Baptism, NCT, and a Spurgeonesque Sermon

1. Recently began reading through Steve Wellum's chapter on the relationship between the biblical covenants in the new baptism book put out by B&H. This really long chapter is a feast for anyone at all interested in this vitally important topic - that of how the Old Covenant and New Covenant relate. Wellum is mostly NCT (see this post) in his perspective. This essay is an excellent introduction to NCT "fleshed-out" in a practical issue like baptism.

2. Was tremendously blessed to sit under a great sermon this morning on Joshua 8, preached by our pastor, Ryan Fullerton. This sermon is, in my opinion, "vintage" Ryan Fullerton, a man of great preaching abilities who is first and foremost a pastor with a large heart. I encourage anyone to give a listen to this message that you will NOT regret devoting the time to. May the Lord encourage you.

New Covenant Theology

I'm a growing fan of NCT - New Covenant Theology. What is NCT? My former pastor, Fred Zaspel, answers here: http://www.biblicalstudies.com/bstudy/hermenutics/nct.htm

I still need to study this issue of the relationship between the covenants and how the Bible fits together closely and for the rest of my life. However, I resonate with what NCT is saying.

Also, I've posted a portion of Grace Assembly's doctrinal statement below. Grace is a church that I attended during my Liberty University days. The elders there are very comfortable with NCT (something that I didn't realize / know a whole lot about while I attended). The primary preaching elder, Tim Patterson, can be seen in a picture on this post. Here is their NCT perspective:

21. The Old Covenant
The Old Covenant, with the Law of Moses as its core (1), was revealed to the nation of Israel (2), promising earthly blessings for obedience (3), and threatening curses for disobedience (4). Its purpose was never to offer eternal life (5), but rather to govern the life and worship of the Old Testament nation of Israel (6), to reveal the extent of man's depravity (7), and to foreshadow Christ and the New Covenant (8).

22. The New Covenant
The New Covenant, established through the Person and redemptive work of Christ (1), provides eternal blessings which are acquired by grace through faith (2). The Old Covenant was fulfilled in Christ, thus becoming obsolete (3). God's final words of revelation, given through Christ and His New Testament apostles and prophets (4), have become the authority concerning Christian conduct, and the interpretive lens through which the Old Testament must be understood, and applied (5).

see http://www.gaonline.org/

Seven Down, One to Go

[kristie here]

I promise I'm not taking over John's blog...I've just been pinch hitting while he has ever so dilligently hit the books and juggled many other responsibilities. Anyway, we're rejoicing today for several reasons:

1. John is officially finished finals, thus ending his seventh semester of seminary. He took quite a load this semester, so it's a good feeling -for both of us- for him to be on the other end of that tunnel. Lord willing, this coming spring will be his last and he'll have earned his M.Div by May, 90-some hours of graduate work later.

2. After two days of cramming, John also just completed the GRE test today. Why the GRE? Well, he's decided to apply for doctoral work. Unable to focus on this application requirement until he was out of the dark woods of finals, he literally signed up for the test on Monday night, studied on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then took the four-hour test bright and early today.

3. He did great! Friends warned him the test was brutal, and it was. Yet God was gracious, and he made a score he's very pleased with. If everything else works out, it looks as if he'll be able to complete the rest of the application requirements by the fast-approaching deadline, which would put him in place to begin further studies in the fall (as opposed to having to wait until next spring), should he be accepted into the program. The prospect is exciting, but we are confident the Lord will guide the next season of our lives through the opening or closing of this door we're knocking curiously at.

Relief is sweet, and so are the Krispy Kreme doughnuts I came home from work with to surprise him. All of those hours studying are made quite worth it with one bite of a Krispy Kreme. It's good to have my husband 'back' ;)....