Hays: Difficulties for contemporary Christian theology

Richard Hays: Difficulties for contemporary Christian theology “Difficulties for contemporary Christian theology arise wherever acute awareness of continuity with Israel’s scripture is lost – whether  unwittingly forfeited or deliberately rejected. Many Christian congregations today are in fact naïvely Marcionite in their theology and practice: in their worship services they have no Old Testament reading, or […]

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The Justice System established for God’s Church

“Justice and only justice you shall seek” – Deu 16:20 1. Jesus establishes a justice system for the New Covenant community (Mat 18:15-20). 1.1. Jesus is not inventing something new but rather re-instituting the system of justice established by God for the Old Covenant community. That system of justice was dependent on the following 4 […]

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Understanding Justice and Repentance

The relationship between Justice and Repentance is inextricable. Therefore, to understand one, we must understand both. With that mind, consider the following regarding Repentance and Justice: 1. As it relates to Justice: 1.1. God loves justice and those who pursue it. This was also His goal in creating a people for Himself. They would be […]

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New Covenant Jurisprudence

“Oh Lord, according to your justice, give me life” (Psa 119:149b) ju·ris·pru·dence = a legal system One of the first things Jesus makes clear during His earthly ministry is that the entire content of the Law (the legal system established by God under the OC) remains intact for the New Covenant Community/Church (Mat 5:17-20). In […]

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Capital Crimes

One of the first things Jesus makes clear during His earthly ministry is that the entire content of the Law (“every jot and tittle”) remains intact for the New Covenant Community (Mat 5:17-20). In the words of the Reformers, the Law changes not in substance, only in application. This includes also its jurisprudence (i.e. system […]

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Law/Gospel Dichotomy?

Dr Elmer Martens’ conclusion on Paul’s view of the Law in his essay, Embracing The Law: A Biblical Theological Perspective “Paul is fighting on two fronts: against those antinomians who hold that Christ’s coming abrogates law, and against super nationalists who maintain Jewish exclusivism on the basis of the law. So Paul can be heard […]

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Marriage Covenant Theology – Justification

Justification which refers to a person possessing a righteous state before God is the necessary pre-requisite to entering into the marriage covenant relationship w/God. In the redemptive history of the Bible, we experience two forms: one which is now obsolete, the other which is presently in force.  They may be referred to as Passover Justification […]

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Marriage Covenant Theology

All saving relationships between God and man in the Bible are patterned after the marriage covenant. There are five [1] major marriage covenants in the Bible: the Adamic Covenant [2], Noahic Covenant, Abrahamic Covenant, Mosaic Covenant and New Covenant.

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Galatians 1: More Backstory

Christ Covenant Church is in the midst of a study of the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul’s first epistle. This sermon is an in-depth look at the historical circumstances which caused the book to be written. This is a history of Paul from conversion to the writing of Galatians and this message deals with […]

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Justification Rediscovered: History

One of the key factors in understanding the Bible’s teaching on Justification is history or historical context. In other words, words have meaning which are directly tied to and determined by the historical context in which they are communicated. This means, if we are going to understand what any of the given biblical authors are […]

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20 Statements Characteristic of Antinomianism

There is only one heresy, and that is Antinomianism. – Rabbi Duncan The following is taken from the article “Antinomianism” as found in The Encyclopedia of Christianity, edited by Edwin H. Palmer. As a part of the longer article, William Young seeks to provide a definition for antinomianism and then gives twenty ideas which are […]

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The ‘obedience of faith’ according to Paul

The following quotes are from ‘The Obedience of Faith’ A Pauline Phrase in Historical Context by Don Garlington. The work of Garlington and others like him has proven invaluable in determining the structure of the Christian faith and covenant by providing a historically accurate picture of Second Temple Judiasm. This picture shows that Judaism was […]

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