through faith alone. Those saved in the Old Testament dispensation were saved by grace and grace alone.  They were regenerated by the Holy Spirit and had faith in the promised Messiah.  They were circumcised in the heart (Deut 10:16).  The moved from Abraham's natural seed to Abraham's spiritual seed by the means of the new birth.  Among the natural descendants of Abraham were a few, a remnant according to election who were saved the same way Abraham was, by faith and grace, just as we are today . . . Old Testament saints were inward members of the covenant of grace, but outwardly they were still under the guardianship of the law [This was to preserve the seed until the fullness of time when Christ would come.] . . .  The ineffectual animal sacrifices were gracious in that they pointed to the efficacious substitutional atonement of the future Messiah."  [1]

"The Gospel is visible in the very writings of Moses (Luke 24:44).  It was first published in the garden (Gen 3:15) and republished more clearly with Abraham (Gal 3:8).  Even the very law itself pointed to Christ.  As Christ explains to the Jews, '[I]n the volume of the book it is written of me (Heb 10:7), and if 'you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.' (John 5:46)." [1]

Thus Jesus could say to Nicodemus as He conveyed the necessity of the New Birth, “. . . Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?” (John 3:10, ESV).

______________________________________________
1. Johnson, Jeffery D., The Fatal Flaw of the Theology Behind Infant Baptism, Free Grace Press, 2010, Pages 127-129.

 

HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY, KATRINA!

I walked into the post-delivery room at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton, 20 years ago to the distressed cries from a little baby girl named Katrina Ann MacLellan.  My fondest memory was when the sound of my voice silenced her cry and she looked toward me.

When I'd go to Church on Sundays she had to go with me.  One day I left her at home because she was late and Debra told me that she cried her eyes out.  We wrestled together.  We built stuff together.  We shot stuff together.  I still hold a privileged spot that even others don't: I get to hug her and give her a big Daddy-type kiss.

Katrina is one of the most talented people I know.  I don't think there's very much she can't do. Whether she's doing pretty flowers on a birthday cake or shingling a building, she's amazing.  She can switch out the shocks in her truck, do a brake job, consistently hit deer at 200 yards, outplay me at any video game ... and the list goes on.  Another thing about Katrina is that she is an amazing people person.  She's a blast in a party; and she's the best "auntie" any kid could have.

I used to tell her that the 'A' in her middle name was really "Anny" (for Annoying). Katrina loves to joke and bug her Dad.  For the last 20 years I don't think I could ever walk by her without getting a major punch somewhere in my torso.

Her favorite four-legged creature is her dog: Gracie.  You ought to ask how that dog got the green light to be in our house!  This girl came into my office, sat like she'd had just booked a counseling session and cried her eyes out, pleading for permission.  This big black Lab/Collie cross is the rest of the story.

I hope you get the impression that you think, I think, that my daughter is amazing.  She is!   Some days, Katrina, I wish you hadn't grown up -- but you had too.  You're no longer a teen, Kiddo.  I love you. Remember what I used to say, "All the way up to the sky and back."   Still do! You've seen me at my worst and you love me.  That's really cool.  Thanks!

Every night when I tucked you in I said quietly to you, "Your going to be a great and godly woman." You are well on your way.  God's not finished with you yet.  “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6, NLT)

Daddy

Jehovah-Jireh (The LORD will see and provide)

Genesis 22:8,14 (NIV), ⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together . . . ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”  

[And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh (meaning the Lord will see to it thus He will provide).] [1]

Hebrews 11:17–19 (NIV), ¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, ¹⁸ even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” ¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

"1. That the Lord will see; he will always have his eye upon his people in their straits and distresses, that he may come in with seasonable succour in the critical juncture. 2. That he will be seen, be seen in the mount, in the greatest perplexities of his people. He will not only manifest, but magnify, his wisdom, power, and goodness, in their deliverance. Where God sees and provides, he should be seen and praised." [2]

.

____________________________________

1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (60). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (53). Peabody: Hendrickson

How To Read Good!

I am using this title in a totally unauthorized way with absolutely no citation.  I read a similar blog title that was written: 'How to Write Good'.  Now perhaps I'm venting -- no, I AM  venting (need a little honesty here!), but one of the little irritants I face (Oh, I forgot: I'm being honest.) -- one of my huge irritants that I face -- almost daily, involves the simple failure of poor reading.

Now by poor reading I don't mean mispronunciation.  I don't mean improper diction.  I mean "ever reading but never knowing what you read."  I mean, is this a judicial blindness from Almighty God, or what?  Now before I fall off my high horse and have the pedestal I'm on crush my noggin, I need to confess that I'm not perfect here.   (I hope you read that.)  Having said that we really, really need to realize the urgency of this issue.

I wonder if our 'read-ability-index' is directly proportionate to the 7-second commercials we get bombarded with or even the 140 character tweets we get tweeted with?   What about all the Christians who rely on a weekly diet of edited television and radio preaching and teaching; who rest on 'quick-kiss-on-the-cheek' devotionals; and when they really, really, really want to go deep in the Word, they contract the latest and famous preacher through modern DVD lesson material?

All of these RATs[1] help us to do one thing: not read good!  I had a friend in High School that often used the phrase: "the blinding flash of the obvious."   So here it is: God gave us His authoritative revelation in a Book.  It is not an audio book.  It does not come with Coles Notes (Showing my age, right?).  It's a Book with sentences, nouns, verbs, etc., all dressed up in tenses.  It is a Book with cohesive and connecting thoughts.  It's a Book that God intended us to read -- ourselves.

OK, you don't like to read.  At this point I quote my sister: "Hezekiah 3:9 says, 'Life's hard, wear a helmet.'"  OK, you find reading difficult (same verse)!  Oh, you can't read.  Now you got me.  Not! Did you ever hear of Ann Preston, 1810-1906.  My father often told of her story.  Who is she?

Ann was born in Ireland and moved to Canada.  When she died at the age of 96, ministers from 6 denominations paid tribute to her life, at her funeral.  As a child she was told she was unfit for reading.  She couldn't memorize.  She prayed two hours every day and quoted, veraciously the Scriptures.  Who taught her to read?  The Holy Spirit.

So here it is folks, in spite of your RDD (another made up psychological condition), WE HAVE TO READ.  Martin Luther wrote: "For some years now, I have read through the Bible twice every year. If you picture the Bible to be a mighty tree and every word a little branch, I have shaken every one of these branches because I wanted to know what it was and what it meant." 

• Romans 15:4 (ESV), ⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
• Colossians 3:16 (ESV), ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
• 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV), ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Why not go shake some branches.


________________________________________
1. RAT = Reading Avoidance Techniques (I made this up!)

Taking the Mystique Out of Walking With God.

Of all the "firsts" in the Bible, this is still astounding.  “Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:22–24, ESV).   This was an early description of someone who enjoyed a unique intimacy with God.

• Genesis 17:1 (ESV), ¹ When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,
• Genesis 24:40 (ESV), ⁴⁰ But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house.
• Genesis 48:15 (ESV), ¹⁵ And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,

"The double repetition of the phrase “walked with God” indicates Enoch was outstanding in this pious family." [1]  "The verb stem used signifies to walk about or to live, and the preposition denotes intimacy, fellowship." [2]   And not only was the intimacy a first, since the Fall of Adam, but the New Testament informs us: “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5, ESV).  "The verb pleased (Gr euaresteō) is the Septuagint rendering of the Hebrew phrase “to walk with.” [3]

To walk with God, is to please God.  

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5–7, ESV)  

Father, the Apostle Paul casts this goal: “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9, ESV).  What a great ambition, for us today,that everything we do, we do to bring great pleasure to God -- to delight Him.  Grant to us the grace of pleasing God but learning about Him.  Grant the courage to please Him, by not necessarily pleasing others.  Grant the mercy to please Him by dealing with our own sin.  By the power of the Spirit, for the sake of the Gospel grant a day that brings Christ much joy in us.   Amen. 

___________________________________________

1.  Wenham, G. J. (1998). Vol. 1: Genesis 1–15. Word Biblical Commentary (127). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (28). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
3. ibid, (2571).