Christ My Covenant

CMC - The Week of January 29th

2012-01-30T18:34:00.000-05:00

CMC - The Week of January 22 -2012

2012-01-23T16:31:00.002-05:00

CMC - The Third Week of January

2012-01-17T17:39:00.000-05:00

CMC - January 9 - God's Amazing Word

2012-01-09T12:14:00.000-05:00

CMC - Week of December 18th, 2011

2011-12-20T13:48:00.000-05:00

No exceptions – Romans 2:1-5 - Dr Steve Orr
Completed by the Spirit Part 15: Producing Fruit, Not Inspecting Fruit - Pastor Edwin Trefzger
Deidun: Part III – The object and principal traits of christian love - TJ Deidun
On God We Have Set Our Hope – 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 - Pastor David Frampton

CMC - Mid-December - Stay Focused!

2011-12-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

Deidun: Part III – Agape in the New Covenant Perspective
God’s Righteous Decree: Romans 1v.29-32 - Dr. Steve Orr
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – God’s Perspective on Suffering - Pastor David Frampton
Completed by the Spirit Part 14: The Very Stuff of New Covenant Ethics - Pastor Edwin Trefzger
It’s All The Work Of God - Dr. John Piper
Christmas Profiles: Elizabeth - Pastor David Frampton & Sarah

CMC - Week One - December 2011 - Stocking Filler

2011-12-06T11:19:00.001-05:00

The Ground and Formal Content of the New Covenant Imperative (5)
Jesus: Mediator of a Better Covenant (Part Two) - Dr. John Piper
2 Corinthians 1:1-2 – First Steps into Second Corinthians - Pastor David Frampton
Three tragic exchanges: Romans 1v.22-28 - Dr. Steve Orr
Completed by the Spirit Part 13: Not of the Letter, But of the Spirit - Pastor Edwin Trefzger

CMC - The Last Week of November - SuperCyber Monday!

2011-11-28T10:46:00.001-05:00

Jesus: Mediator of a Better Covenant (Part One) - Dr. John Piper
Deidun: PART II – The Ground and Formal Content of the New Covenant Imperative (4)
What Really Matters: Galatians 6:15-18 - Pastor David Frampton
The Wrath of God: Romans 1:18-21 - Dr. Steve Orr
Completed by the Spirit Part 12: Not of the Letter, But of the Spirit - Pastor Edwin Trefzger

CMC - Thanksgiving Week - Good Stuff!

2011-11-22T12:03:00.001-05:00

Recommended: Why I Believe In Believer’s Baptism - Review - Pastor Edwin Trefzger
A Bruised Reed - Mike Adams
Deidun: PART II – The Ground and Formal Content of the New Covenant Imperative (3)
Glory in the Gospel: Galatians 6:14 - Pastor David Frampton
The Manifestation of God Righteousness: Romans 1:17 (ii) - Dr. Steve Orr
Completed by the Spirit Part 11: Not of the Letter, But of the Spirit - Pastor Edwin Trefzger
The Incarnation of the Abstract…. - Pastor Chad Richard Bresson

CMC - November - Week Three - Goodies!

2011-11-15T09:43:00.001-05:00

Recommended: “Radical” by David Platt
Deidun: PART II – The Ground and Formal Content of the New Covenant Imperative (2)
Guard the Gospel: Galatians 6:11-13 - Pastor Dave Framptom
God's Righteousness being revealed: Romans 1:17 (I) - Dr. Steve Orr
Completed by the Spirit Part 10: The Law of the Spirit of Life Has Set You Free - Pastor Edwin Trefzger
Uphold the law by looking away from it and to Christ - Pastor Tood Braye

CMC - The 2nd Week of November 2011

2011-11-08T16:12:00.000-05:00

Escape from Passivity: Galatians 6:7-10 - Pastor David Frampton
Not Ashamed of the Gospel: Romans 1v.16 - Dr. Steve Orr
Completed by the Spirit Part 9: ‘It Cannot Justify, It Cannot Sanctify’ - Pastor Edwin Trefzger
An Interpretation of Sin Coming Alive in Romans 7:9 - Steven Coxhead
With Joy! – Philippians 1:1-11 - Pastor Moe Bergeron

CMC - November Feasts - Week One

2011-10-31T11:17:00.002-05:00

The Interpreter’s House and the Man with the Broom - John G. Reisinger
Completed by the Spirit Part 8: Paul, Redeemed but Struggling - Pastor Edwin Trefzger
Romans 1:13-15 – Paul’s plans, obligations and desires - Dr. Steve Orr
How to Help Others: Galatians 6:3-6 - Pastor David Frampton
Deidun: PART II – The Ground and Formal Content of the New Covenant Imperative - Dr. Andrew Fountain
The Bottom Line: Are You Sure? - Pastor Mark LaCour

CMC - The Last Week of October '11

2011-10-25T08:49:00.000-05:00

Where is MY special someone? - Dr. Gary Shogren
Completed by the Spirit Part 7: Paul, the Unconverted Jew - Pastor Edwin Trefzger
Romans: Paul – Personal, Practical, Purposeful and Prayerful - Dr. Steve Orr
Helping One Another: Galatians 6:1-2 - Pastor David Frampton
Deidun: PART II – The Ground and Formal Content of the New Covenant Imperative (I) - Dr. T.J. Deidun

CMC - The Necessity of Christian Obedience

2011-10-18T13:19:00.002-05:00

The Latest Contributions to ChristMyCovenant.com
Keep In Step With The Spirit: Galatians 5:24-26 - Pastor David Frampton
Romans: Introducing the Roman believers - Dr. Steve Orr
Deidun: PART I – The Theological Context of the Christian Imperative (IV) - An Extract
Christ Came to Enable Obedience - Steven Coxhead
Justin Martyr: Old Covenant versus New Covenant - Steven Coxhead
The Law of Christ: 1 Corinthians 9:21 - Pastor Todd Braye
The Other Great Exchange: Trading One Moral Code for Another - Mike Adams

CMC - A Full Plate!

2011-10-04T12:33:00.002-05:00

The Fruit of the Spirit (Part Two): Galatians 5:22-23 - Pastor David Frampton
Romans 1:5 Introducing the Apostle - Dr. Steve Orr
Deidun: PART I – The Theological Context of the Christian Imperative (III)
The Believer´s Sabbath - John G. Reisinger

CMC - Cooking New Covenant Theology

2011-09-27T10:53:00.001-05:00

CMC - Why Starve Thyself? More Good Stuff!

2011-09-17T15:59:00.000-05:00

Deidun: PART I – The Theological Context of the Christian Imperative - T.J. Deidun
Romans: Introducing Paul and the gospel of God - Steve Orr
True Christianity: Galatians 5:5-6 - Dave Frampton
Sparrows, Souls, & Sovereignty: When The Towers Fell - Todd Braye
Our Principles for Kingdom Expansion - Chad Bresson

CMC - Articles by Tom Wells, Ed Trefzger and Todd Braye

2011-09-06T16:20:00.004-05:00

CMC - Seeking Together the Substance of the New Covenant

2011-08-26T06:20:00.000-05:00

Seeking Together the Substance of the New Covenant. That in a nutshell is CMC's primary area of exploration simple because there is the highest grade of Oil to be rediscovered.

Mark My Words: Galatians 5:2-4 - Frampton
John Stott on the Good News of Jesus Christ - Snowden
The Law of Christ: A Living Law - Snowden
Canon as Tradition: The New Covenant and the Hermeneutical Question - Saucy (Source: Themelios)
Completed by the Spirit: Part 3 – The Law Cannot Cope With Sin - Trefzger

CMC - New articles available!

2011-08-11T11:58:00.000-05:00

The latest posts at Christ Mt Covenant from Dave Frampton, Jimmy Snowden and Ed Ross.

2011 Earth Stove Society NCT Think Tank Index of Presentations

2011-08-08T14:50:00.000-05:00

This year our 2011 Earth Stove Society (ESS) Think Tank meeting was held from July 25 – 28. We covered a variety of topics related to furthering our understanding of biblical theology through the hermeneutic of the New Covenant – Jesus Christ our Lord, following the redemptive historical view of Scripture. It is His-story.

The Eleven videos are published as separate posts here at CMC. Additional manuscripts will be added to the related posts as we receive them. Our presenters are making sure that references, footnotes etc. are all correct before we publish. Some papers may be more detailed than the presentations.

Along with this, we will be publishing at Earth Stove Society (ESS) an extensive reading list that encompasses the whole range of our think tank topics over the past few years. NCT, contrary to some, is rooted in good scholarly study, when done correctly. Many authors have contributed to the ideas of a solid biblical theology, although in the overall, they may not be what might be labeled as “NCT”. But, in those pages are foundational elements of a true biblical theology, in the historic-redemptive approach which is Christ centered and God glorifying. There will be references to books, commentaries, journals, articles and web site content.

Note: Some of the references will be annotated.

If you have any comments or questions for any of the speakers please post them on the ESS forum.

Index of Presentations
2011 ESS — Session One — John “Jack” Jeffery
Severino Pancaro: The Law in the Fourth Gospel The Metamorphosis of “Nomistic Termini” and The Law in the Fourth Gospel – The Transferal of Symbols for the Law to Jesus in the Fourth Gospel
Manuscript

2011 ESS — Session Two — John “Jack” Jeffery
Carl F. H. Henry, “The Holy Spirit and Christian Ethics”

2011 ESS — Session Three — Dustin Segers
NCT and Apologetics
Manuscript

2011 ESS — Session Four — Joseph Krygier
God’s Glorious Mission – Toward a Biblical Theology view of Mission(s) Rooted in the Attributes of God
Manuscript

2011 ESS — Session Five — Ed Trefzger
Apart from us they should not be made perfect: A survey of views on Church and Israel (including a surprising NCT view)

2011 ESS — Session Six — Ed Trefzger
Apart from us they should not be made perfect. Thoughts on an NCT-informed view of OT/NT saints and the Church.

2011 ESS — Session Seven — Chad Bresson
The Incarnation of the Abstract: New Covenant Theology and the Enfleshment of the Law
Manuscript

2011 ESS — Session Eight — Dustin Segers
NCT and Social Justice Is the Tim Keller model biblical?
Manuscript

2011 ESS — Session Nine — Shane Becker & Joseph Krygier
God’s Glorious Mission Toward a Biblical Theology view of Mission(s) Looking at The People on Mission
Manuscript

2011 ESS — Session Ten — John Dunn
A Look at OT parallels, couplets, and typology of the redemptive historical theme from the Garden through the Nation of Israel Index for the 2011 ESS Think Tank videos.

2011 ESS — Session Eleven — Moe Bergeron
The Promise and the Necessity of The Spirit
And the marked Neglect within NCT of the Holy Spirit

CMC Update - Delicious Dining served up by Snowden, Trefzger & Braye

2011-07-14T22:57:00.000-05:00

Why eat slop when you can feast at the King's table? Solid messages from God's Word presented by men who are first and foremost pastors who love the New Covenant community bought by the blood of Messiah Jesus and sealed by His Holy Spirit.

Fresh posts at Christ My Covenant by Snowden, Wright and Frampton

2011-07-05T12:35:00.000-05:00

New contributions to CMC include the following:

CMC - Reisinger on What is the Christian Faith

2011-06-30T09:52:00.000-05:00

In addition to Reisinger's article we have two additional contributions, one from Zachary S. Maxcey and another from David Frampton's teaching series in Galatians.

CMC - New posts on Sanctifcation, Salvation and Sabbath

2011-06-27T13:08:00.000-05:00

Pastors Ed Trefzger, Jimmy Snowden, Todd Braye and Moe Bergeron have set the table. Sit down and dine!

CMC - Growing NCT with Ross, Frampton and Piper

2011-06-15T07:42:00.000-05:00

CMC - New NCT stuff by Wright, Ross, Snowden and Frampton

2011-06-06T13:18:00.000-05:00

CMC - New Contributions from Kendall, Frampton, Wright and Ross

2011-05-26T09:50:00.000-05:00

CMC - New Articles by Braye, Snowden, Wright & Bresson

2011-04-25T12:08:00.000-05:00

Things Into Which Angels Long to Look
The Definite & Particular Atonement of Christ
Todd Braye
1 Peter 1: 10–12 Introduction This is the first day of that week set aside to focus on the passion, or suffering, of Christ, I thought it fitting to address you concerning the atonement of Christ. The material will, as I have said, be familiar to you. But lest the things we assume become things we abandon and forget, we remind ourselves of that which is the fountainhead of hope. Hear then, the word of God as it reads in 1 Peter 1:10–12 (NASB95): 10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches … Continue reading?

Putting Marriage in Perspective: A Word to the Never-Marrieds
Jimmy Snowden
Introduction[1] Thus far in 1 Corinthians 7 Paul has addressed almost every group of people which makes up the church. In 7:1–5 he addressed married couples, in 7:6–9 he addressed the unmarried, in 7:10–11 he addressed marriages consisting of two Christians, and in 7:12–16 he addressed marriages consisting of a Christian and a non-Christian. Now in 7:25–38 he addresses one more specific slice of the church, those who have never been married. Although Paul has already addressed this bunch when he addressed the unmarried in 7:6–9, one must remember that Paul’s words to the unmarried in vss. 6–9 were directed at all of the unmarried, … Continue reading?

“Glorying in the Cross” (2)
(Two Kinds of Men continued.)
Todd Braye
Galatians 6:11–16 Introduction In verse 14 of our text, the apostle Paul passionately declares that he glories in nothing but the cross of Christ. He contrasts himself with those making much of law, almost shouting to his readers, and to us, that it be far from him “to boast [in anything] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” When one takes this to heart and considers the fact that he himself once took pride in the law, and in keeping the law, being zealous for the traditions of his fathers, such a declaration ought to “kick” … Continue reading?

Commentary On R. Scott Clark’s Covenantalism
Theology Seminar: R. K. McGregor Wright
“Eschatology” means the doctrine of “the last things” (ta ’eschata) and is God’s revelation about the future. The first eschatological prediction is found in Genesis 2:17, that if Adam ate the forbidden fruit he would die, and it began to be fulfilled in 3:22–23. Chapter five records that both he and his descendants before the Flood all died eventually, even if it took 969 years. In 3:15, the next important prediction was that a coming Seed of the Woman would suffer temporarily before crushing the head of the serpent. Gospel promises led inevitably to an eschatological vision of the future. The promises of the … Continue reading?

Save Us, O Turner of Tables!
Chad Richard Bresson
Psalm 69 Introduction When the dawn broke there was no stirring in the bedchamber. The master of the house did not show up for the usual breakfast that morning. This wasn’t completely unexpected. He and old friends had been up to the wee hours of the morning watching movies, laughing, and draining their favorite brew. And on this morning, no one dared wake him. They were under strict orders not to bother the man of the house under any circumstances. And so they waited and waited, not disturbing him throughout the day for fear of upsetting “The Boss”. The late morning became afternoon became evening. Finally, late in the evening … Continue reading?

CMC - Informative Content from Ross, Bresson, Dunn & Frampton

2011-04-11T12:11:00.029-05:00

The New Covenant Dynamic
Ed Ross: I am accused, at times, of over-using 2 Corinthians, chapter three, in my writing and preaching. I stand guilty as charged. It’s not that its truths are not taught throughout the New Testament (and promised in the Old Testament), but that this chapter captures a concise presentation of what I call “the New Covenant Dynamic.” Flowing from the ‘ministration’ of the gospel through the means of faithful witnesses (vv 1–3), the sovereign and miraculous work of regeneration is effected by the Holy Spirit, writing the letter (law) of Christ upon the hearts of the elect (v3). From that point, heart-fellowship with Christ becomes the dominant factor in a life turned … Continue reading ?

The Ten Commandments
Ed Ross: And the LORD spoke unto you out of the midst of the fire: …And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.Deut 4:12–13 And [Moses] was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And He wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. Ex 32: 28 As we come to the second giving of the Law (Deuteronomy), we stop to take at more focused (albeit very brief) look at these two tables of stone that have caused so much controversy … Continue reading ?

The Gospel in Genesis: The End of Jacob
Chad Richard Bresson: Genesis 32 The Word Proclaimed Our text this evening is Genesis 32, but we will open with Genesis 31, beginning with verse 11… this is what God’s Word proclaims to us: 11 Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this … Continue reading ?

The Fountainhead of the Abrahamic Covenant
John Dunn: The fountainhead of the Abrahamic covenant and its blessings flow from Christ Jesus. One of the blessings secured by the Abrahamic covenant is the promised indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which was prefigured by circumcision of the flesh and pointed to the circumcision of the heart by the Spirit. (Rom 2:29, Col 2:11) The Spirit is the ratification of the Abrahamic Covenant upon the hearts of those who are in Christ … Abraham’s true children. Gal 3:14–16 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. 15 To give a human xample, brothers: even with … Continue reading ?

Why Was the Law Given?
David Frampton: Galatians 3:19–25 Introduction In the Bible God tells us the story of his glory in Jesus Christ. He wants people to know him and his joy in sharing all his richness with those who deserve wrath rather than mercy. God wants us to understand and appreciate this great story, the greatest of all stories, because he knows we become part of this story by his grace. Therefore, as we live out our part of the story, we need to understand his message clearly. Lack of clarity about the message produces confusion in our way of life. Paul has been saying that the only way to be right with God is through … Continue reading ?

CMC - New Instructive Articles by Framton, Braye, Ross & Snowden

2011-03-29T18:23:00.000-05:00

The Last Edition for March 2011

No Changes Allowed

Tuesday, 29 March, 2011

Dave Frampton: Many people groan when they hear the word history. There are various explanations for this reaction, such as experiences of monotone, melancholy, or otherwise miserable teachers, testing practices that awarded grades for memorizing names and dates, poor attitudes of parents, friends, teachers of other subjects, or even of the townspeople where one grew up, etc. But it is a sad fact that many people have little interest in history. However, history is important (or ought to be!) to God's sons and daughters, since it is "his story" and we [more]

Keep In Step With The Spirit - Part Twelve

Tuesday, 29 March, 2011

Todd Braye: That Christ died for our sins in keeping with the Scriptures was and is for Paul a matter of prime and supreme concern. He delivered what was of first importance, what he himself received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in keeping with the Scriptures, that is, the Old Testament (1 Cor. 15:3-4). The apostle states that the cross, the blood of Christ, reconciled to God both Jews and Gentiles, both Israel & non-Israel, both the nation entrusted with the oracles of God and the “lawless,” into one body (Eph. 2:14-16). Elsewhere, the apostle pleads [more]

The Ten Commandments

Tuesday, 29 March, 2011

Ed Ross: As we come to the second giving of the Law (Deuteronomy), we stop to take at more focused (albeit very brief) look at these two tables of stone that have caused so much controversy among Christians in modern times. What is their significance today? What does it mean to be no longer under the Law, but under grace? Of course, we have been looking at the law from these and other perspectives throughout our series thus far; but here, I want to present a brief, more concise summary. [more]

The Mission Field of Marriage (1Cor 7:12-16)

Tuesday, 29 March, 2011

Jimmy Snowden: You will remember that in vss. 10-11 Paul merely reduplicates Jesus´ basic teaching on divorce. In the passage we will be looking at this morning, Paul addresses a completely different situation. Instead of addressing Christian marriages, he addresses mixed marriages—that is, marriages which consist of a believer and a non-believer. I find it interesting that God has decided to speak to this very issue in His word. There is oftentimes a tendency for those of us who are married to genuinely born again Christians to lose sight of the great blessing that we have been given. Those who are married to unbelievers oftentimes walk a very difficult and lonely road. I want you to know that if you are in this situation, God has not forgotten you. He sees your struggle. [more]

CMC - New Covenant Articles by Braye, Frampton, Ross & Bergeron

2011-03-22T12:23:00.000-05:00

Keep In Step With The Spirit - Part Eleven

Tuesday, 22 March, 2011

Todd Braye: What Paul gloried in, what drove him, what incited him to rapturous rejoicing, was not himself. What Paul gloried in was outside himself. It really had nothing to do with him at all. It was not what he achieved, but what God accomplished. It was not his performance, but God’s provision. It was not even his obedience; it was Christ’s obedience. Nor was it the theological tradition in [more]

The Curse Removed and Blessing Received

Tuesday, 22 March, 2011

Dave Frampton: Paul is saying to his readers, "Look at Jesus! He is the Redeemer" (cf. Jn 1:29; Heb 12:1-2). This is what we want you to know. You may have refused to worship God; in fact you may have mocked God by your words and way of life. You may have rebelled against God and his will. You may have refused to love God, which is the first and greatest command. But God is merciful; he sent a Savior to rescue you from the consequences of your rebellion against God. So then, think about Jesus Christ now. How can he set people free from the curse that comes from not loving, believing and obeying God? [more]

Rise Up and Enter In!

Tuesday, 22 March, 2011

Ed Ross: This is a message today’s church desperately needs. A large portion of professing Christians have received a false, and potentially fatal, understanding of the gospel, as regards faith. To them saving faith is no more than a mental acknowledgment that they are sinners and that Christ is the (or a) savior. They have embraced a teaching that insists that anything more than this is a ’works salvation’. [more]

The Apostle Paul's "‘Hermeneutical Key"

Tuesday, 22 March, 2011

Moe Bergeron: Speaking of the Spirit as Paul did in 2 Corinthians 3 is enough to provoke the antinomian hunters out there into a mad feeding frenzy --some from even within NCT circles! It would appear that our critics have forgotten that the Sword of the Spirit is the word of God and that word from Genesis to the Revelation. Who needs all this talk about law when you have the complete Bible in your hand? [more]

CMC - New Articles by RK Wright, Snowden, Ross & Frampton

2011-03-16T13:08:00.000-05:00

Why Keeping the Law Does Not Save

Wednesday, 16 March, 2011

Dave Frampton: Every person lives in the presence of God (“before God”) constantly. This is what life is about. Your life is very significant, because you were made to relate to God the Creator and Ruler of everything. This text is talking about how you may have a daily, vital relationship with the living God. The idea of this text matters to you because you are human. Your life is more than about getting stuff and doing stuff, and then letting the world know about your stuff on Facebook or Twitter. In this text, God is reaching out to you to be significantly involved with you. So how can this happen? [more]

The Womb Of The Promise

Wednesday, 16 March, 2011

Ed Ross: What did God do at Sinai? In a nutshell, He created a womb in which the Seed would be protected and preserved until the fullness of time— the ‘due-date’, so to speak. It was necessary to build a framework which separated Israel from the rest of the world, keeping them as a distinct and ‘peculiar people’. The Old Covenant, written on tables of stone, and ’fleshed out’ in the rest of the Mosaic commandments, did precisely that. To Israel were given divine standards of civil righteousness to preserve moral light in the world. (Upon these were built the legal foundations of western civilization). Attached to the Law were temporal incentives for obedience—the blessings and the curses. This was absolutely necessary prior to the indwelling of the New Covenant. [more]

Pursuing Purity in Marriage 1Cor. 7:1-5

Wednesday, 16 March, 2011

Jimmy Snowden: 1 Cor. is merely one little snippet out of a massive conversation that took place between Paul and the church that he planted in Corinth. This letter was born out of the nitty-gritty of everyday life. The Corinthians had written Paul a letter—much like a letter (or email) that we might write to someone like Gary Shogren if we had questions or issues that needed to be addressed—and Paul had written a letter back to them in response (i.e., 1 Corinthians) dealing with the questions they asked and the issues they raised. It is obvious from the content of 7:1-5 that the Corinthians had quite a lot to say about sexuality. This is what we will turn our attention to at this point. [more]

COMMENTARY ON SCOTT CLARK’S COVENANTALISM #34

Wednesday, 16 March, 2011

R. K. McGregor Wright: We turn now to some New Testament passages referring to the OT covenants and particularly to the arrival of the New Covenant. The hermeneutical question is: Does the NT text require or suggest that because the Messiah has come and died and returned to heaven, and a new covenant has replaced the Mosaic, and revelation has progressed to new heights and depths of redemptive truth, there will be no literal fulfillment of the Hebrew Prophets’ predictions of a coming Kingdom of national Israel centered in a Temple in Jerusalem in the promised Land? [more]

CMC- New NCT Articles by Braye, Snowden, Ross & Frampton

2011-03-07T13:48:00.000-05:00

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Ten

Monday, 07 March, 2011

Todd Braye: What we have in verses 12 and 13 is a description of one kind of gospel man, or men. You recall the Galatians were not seduced by men who rejected Christ outright. Paul’s agitators did not set out to attack the gospel per se. But their ‘gospel’ was a distortion of the Gospel. So, though these men masqueraded as gospel men, these were and are nothing of the sort (not in the final analysis, not upon a closer look). Paul describes them for us in various ways, exposing their motivation, their compulsion, their fear, their hypocrisy, and that in which they truly boasted. [more]

Immorality (Part 2) 1Cor. 6:18-20

Monday, 07 March, 2011

Jimmy Snowden: Sexual Immorality is Immoral Because it Profanes God’s Most Holy Temple (6:18-19a) We are going to be picking up where we left of two weeks ago. Paul has been railing against the church in Corinth for her sexual promiscuity. We have seen that Paul was not content to merely rebuke them for their sexually immoral acts. He did not just want to give them a list of rights and wrongs, although that he did do. He was far more interested in explaining why sexual immorality is so immoral. [more]

Moses Encounters, "that Name"

Monday, 07 March, 2011

Ed Ross: In the presence of "that Name", Moses, who was previously mighty in word and deed among the Egyptians (Acts 7:22), and who once "launched out" on his own to free his people, is now reduced to a stammering lisp, and overcome by feelings of total inadequacy. In "that Name", Moses is commissioned to lead God’s people out of bondage; and by YHWH’s mighty hand alone, Moses fulfills his commission. [more]

Sharing the Blessings of Agraham

Monday, 07 March, 2011

Dave Frampton: Let’s think for a few minutes about Abraham, because it will be hard to follow what Paul says to the Galatians unless you know something about Abraham. Paul now turns to the Old Testament Scriptures to confirm the teaching of grace as opposed to the false teaching of the works of the law. What we should learn is that what is true in the experience of the real Christian is also revealed in the Word. [more]

CMC - New Posts by Ed Ross, Dave Frampton & Jimmy Snowden

2011-03-01T20:24:00.000-05:00

Immorality (Part 1) 1Cor 6:13-17

Tuesday, 01 March, 2011

Jimmy Snowden: Sex is not inherently immoral. It is true that Paul is addressing sexual immorality in our passage. However, there is also something called ‘sexual morality.’ In fact, sex was created and given by God not just as a means for making babies (as many do argue) but also for the purpose of pleasure. Sex is not a dirty word so long as it is used correctly. Historically, the church has been so preoccupied with speaking against the ills and destructive aftermath of sexual immorality that she has said very little about the goodness of sex. One just need read the Song of Songs to get an understanding of what God thinks about sex. Just to give you a sense of the blessedness of sex [...]

How to Help Others

Tuesday, 01 March, 2011

Dave Frampton: Paul is giving solid instruction on a practical level about how to get the church of Galatia back together. The individual members of the church must become the menders of the church. As the physical body strives to put itself back together after a physical injury, so the body of Christ should seek to heal itself by the means which the Lord has appointed. Every believer is to be active in restoring and healing the body, which is the church. Menders must have a proper attitude. The NIV unhappily has not translated the connecting particle, "for". Paul is emphasizing that you must have a proper view of self, if you would be a helper of others. [...]

Joseph: A Believer in a Pagan World

Tuesday, 01 March, 2011

Ed Ross: Joseph has always been one of my favorite Bible characters. He is certainly one of the many Old Testament shadow-pictures of Christ. He was the seed of Abraham; he was despised and rejected by his brothers; he went down into the grave and came forth; He suffered much before being exalted to reign; and he was the savior of his people. But it is as a great example to New Covenant believers that, to me, he shines most effectively. Though he had not the New Covenant ‘Indwelling’, he was granted extraordinary grace to live by faith and be greatly used of God. Particularly, he stands with Daniel, in the Old Testament, as prime examples of believers living in a pagan world. [...]

CMC Update - Beginning In The Spirit by Dave Frampton

2011-02-21T18:15:00.002-05:00

Beginning In The Spirit

Monday, 21 February, 2011

Dave Frampton: Paul begins a biblical and theological proof of the good news he preached. While he does this, he also presents the relationship of the old and the new covenants. When he finishes, it will be clear that the Holy Writings teach one way of salvation: by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. In the section before us today, the apostle Paul appeals to what the Galatian believers know from their own spiritual experience. What agrees with what they know that God has done among them? Is it the teaching of justification by faith, or is it the false teaching of the works of the law being promoted by the false teachers? [...]

CMC Update - The Faith of Job by Ed Ross

2011-02-21T18:13:00.000-05:00

The Faith of Job

Monday, 21 February, 2011

Ed Ross: There is incredible insight into the high degree of theological understanding at this early date. (This should not surprise us, since Adam, over two thousand years earlier, knew God perfectly well. But critics often use the high monotheistic statements of the book of Job to deny its early setting.) Job's friends, though miserable comforters, were capable theologians (let us take note!). Their basic understanding of the character and nature of God is fairly sound, especially in light of the almost exclusively pagan idolatry of the time. In addition, the understanding of natural science is amazingly demonstrated in a number of passages (Job 9:9; 26:7, 38:31; et al). But it is Job's perseverance in faith amid great suffering that is the great theme of the book. [...]

CMC - February 10, 2011 - Fresh Articles by Todd Braye, Ed Ross and Dave Frampton

2011-02-10T11:19:00.000-05:00

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Nine

Thursday, 10 February, 2011

Todd Braye: The issue in Paul’s day and in the Galatian churches was as it is in our day and the modern church. A Biblical doctrine is preached, proclaimed, asserted, believed in, embraced; Paul preached the gospel. He preached Christ alone. He preached righteousness apart from works of the law. He never debated these things. These things weren’t open for discussion. Read Galatians for yourselves if you have any doubt in this. Dogmatism reigns here. And Paul had no cares about being called any number of things. He could care less what men thought of him. He even said to the Galatians that he had confidence in the Lord they would take no other view than his. [...]

Father Abraham

Thursday, 10 February, 2011

Ed Ross: As we come to the life of Abraham in Genesis 12-25, we discover a man who is revered by Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike. But I am afraid that those who have the greatest interest in Abraham spiritually have, perhaps, the least interest cognizantly. In light of the New Testament, and especially the commentaries of the Apostle Paul concerning Abraham, I believe most Christians have a very shallow appreciation for this Old Testament patriarch. It is true that they may have a great knowledge of him as the “Father of the Jews”, and as a focal point of “end-time prophecy”. But with this emphasis I fear that the true blessing of Abraham is usually missed. [...]

Practical Christianity: Using The Roadmap

Thursday, 10 February, 2011

Dave Frampton: One year while hiking in Acadia National Park Sharon and I had an interesting adventure one Saturday afternoon. It was on a trail that went up a high hill called “The Triad”. The park map saved the day! So as we follow Christ, we must use the roadmap he has given us. What is the roadmap of his will? The Lord has made this known in his word or message, the Holy Scriptures. What have we seen from the previous messages in this series up to this point? We have seen that the new life begins with a change of mind that produces commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation through his saving work. This conversion to be Christ’s follower puts new motives into the heart—to live a life worthy of the Lord and to please the Lord in everyway. The follower of Jesus now looks to the Lord’s glory as the most satisfying matter, regardless of the cost. [...]

CMC Update - New articles added from Heather Randall and Ed Ross

2011-01-29T18:13:00.001-05:00

A Tale of Two Testaments

Saturday, 29 January, 2011

Heather Randall: What is the biblical storyline? The fact that the Bible is divided into the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT) gives us a clue. The OT relates God’s story before Christ’s birth while the NT tells his story from the birth of Christ to the end of time. In Genesis we learn what happened shortly after creation. Ever since Satan enticed Adam and Eve to rebel, God has [...]

A Day Appointed

Saturday, 29 January, 2011

Ed Ross: Creation and the Flood are typically grouped together in any discussion of the trustworthiness of the beginning chapters of Genesis; not only because of their close proximity, but because both represent a watershed within the professing church. Those who reject the literalness of a universal deluge do so for precisely the same reasons they reject the literalness of the Creation account (see last week’s article). For many, divine judgment is the last thing to be accepted about a “loving God.” But the [...]

CMC Update - New articles added from Ross, Dunn and Braye

2011-01-25T17:01:00.000-05:00

In The Beginning

Tuesday, 25 January, 2011

Ed Ross: There are three basic questions of life that are quite simple to formulate, but which have confounded the wisest sages of human history: Where did we come from?... What is the meaning of life? What happens when we pass from this life? Countless volumes in the libraries of the world deal with these questions in one way or another. Yet, as we open our Bibles we begin a journey which has unraveled these "mysteries" of life to the satisfaction of some [...]

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Eight

Tuesday, 25 January, 2011

Todd Braye: The verse to which I now draw your attention is the tenth. It is a verse I nearly jumped over. But we must not do so. We must not skip over this verse for there is much in it which serves, I think, to fill out our understanding of what it means to live the Christian life. We have discovered that to live that life is to walk by the Spirit. This has been Paul’s grand theme in both this and the previous chapter. The believer’s behavior is, according to the apostle, determined not by Law, but by the Spirit of Christ. If we are [...]

Radically New

Tuesday, 25 January, 2011

John Dunn: Oh that the Church would be ravished by the radical newness and glory of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. In many conservative Reformed circles where long-entrenched tradition and Covenant Theology reign unquestioned and unchallenged, the New Covenant of Christ is massively devalued as being nothing more than a renewed administration of the Old Covenant “of grace”, wherein it is asserted that the unaffected core-substance of the covenant has merely been dressed in the outward apparel of new administrative clothing. It is argued that the New Covenant is not essentially new in nature in as much as it is outwardly renewed in the way it is administered. [...]

CMC Update - The Four Gifts Of The Holy Spirit - Terry Rayburn

2011-01-19T12:55:00.000-05:00

The Four Gifts Of The New Covenant

Wednesday, 19 January, 2011

Terry Rayburn: Let me first say that in one sense, the New Covenant is Jesus Christ Himself. That is, it's not just *from* Jesus Christ. It's not just *about* Jesus Christ. And it's certainly not *apart* from Jesus Christ. The New Covenant IS Jesus Christ in the ultimate sense. [...]

CMC - January 14 - Articles by Ross, Reisinger, Frampton, Braye and Wright

2011-01-14T18:00:00.000-05:00

January 14, 2011

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Seven

Friday, 14 January, 2011

Todd Braye: Last time in our studies I made two points. In our examination of this text, I drew your attention to a financial obligation. The 6th verse teaches that churches must care for and support their pastors. Second, and in verse 7 and 8, Paul warns against deception. He asserts that God is not mocked, the outworking of which takes place in the law of sowing and reaping. We reap what we sow. This is a self-evident [...]

A New Contract

Friday, 14 January, 2011

Ed Ross: Ed Ross: A covenant is a binding contract stipulating the conditions and responsibilities of a particular social or financial relationship between two or more parties. It may be multilateral, bilateral or unilateral, depending upon the circumstances. One such contract, with which most of us are familiar, is a loan contract to purchase a vehicle. Now suppose I seek a loan to purchase a car. Having terrible credit (just hypothetically), I manage to get a loan for [...]

The Believer's Sabbath

Friday, 14 January, 2011

John G. Reisinger: The key thoughts in the creative week in Genesis are work - finished - satisfied - rest. Those very same words also describe the new creation established by the finished work of our Lord. Christ was always Lord, as the second person of the Trinity, but he became Lord as a man in a new and redemptive sense at the resurrection and ascension. The man Christ Jesus has earned the right to rule and reign in sovereign grace. He is the undisputed Lord over God´s new creation. Our Lord´s right, or authority, to forgive sins is not part of his inherent Godhead as a member of the Trinity, but this authority was given to him by the Father as an earned [...]

Practical Christianity: Praise

Friday, 14 January, 2011

Dave Frampton: Picture the psalmist as a worship leader. As he leads all creation in praise, we should allow our souls to enter into the awe of hearing the grand choir of all creation singing the praise of the living God. Military guards will often provide a twenty-one gun salute to honor a person. This psalm is a salute of praise to the Lord. Over and over the call comes to us to praise the Lord. Let us join in with our whole hearts. The purpose of praise: It is the reason of [...]

R.K. Wright on Clark's Covenantalism

Friday, 14 January, 2011

R.K. Wright: The Davidic Covenant appears in 2 Samuel 7 and the parallel account of 1 Chronicles 17:16 f. Although these chapters to not use the word "covenant," God calls it a covenant in David's Psalm 89. David is promised that his descendent will build God "a house" (temple), and "your house and your kingdom shall endure before me forever; your throne shall be established forever" (verses 12-16), after promising the people permanent peace in their land (verse 10). David sees that some of these promises [...]

CMC - January 6, 2011 - Articles by Zaspel, Frampton & Wright

2011-01-06T11:46:00.001-05:00

New Covenant Theology and Mosaic Law

Thursday, 06 January, 2011

Fred G. Zaspel: The topic for study this evening is "New Covenant Theology and the Mosaic Law." If you're wondering why you haven't read of "New Covenant Theology" before now, don't worry -- no one else has either. But it is a term many of us have begun to use as a way of identifying the way we understand the schema of the Bible and of redemptive history. Simply put, we understand this age as having a distinctively "new" character to it. This newness shows itself in many ways, and it stems from the fact that we live under the provisions of the new covenant inaugurated by Christ. [...]

Practical Christianity: Prayer

Thursday, 06 January, 2011

Dave Frampton: Prayer is one of the best known characteristics of the religious person. Let there be a desperate need in someone’s life, and he or she will seek out a Christian, saying something like, “I knew that you’re a religious person, so I thought you could pray for me.” We must remove prayer from the realm of empty religious ritual. This is a danger of repeating forms of prayer, like the Model Prayer found in Mt 6 and Lk 11. Teaching about prayer can easily degenerate into promoting a new prayer ritual. We want to be free from that.
A familiar teaching form is one called ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. I’m sure many have been helped by that acrostic. But it misses something [...]

R.K. Wright on Clark's Covenantalism

Thursday, 06 January, 2011

R.K. Wright: The famous and longstanding division of the Mosaic laws into moral, civil, and ceremonial laws is found in mediaeval theologians. It is a convenient general classification for educational purposes, but it quickly breaks down if thought exhaustive, for many laws belong to more than one category. The Sabbath laws are certainly ceremonial, but they were also civil, applying uniformly to the community as a whole, and the mere fact that God commands something makes it “moral.” In Colossians 2, the “handwriting which was against us” was the text of the Mosaic system (especially the Ten Commandments; Ex 31:18, Deut 9:10) with its curses, incarnate in Christ whose body was literally nailed to the Cross (2:14). He there “became a curse for us,” and [...]

CMC - A. Blake White brief videos addressing New Covenant Theology

2010-12-29T13:27:00.001-05:00

A. Blake White, the author of "The Law of Christ: A Theological Proposal" has made available several or more videos explaining in brief New Covenant Theology. We've gathered five of his videos on to a single page for your convenience.
http://www.christmycovenant.com/index.htm

CMC - Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Six

2010-12-29T13:15:00.000-05:00

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Six

Wednesday, 29 December, 2010

Todd Braye: It comes as no surprise that the Great Shepherd intends His sheep to not be scattered. We read our New Testaments and learn that Christ intends His followers to be connected to each other in concrete fashion. They are to meet as those devoted to apostolic doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. As the pillar and support of the truth, the church is to declare the perfections of God. She is to be entranced with ascribing to God the praise due Him. The company of the saints as a company is Christ’s provision for the perseverance of the saints; it is never good for a believer to go it alone. Such an attempt flirts with shipwrecking one’s faith. The one who carefully reads the Epistle to the Hebrews will notice [...]

CMC - We Must Listen To Him - Ed Ross

2010-12-29T13:12:00.000-05:00

We Must Listen To HIM

Tuesday, 21 December, 2010

Ed Ross: The old bishop rose to his feet, and with a raised hand brought an instant calm amidst the frenzied dancing and loud singing of about one hundred Xhosa worshippers who had packed into the little mud roundhouse. A significant number wore the amulets and markings of witchdoctors. Indeed, many of the bishops among them were themselves witchdoctors. Their "Christianity" was a blend of tidbits of truth heard from missionaries long ago, and their native animism and ancestor-worship. As calmness enveloped the room, a wisp of dust gently blew through the open door from the parched ground outside into the sweltering heat of the little room. The old man began to speak with solemn earnestness [...]

CMC - Practical Christianity: Satisfaction - Dave Frampton

2010-12-17T14:36:00.002-05:00

Practical Christianity: Satisfaction

Friday, 17 December, 2010

Dave Frampton: Everyone wants to be happy. People everywhere seek pleasure. We are all like what Solomon says about himself in Eccl 2:10. Yet most people are unhappy—some more than others, certainly and many people would claim to be happy. But the amount of money spent on drugs (legal and illegal) that are used to avoid pressure from life’s problems, the growing failure of family life, the rise of road rage and many other forms of sinful anger and violence tells the tragic tale in ugly tones. The way of the world is the path to ruin, not happiness (Prov 4:19). In contrast, true Christianity knows from the Bible that [...]

CMC - Peace With God - Lloyd-Jones

2010-12-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

Peace With God

Thursday, 16 December, 2010

Lloyd-Jones: The Apostle teaches in many places that 'the carnal mind is enmity against God' [Romans 8:7] and that by nature we are all 'the children of wrath' [Ephesians 2:3] and 'alienated from the life of God' [Ephesians 4:18]. That is man by nature. He is afraid of God, he has a craven fear of God, a 'fear that hath torment.' He is afraid of the very idea of God. He feels that God is some great tyrant waiting to crush him. He dare not think about death and the grave because of the judgment that will follow it. As Paul teaches the Corinthians, 'The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law' [I Corinthians 15:5, 6]. The moment a man realizes the truth about God [...]

CMC - Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Five - Todd Braye

2010-12-14T16:59:00.000-05:00

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Five

Tuesday, 14 December, 2010

Todd Braye: I wish to give greater attention to this law of Christ as one who sees the glory of Christ and the faithfulness of God in it. If that were all, that would be enough, at least for me. But there’s far more reason why I wish to dwell on this. I am convinced that the law of Christ answers the question, “In light of the cross, how shall believers live?” If no Law, what is it a believer is to obey? [...]

CMC Update - The Threefold Nature of Man (Part Three) - Ed Ross

2010-12-11T16:51:00.000-05:00

The Threefold Nature of Man (Part Two)

Saturday, 11 December, 2010

Ed Ross: Last week we looked at the threefold nature of man - body, soul, and spirit. What does this mean to the child of God who has been spiritually regenerated and in- dwelt by the Holy Spirit? The Apostle expresses the love he has within his heart for truth and the things of God. Yet, because of that love, he must also express the exasperation he feels at the remaining corruption that [...]

CMC Update - R.K. Wright's Commentary (URL Correction)

2010-12-11T10:27:00.000-05:00

R.K. Wright on Clark's Covenantalism (URL Corrected)

Saturday, 11 December, 2010

CMC Update - R.K. Wright's Commentary on Clark's Covenantalism

2010-12-11T10:11:00.001-05:00

R.K. Wright on Clark's Covenantalism

Saturday, 11 December, 2010

R.K. Wright: The New Covenant was announced to the Twelve (and with whoever others were present) by Jesus as the “messenger of the covenant” (Lk 22:14-20), and becomes the covenanted promise of salvation for all believers from then on, however elaborated by the Apostles (Peter, John, Paul or the author of Hebrews). Nothing can change this, for the Mosaic system of Law imposed by ’entolai(commandments) and Grace offered by sacrifices, has been abolished in favor of a salvation completed (tetelestai, hapax) on the cross. Salvation is embodied (literally) in the incarnate Logos, who is himself the vehicle of all covenanted blessings, so that he is said to be himself the covenant (Isa 42:6, 49:8). Christ is therefore “the covenant” by the same figure of speech that he is “our Passover,” being himself the content and source of its promised blessings (Isa 42:6), and not just its prophet as was Moses. The same grace visible in the Mosaic sacrifices now flows from the Cross [...]

CMC Update - Keeping In Step With The Spirit - Part Four - Todd Braye

2010-12-06T15:52:00.002-05:00

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Four

Monday, 06 December, 2010

Todd Braye: There is a sense in which Paul is antinomian. He is against law. He is against it as the means by which one is justified; of this there is no disagreement or debate amongst Reformed Baptists. But Paul is also asserting in Galatians that law is not a means by which one is sanctified. Paul is also against law in this sense. This is a point of disagreement in Reformed Baptist circles. The fact that it is a matter of debate is no real concern for me….Again, I defer to Lloyd-Jones, not because Scripture isn’t enough to establish the truth, but to simply establish further what I have labored to establish, namely that Law in a believer’s life is far from a good thing. It actually works against the pursuit of holiness. Lloyd-Jones [...]

CMC Update - Practical Christianity: Essential Motives - Dave Frampton

2010-12-06T12:20:00.000-05:00

Practical Christianity: Essential Motives

Monday, 06 December, 2010

Dave Frampton: For most of my running career, I did not do well. I had a motive to run, which was to play basketball, but I lacked a runner’s motives. It was not until the end of my high school career that I began to understand something about running, and I suddenly improved. In the same way some people can have a motive to be a Christian (to avoid eternal punishment), but they seem to lack a Christian’s motives. We know that the starting point of practical Christianity is a real and living relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. We must have a change of mind and commit ourselves to God through Christ. Now we want to see that people in such a relationship with the Lord have new motives that flow from their repentance and faith in Christ [...]

CMC Update - The Threefold Nature of Man (Part 1) - Ed Ross

2010-12-03T15:04:00.000-05:00

The Threefold Nature of Man (Part One)

Friday, 03 December, 2010

Ed Ross: Like a rock through the canvass, the first human sin shattered the crystal perfection of God’s image. The perfect balance was lost. Man and nature became corrupt, and subject to corruption. Severed from God, the nature of man was turned entirely upside down. The flesh now ruled the conscious being (the soul), and the spirit became subject to the powers of darkness. The remnants of God-likeness - shattered fragments of wisdom, creativity, and love - were all now perverted to glorify man and to satisfy the flesh. Pleasure, possessions, and personal exaltation became the entirety of man’s world, under the “god of this world”, Satan (1Jno 2:16; 2Cor 4:4;). This unholy alliance of the flesh, the world, and the devil now dominates fallen man (Eph 2:1-3). This is the “natural man” born of Adam. [...]

CMC Update - The Slough of Despond - Reisinger

2010-12-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

The Slough of Despond

Thursday, 02 December, 2010

John G. Reisinger: "We have far too many preachers who are helpers of men's doubts instead of helpers of their faith. We have far too many preachers who seem eager to push people into the Slough of Despond, and too few Godly men like Help who labor to get them out of it. When men unashamedly declare that the "goal of true preaching is to bind the conscience to the holy Law of God," what they are really saying is, "Our goal is to get men into the Slough of Despond" as the essential means of conviction that leads to true conversion." May the Lord of the Church raise up more men like Help, Greatheart, Faithful, Hopeful, and Old Mr. Honest." [...]

CMC Update - The Greatest Commandment - Reisinger

2010-12-01T11:53:00.001-05:00

The Greatest Commandment

Wednesday, 01 December, 2010

John G. Reisinger: Terms stand for whole concepts and sometimes a whole doctrine. Let me discuss one term and how its use makes it absolutely impossible for two Christians to even seriously communicate with each other on the subject of the law until they first define the terms they are using, or possibly misusing. When the average preacher, or Christian, discussing biblical doctrine mentions Matthew 22:34-40, they nearly always say [...]

CMC Update - Clark's Covenantalism #28 - R.K. Wright

2010-11-27T15:52:00.000-05:00

R.K. Wright on Clark's Covenantalism

Saturday, 27 November, 2010

R.K. Wright: While the Mosaic Covenant was in force, God added a “codicil” to the Abrahamic Covenant, promising his descendant David that the Kings of Israel would come from his loins forever. The first of these would build the Temple, and it was Solomon who fulfilled this predictive promise. All the successive kings of the southern kingdom were Davidic kings, and the genealogy of Jesus in both Matthew 1 and Luke 2 shows that [...]

CMC Updates from Todd Braye and Dave Frampton

2010-11-22T16:03:00.000-05:00

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Three

Monday, 22 November, 2010

Todd Braye: (Galatians 6: 1-5) In the last two verses of the previous chapter, Paul makes this rather striking exhortation. He tells us to keep in step with the Spirit of Christ. Such exhortation is, of course, set against Paul’s anti-law rhetoric. I will not rehash everything. But Paul does argue against law in light of the cross. Everything Paul writes in this epistle is radically cross-centered. Everything he asserts is Christ-exalting. And everything Paul insists upon strikes at the heart of statements made by [...]

Practical Christianity - A Place for You

Monday, 22 November, 2010

Dave Frampton: (1 Corinthians 12:7-26) In this message we will seek to build on some teachings about the Christian and the church that we all should know: 1. The church is the spiritual body of Christ. 2. Every follower of Christ is a member of his spiritual body. 3. Everyone in Christ’s body shares many blessings: new life, the position of an adult son, the standing of a priest, and the possession of one or more spiritual gifts to [...]

CMC Update - Thanksgiving Lost and Found - Ed Ross

2010-11-20T17:39:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving Lost and Found

Saturday, 20 November, 2010

Ed Ross: Gone are the idyllic Norman Rockwell Thanksgivings of my youth. But how present are the memories! Each year, rising before daybreak, we’d roam the frosty woods of my grandparent’s farm, relishing our last few hours of small game hunting for the year. My Dad and grandfather, our dog, Mickey, the crunching leaves beneath our feet, the cackling of a startled ring-necked pheasant, the haunting perfume of spent gunpowder wafting on the crisp autumn air [...]
[New Covenant Theology]

CMC Update - Keeping In Step With The Spirit - Part Two - Todd Braye

2010-11-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part Two

Wednesday, 17 November, 2010

Todd Braye: We now return to our regular course of study in Galatians. As we do so it is imperative to be mindful of what the apostle has been asserting to this point, namely, and concisely, that those in Christ, who belong to Christ, are free from the Mosaic Law in its entirety. By way of the cross, Christ delivered His people from the curse of the Law. And He delivered them from its statutes, rules, regulations, and commandments [...]
[New Covenant Theology]

CMC Update - Practical Christianity - Dave Frampton

2010-11-16T19:59:00.000-05:00

Practical Christianity - The Starting Point

Tuesday, 16 November, 2010

Dave Frampton: Have you ever bought a piece of furniture for your home or office that says on the package, “Some assembly required”? Whenever I read that I cringe, because I’ve learned that it basically means that I have to do everything except manufacture the parts! But you know how it goes. You look at the parts and then wonder, “How in the world do you put this thing together?” Hopefully amongst all the parts you find [...]

CMC Update - Sanctification under the New Covenant - Carrie Bates

2010-11-15T19:22:00.000-05:00

Sanctification under the New Covenant

Monday, 15 November, 2010

Carrie Bates: God has revealed to us that he loves us unconditionally, yet sometimes we entertain the idea that this time we have messed up so badly that God is through with us. Not that he is through with us in the sense that we have lost our salvation, but in the sense of forfeiting any claim to any blessings. When we compare ourselves with other Christians, we sometimes feel that surely God could not love us as much as he does them. Spurgeon referred to these feelings as “the atheistic whisperings of Satan.” [...]

CMC Update - R.K. Wright's Series on Clark's Covenantalism

2010-11-13T19:28:00.000-05:00

R.K. Wright on Clark's Covenantalism

Saturday, 13 November, 2010

R.K. Wright: The Mosaic Covenant was “added,” says Paul, “because of transgressions…until the Seed should come…But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Gal 3:17-25). What exactly, was “added”? While the Ten Commandments summarize the heart of covenant obligation toward God and man, elaborate detail of civil and moral legislation are added also. These together lead to the inevitable fact that “they broke,” this covenant as Jeremiah [...]

CMC Update - Outrageous Faith - Ed Ross

2010-11-12T20:09:00.000-05:00

Outrageous Faith

Friday, 05 November, 2010

Ed Ross: How quickly we may come to value temporal things which can be seen above the unseen things of the Spirit, which are eternal (2Cor 4:18)! Yet, faith by nature, is treasuring the unseen things of God to the point that we live our lives in the light of them. In this, the giants among the Old Covenant saints often put us to shame. These all lived and died by faith in the “not yet”. They had not yet seen Christ appear. They had not yet witnessed the accomplishment of His atoning work, or His resurrection and [...]

CMC Update - The Practical Demand - Dave Frampton

2010-11-09T17:03:00.000-05:00

The Practical Demand

Tuesday, 09 November, 2010

Dave Frampton: After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God the Father highly exalted his Son as Lord and our Prophet, Priest and King. As Prophet he speaks with higher authority than all who spoke for God before him and his word is the final authority of our doctrine and way of life. As Priest he intercedes for his chosen people on the basis of his complete atonement for their sins. As King he rules over everything for the good of his church. We look forward to the day when we will see his rule fully enforced, and wee strive to obey him as Lord now. So we see that the doctrine of Christ’s ascension does not [...]

CMC Update - Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part One

2010-11-08T14:43:00.000-05:00

Keep In Step with the Spirit - Part One

Monday, 08 November, 2010

Todd Braye: Two things are true of every true believer. Everyone Christ set free from the present evil age, everyone in whom His Spirit resides, and everyone not under law belongs to Christ (#1). They are not their own. At enormous cost, they belong to Another. This has tremendous ethical implications. (#2) Such ones have given a decisive death blow to their sinful natures. This we took up last time in our study of the 24th verse. Paul there writes: “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions & desires.” They will therefore be increasingly marked by the fruit of the Spirit not the works of the flesh. If you are a Christian this is true of you. We belong to Christ if we have [...]

CMC Update - Dueling Prophets - Ed Ross

2010-11-05T21:22:00.000-05:00

Dueling Prophets

Friday, 05 November, 2010

Ed Ross: In every generation there are many Christians who stumble at the seemingly gross contradiction between James and Paul regarding justification by faith. The verses above are at the heart of that struggle. How can two inspired writers of the scriptures make such clearly opposite statements regarding faith and justification? The dilemma begins to unravel quickly when we realized that James is using both terms - justification and faith - in a different vein than Paul. Both words are used variably in the rest of scripture. For example, the justification of a sinner before God, is something quite different than the justification that will be God’s when He judges the people [...]

CMC Update - What Is New Covenant Theology? - Chad Bresson

2010-11-02T08:59:00.000-05:00

What Is New Covenant Theology?

Tuesday, 02 November, 2010

The Editor: Chad Bresson, one of the founders of the Earth Stove Society, has kindly provided CMC with an excellent outline that will serve to help define New Covenant Theology for our readers. We would appreciate constructive feedback from those who share the same interest. [...]

CMC Update - Loving Life - Ed Ross

2010-10-29T17:04:00.001-05:00

Loving Life

Friday, 29 October, 2010

Ed Ross: Ah..., how the knowledge of the sovereign God turns the tables on the world! He has created and gifted us in Christ to do the very good works which He has ordained for us (Eph 2:10). It is in finding our calling in Him, and living it joyfully to His glory, that we are doing the very best for this dark world. Thereby, we are salt and light to stem the tide of evil, and to point people to the Savior. The joy of the Lord, not the sorrow of the world, is our impetus and strength. We know that the [...]

CMC Update - Commentaries & Dictionaries (a warning)

2010-10-28T12:58:00.001-05:00

Commentaries & Dictionaries (a warning)

Thursday, 28 October, 2010

Gary Shogren: Kyle Anderson from Logos software just published a fine article on how to use Bible dictionaries. He warns against simply reaching for a commentary when we are studying the Bible. I heartily applaud this basic sentiment. As Christians, we are supposed to be enjoying the Bible, not reading the tale of how some other person enjoyed it. It is refreshing to read [...]

CMC Update - Christ's Intercession - Dave Frampton

2010-10-27T22:39:00.000-05:00

Christ’s Intercession

Wednesday, 27 October, 2010

Dave Frampton: The ascension began the reality of the new covenant life of the people of God. When Christ sat down at the right hand of God the Father, a stream of fulfilled promises came to realization. As king he fulfilled the promise made to David. As the first sign of his rule he poured out the promised Holy Spirit on the sons of God. As king he became Lord of the church. As Lord of the church, he gave gifts to his people to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The risen and ascended Jesus is the Christ or Anointed One. As we study the Scriptures we learn that the Christ has three offices: prophet, priest and king. Today, let us look in brief at the ascended Christ’s ministry as priest [...]

Jesus Loves You - Whack!

2010-10-22T13:54:00.000-05:00

Jesus Loves You - Whack!

Friday, 22 October, 2010

Ed Ross: How often, in the midst of our trying circumstances, does Jesus do exactly the opposite of what we would have Him do. “Lord, had you been here my brother would not have died” (vv. 21, 32). As the fire begins to consume us, He often seems to throw on gasoline. As we pray with tears for our sick loved one, death snatches away the object of our love; as we fervently pray for our dire financial situation, we lose our job; as we pray for the salvation of a friend, the lost one plunges more deeply into a godless life. Sometimes it seems that even when He does promise us a rose garden, He gives us all thistles and thorns. When He promises us a land of milk and honey we get [...]

CMC Update - Ecclesiology With Teeth - 1 Cor 3:16-17

2010-10-20T10:54:00.000-05:00

Ecclesiology With Teeth - 1 Cor 3:16-17

Wednesday, 20 October, 2010

Jimmy Snowden: The reason why the church in Corinth was fighting amongst themselves was at least partly the result of their faulty view of the nature of the church. If they would have truly understood what the church was, they would not have been so careless about the way they were relating with each other. However, their view of church was completely off base, which resulted in poor and careless handling of what God considers to be infinitely precious. You see, orthopraxy, right living, truly does flow out of orthodoxy, right believing [...]

CMC Update - The Giver of Gifts - Dave Frampton

2010-10-20T09:42:00.002-05:00

The Giver of Gifts

Wednesday, 20 October, 2010

Dave Frampton: Paul wants us to have a high view of Christ. This is one of the important reasons to know the doctrine of Christ's ascension. The Lord Jesus, whom we believe in, worship and serve, is no little savior. He cannot be put on a religious/philosophical shelf with Confucius, Socrates, Plato, Muhammad or anyone else! Nor may we pick and choose from his teachings. Not at all! We worship the King of kings and Lord of lords, and the only options regarding him are bow now or bow later. But you will bow before him! [...]

CMC Update - Will God Heal Us? - Gary Shogren

2010-10-19T14:59:00.000-05:00

Will God Heal Us? James 5:14-16a

Tuesday, 19 October, 2010

Gary Shogren: A Re-Examination of James 5:14-16 is intriguing on several counts: (1) because it seems to give an unqualified promise of answered prayer, as in Jn 14:13-14; (2) because it involves physical healing; (3) because the Catholic Church bases two of its sacraments on it; (4) because anointing with oil seems exotic to many Protestants. The need for a careful study of Jas 5 is all the more valid in an age when medical technology has taken on religious connotations of its own, when religion and science are neatly divided into Cartesian categories, with healing generally being claimed by the category of [...]

CMC Update - Diagrams of the Biblical Covenants - Shane Becker

2010-10-16T11:10:00.002-05:00

Diagrams of the Biblical Covenants

Saturday, 16 October, 2010

Shane Becker has kindly assembled and provided a number of excellent diagrams that will serve to help the reader understand the Biblical Covenants. Diagrams can always be improved upon and we encourage you to do so. We hope they will serve to deepen your understanding of God's Word. [...]

CMC Update - Experimental Christianity - Part Two - Ed Ross

2010-10-15T13:09:00.000-05:00

Experimental Christianity II

Saturday, 02 October, 2010

Ed Ross: In our last article I looked at the necessity of a genuine faith resting in union with Christ precipitating experiential and emotional realities. There will be more than a stoic acknowledgement of the truth. Emotions and feelings are never the root of truth, but they are a fruit of the Spirit and truth. They will vary from person to person, and ebb and flow through the Christian life. The objective truths of the faith remain constant, and carry us through times of darkness and insensitivity by the Spirit-wrought grace of God. But overall, there is an experiential reality to a true walk with Christ that must not be denied. I would now like to focus on the experiential aspects of effectual calling; that is, in salvation, what cognizant, experiential realities are essential and what is variable or secondary [...]

CMC Update - The Ascension - Outline 3 of 6 - Dave Frampton

2010-10-12T10:05:00.000-05:00

The Lord of the Church

Tuesday, 12 October, 2010

Dave Frampton: The New Testament Scriptures pulsate with excitement about the Lord Jesus Christ. The knowledge of who and what Christ is overwhelmed his first followers (Jn 1:40-41,45). After Christ rose from the dead and ascended in to heaven, an enriched understanding of him energized their lives (Ac 3:11-13; 4:30-31; 5:41-42). Sadly the contemporary church lacks this excitement about the risen and ascended Jesus. Oh, some may be excited about the group and worship dynamics of their local church, or about some other program. But I don't hear much talk about being thrilled about the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope that better things can be said of you [...]

CMC Update - Christ the Builder of His Church - Fred Zaspel

2010-10-11T11:36:00.000-05:00

Christ the Builder of His Church

Monday, 11 October, 2010

Fred Zaspel: In 1982 the Marxist government in Ethiopia closed all of the Meserete Kristos Churches and put their leaders in prison. It was the beginning of a terrible time of Christian persecution. The church went underground and continued meeting in homes. After the overthrow of the Marxist government in 1991, the church resurfaced to discover that they had grown tenfold from 5,000 to 50,000 believers. Amazing, isn’t it? But this is [...]

CMC Update - The Ascension - Outline 2 of 6 - Dave Frampton

2010-10-05T13:22:00.002-05:00

The Ascended Prophet

Tuesday, 05 October, 2010

Dave Frampton: True Christianity is a message of joy and confident expectation. It tells us of the living God who acts in human history to rescue his people by turning them back to him. It tells us that God has spoken, that God has provided for our most important needs (to be right with him and to have eternal life), and that God has a joyful future to share with his people. In light of this, it is surprising that Christians have paid so little attention to what the Lord the Spirit has revealed to us in Acts 3. Dr. Luke writes that his [...]

CMC Update - Bring Him the Sacrifice - Gary Shogren

2010-10-05T06:32:00.000-05:00

Bring Him the Sacrifice

Tuesday, 05 October, 2010

Gary Shogren: Isn’t it sad that while under the Old Covenant, people would take animals or even hundreds of animals to give special thanks for God’s provision but under the New Covenant we seem to stumble over thanksgiving? Is it because we expect that since God is gracious to us all the time, therefore a simple “thank-you note” of prayer seems sufficient? Do we somehow imagine that thanking God in a profound way will make us seem legalistic (I “owe” so much thanks for so much services rendered)? Or make us look as if we’re manipulating God for more goodies? [...]

CMC Update - Experimental Christianity - Ed Ross

2010-10-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

Experimental Christianity

Saturday, 02 October, 2010

Ed Ross: There is always a great deal of discussion in Christian circles regarding the role of experience and emotions in salvation, assurance, and in the Christian life. The issue may be framed by a single question: Is salvation based solely upon a personal action of the will to rest one's spiritual hope in the correct set of purely objective religious tenets? In other words, is the only real difference between a Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, or Jew, the particular religious dogma each has chosen to embrace? Are Christians saved solely because they happen to have embraced ("believed in") the right set of religious "truths", which center in Christ? Further, is evangelism merely getting others to believe in these truths about Christ? [...]

CMC Update - The Law, Calvin & the Christian

2010-09-29T11:22:00.002-05:00

The Law, Calvin & the Christian

Wednesday, 29 September, 2010

Todd Braye: I want to give greater attention to this matter of the Mosaic Law and the Christian. We’ve established the assertion that the Mosaic Law is an integral whole, not three. Whether circumcision, matters of temple worship, commandments regarding idolatry, the Sabbath, or honoring parents it makes no difference: the Law is a categorical unit. It is not to be divided. The Reformed categories of moral, ceremonial, and civil are impositions on sacred Scripture; they are not born out of Scripture, nor are they buttressed by Scripture. Law is one, not three. When therefore Paul says a man is justified through faith apart from works of law, he means a man is counted righteous apart from works of law, period. But the question quickly becomes: “Now what?” [...]

CMC Update - The Ascension - MSG 1 of 6 - Dave Frampton

2010-09-27T08:16:00.002-05:00

The Ascension: The Exaltation of Christ

Monday, 27 September, 2010

Dave Frampton: Certain teachings suffer ongoing neglect in the teaching of the church. I'll mention three examples: the doctrines of adoption, the priesthood of all believers, and the Ascension of Christ. The Ascension of Christ and its meaning is rarely preached or even considered. It is as if the record of Christ's return to glory and the present work of Christ have little or no meaning or significance to us. The books on prophecy fill many shelves. A prophecy conference will usually arouse many to attend. Christians are more concerned about what Jesus will do for them than what he is doing. Before we begin looking at the text, let us first read two other passages about the Ascension (Lk 24:50-53; 1 Tm 3:16). These will give us some additional background. [...]

CMC Update - The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus

2010-09-23T15:25:00.000-05:00

The Glory Of God In The Face Of Jesus

Thursday, 23 September, 2010

Murray McLellan: The two testaments proclaim the same message, but from differing standpoints. The first, sometimes using veiled and symbolic language, points forward in anticipation and the other, in clear and unmistakable terms, declares completion/accomplishment. Thus, we must read all of Scripture in light of the New Covenant, established in Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:17; Luke 10:23-24; 24:27, 44; John 5:46; 8:56; Heb. 10:7). We must read Scripture in context. The Bible needs to be understood and communicated not only in its parts, but also in the whole. [...]

CMC Update - Prayers of Paul - 2 Thess 3:1-5

2010-09-16T13:36:00.000-05:00

Prayers of Paul - 2 Thess 3:1-5

Thursday, 16 September, 2010

Dave Frampton: After praying for the Thessalonians, Paul asks for prayer for those who minister the gospel. There ought to be a reciprocity of prayer among the members of the heavenly Father's family. This is one of the duties that those who are taught owe to their teachers. The prayer for ministers in this section is focused on their ministry of the Lord's message. It is the message of the Lord because it tells of the Lord and he is the author of it. Observe again how true Christianity addresses the minds of people [...]

CMC Update - A New Contract - Ed Ross

2010-09-09T14:56:00.002-05:00

A New Contract

Thursday, 09 September, 2010

Ed Ross: A covenant is a binding contract stipulating the conditions and responsibilities of a particular social or financial relationship between two or more parties. It may be multilateral, bilateral or unilateral, depending upon the circumstances. One such contract, with which most of us are familiar, is a loan contract to purchase a vehicle. Now suppose I seek a loan to purchase [...]

Puritan Experientialism

2010-09-08T12:16:00.000-05:00

Puritan Experientialism

Wednesday, 08 September, 2010

John Dunn: As the name suggests, experientialism is a pietistic philosophy which emphasizes the importance of emotional and mystical experience in the lives of believers. The goal of this philosophy is to cause people to experience the Gospel in a deeply personal and devotional way. The means by which this is achieved is through preaching that is focused on bringing people to intensely feel or experience their need for Christ. This is accomplished through preaching that is focused heavily on the Law and sin. This unbiblical philosophy teaches that it is necessary to bring people to depths self-despair, misery for sin, spiritual mourning, and deep repentance so that they will “flee” to Christ from God’s wrath. [...]

CMC Update - Prayers of Paul - 2 Thess 2:16-17

2010-09-06T09:49:00.000-05:00

Prayers of Paul - 2 Thess 2:16-17

Monday, 06 September, 2010

Dave Frampton: This prayer follows Paul's thanksgiving for the salvation of the Thessalonian saints, which is in contrast to the eternal condemnation that is coming on those who have not believed the truth but who have delighted in wickedness. The section 2:13-17 is made up of three parts; [1] Doctrinal declaration. 2:13-14., [2] Practical exhortation. 2:15., [3] Personal intercession. 2:16-17. Note: A preaching of doctrinal truth provides the foundation for practical demand that leads in turn to the necessity of prayer for personal realization. This is the consistent order of the New Testament Scriptures. [...]

CMC Update - Act Like Men - Ed Ross

2010-09-03T15:13:00.000-05:00

Act Like Men

Saturday, 04 September, 2010

Ed Ross: Principled, unwavering strength has no need to prove itself. It acts always in love for God and love for man. It does not “turn to the left or the right’ under pressure. It courageously stands in the gap against evil and its threats to the Lord´s sheep. [...]

CMC Update - Prayers of Paul - 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

2010-08-27T13:59:00.000-05:00

Prayers of Paul - 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Friday, 27 August, 2010

Dave Framptom: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Connection: "with this in mind" - the manifestation of Christ's lordship at his coming. If Paul had the return of Christ in view, then so should we. We fail to face reality fully and properly unless we take long term events into account. To think in this way is to go counter to the natural way of thinking, which pays no attention to the coming judgment. The adversary would have us abandon a Christian worldview for the philosophy of this age. We must resist such temptations [...]

CMC Update - The Deceitfulness of Sin

2010-08-27T11:31:00.000-05:00

The Deceitfulness of Sin

Friday, 27 August, 2010

Ed Ross: The Deceitfulness of Sin
There is great danger in thinking that advancement in holiness equals a lessening of the flesh's corruption and deceit. The greatest saint may, in an instant, fall into the worst of sins. The Apostle Paul was wise enough to know that he had not yet arrived, and that he must strive to keep his flesh in check, lest having preached to other's, he should be a "castaway" (1 Corinth 9:27). If perfection of the flesh could come by our most zealous efforts then there would be no reason for the resurrection. Salvation does not come by the reformation of the flesh, and neither does holiness. Our pursuit of holiness is the pursuit of communion with Christ [...]

CMC Update - Christ, the New Torah

2010-08-23T16:08:00.000-05:00

Christ, the New Torah

Monday, 23 August, 2010

Chad Bresson: Christ, the New Torah
If Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the Covenant of the New Covenant the natural question arises as to what law must be obeyed under the New Covenant since the law delineated the stipulations of the Sinatic Covenant. Those stipulations under the Old Covenant outlined, among other things, the terms of righteousness and holiness. To keep covenant was to obey the law (a thought worth much more consideration at some other time).
Spurgeon, in a sermon on the subject of Christ as Our Righteousness -- taken from Jeremiah 23:6, drops this tantalizing thought: "Christ in his life was so righteous, that we may say of the life, taken as a vehicle, that it is righteousness itself. Christ is the law incarnate. Understand me. He lived out the law of God to the very full, and while you see God's precepts written in fire on Sinai's brow, you see them written in flesh in..." [read more]

CMC Update - Melchizedek - Ed Ross

2010-08-19T16:56:00.000-05:00

Melchizedek

Thursday, 19 August, 2010

Ed Ross: The priesthood is changed - the law is changed - the sacrifices are done away - the entire Mosaic economy, with all of its types and shadows, has been dissipated in the full light and fulfillment of the great Antitype. What magnificent and epoch-changing truth is packed into just four Old Testament verses! How much more of Christ must still be available for us in the Law and the Prophets (John 5:46; Lk 24:27). Lord, open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law (Ps 119:18)! [read more]

CMC Update - Prayers of Paul - Philippians 1:8-11

2010-08-17T13:50:00.000-05:00

Prayers of Paul - Philippians 1:8-11

Tuesday, 17 August, 2010

Dave Frampton: Philippians 1:8-11
The goal of this study: to learn to pray more biblically. Christians should pray for themselves and others an increased supply of grace so that "their eyes may perceive more clearly the inestimable value of divine things and have their hearts set upon them more constantly, in order that the fruits of righteousness may abound in their lives." [Pink, p. 200]
Outline of this prayer; [1] Its spring. 1:8; [2] Its petition. 1:9; [3] Its reason. 1:10-1

CMC Update - Aug 14 - New Covenant Sanctification

2010-08-14T15:26:00.002-05:00

Completed By The Spirit

Saturday, 14 August, 2010

Edwin W. Trefzger III: For the apostle Paul, the Mosaic law - or any external commands not grounded in the indicative of the Spirit of God given to dwell in the believer - is antithetical to our growth in holiness; rather it is the Holy Spirit who is transforming the believer from "one degree of glory to another," (2 Cor 3:18)[1]. Paul's teaching on the uselessness of the law to combat sin in the life of the Christian has been distorted through the lens of confessional Covenant Theology, resulting in a focus on law that continues to enslave believers in sin.[2] Perhaps Paul's exasperated exclamation and rhetorical questions to the "foolish" Galatians is [read article]

CMC Update Aug 11 - Perfecting Holiness

2010-08-11T13:26:00.002-05:00

Perfecting Holiness

Wednesday, 11 August, 2010

Ed Ross: I recently toured an old house in Lancaster County, PA, which was built circa 1900. In it was a beautiful kitchen with an old wood/coal stove, and period artifacts. All of the door frames, trim and cabinets were made of oak - or were they? The tour guide revealed that it was common practice to impress the appearance of oak grain upon the soft smooth surface of pine boards. When properly conditioned and finished with oak stain, the impressions would collect more stain and the resulting "oak" grain would disguise the true identity of the pine. The kitchen really did look like it was trimmed and furnished with genuine oak wood. But, having been "let in on the secret", closer examination revealed that the boards were indeed pine. [read more]

A New Post to CMC - Aug 5

2010-08-05T18:24:00.000-05:00

The New Covenant Community in Christ

Thursday, 05 August, 2010

Moe Bergeron: The promise of a New Covenant that God had made to the houses of Judah and Israel (Jeremiah 31:31) is fulfilled and realized in the New Covenant Community. Thus the New Community (the Body of Christ) assumes all of the prerogatives of Israel. Acts 3:25-26, Eph 2 [view lecture] A manuscript is available.

The Latest Post to CMC - Aug 4

2010-08-04T22:14:00.000-05:00

Jew and Gentile: What therefore God has joined...
Wednesday, 04 August, 2010
Chad Bresson: Just this past week, for the first time, I heard the simple declaration we hear at weddings used in the context of Ephesians 2. And for the first time, I perceived the marriage language being employed in a larger "Jew and Gentile" argument being made. The language appears in Ephesians 2:21. While the immediate context is certainly speaking to Jew and Gentile being joined together as a "building", i.e. the temple, Paul, as is his habit, pushes the temple language into the arena of marriage as well, with a simple use of the phrase. So tightly bound up are Jew and Gentile in the building of this new structure, a New Covenant temple, the binding is cast in terms of that call to mind the joining in marriage. And given the larger argument being made in Ephesians 2, Paul s use of the phrase calls to mind Christ s simple statement: The Jew and Gentile whom God has joined together as one new man, being built as one new building, let not man separate. [read article]