Some thoughts on New Covenant Theology

Folks, please read the following short paper on New Covenant Theology.

http://fbceny.org/audio/cherith/Cherith_documents/FutureofNCT_Trefzger.pdf

New Covenant Theology resonates with me. As it continues to unfold in its developement, and continues to resonate with me, I shall then actively promote it, and vigorously so. In so doing I shall happily draw fire from both dispensationalists as well as covenant theology... Comes with the territory, I guess.

It comes down to the direction of the life and the regenerated nature of the believer. An athlete, one who truely is one to the core, will pursue fitness. It is his nature. Running, weight-lifting, practicing the moves, a careful diet - it is all his lifestyle. To have his routine interupted brings torment to his heart. Training is his life. He longs to be ready for the contest. He simply cannot have it any other way. It is his nature.

Now, think of the Spirit indwelt Christian. The pursuit of holiness is his new nature, as the pursuit of lust and pleasure was a part of the old nature. In his former days sin was what he lived for. Now it is different. Now he is a slave to God (Romans 6). The Spirit communicates all the benefits of Christ's crosswork to him, including writing God's law on the heart. Now the Spirit moves him to walk in God's ways, (Ezek. 36). For a professing Christian to continue to walk in fleshly ways all the time is to contradict the whole born from above experience.

Mark

Some thoughts

After the expeiences of a decade ago the Lord has placed me in a machine-tool shop. Our core business is the manufacture of geer generators and geers themselves.

As an aside I will mention that there was yet one more layoff in my life since the one mentioned two posts ago. It too lasted about two months, and took place a mere nine months after the first one. The irony is that, well, remember I mentioned the HR representative, Alicia, who collected my badge from me? She went on to greener pastures. Good for her! But guess what - I was there, as an employee, to celebrate her going away party. As it happens there was a lens grinding operation still in the building. There was an opening. Alicia called me on the phone to tell me that the job was mine. You see my reputation as a model employee went on before me, the boses having been over me before. The job was mine even without an interview. Alicia went on to tell me that there was a catch, though - the whole division was up for sale and the new owners could take the whole operation over to Italy with them. I told Alicia that I needed the job, no matter what. Yep, two months after the sale went through; and after promises from the new owners that our jobs were safe for at least two years, there went my job, Italy bound. So much for all those promises.

Can you say "layoff, part two"?

As I said at the outset in this post I work for a geer generator and geer manufacturing company. Hmm, don't geers play an important role in cars???

The Lord is in control of this too.

I share these things because I know that many of my brothers and sisters in Christ are going thru these same things. I am here to pray with you and to encourage you. We're in this together. But, more importantly, He will never leave us or forake us!

In this together with you,
Mark

The Days After The Layoff

Where to begin...

Following that dark day were some mental and emotional experiences that only those who have experienced a layoff can relate to.

There were trips to the post office to mail resume's, trips to all the factories in the area - even to those in other counties - to fill out job applications, and trips to the labor board.

It was while out and about that I had to deal with some thoughts and feelings like I've never had before.

I remember at one point watching a delivery man making a delivery to one of those mini-marts. I was at a red light watching him go up and down a ramp, in and out of the back of his truck, with one of those two wheel dollies. I forget what he was unloading, but I remember the thoughts that took over my mind; thoughts that I was no longer a contributor to society - I was no longer a supporter of my family. It seemed like I would never have a job again. Yes, there was a sinful foreboding. I'd never had to deal with such an dark situation before. Now was time for my profession of faith to become more than just a theory. As I said these were feelings that I had never dealt with before. A profound sense of grief was only part of the equation. I can't, even to this day, put my finger on the other feelings involved. I can only describe it as darkness.

Then there was that first trip to the Labor Board to file for unemployment. It was a very cloudy day which kinda matched what I felt inside. The line in front of me was long. It would be a two hour waite. To be sure there was plenty of time to sin against God by looking at the situation rather than being thankful that He was in control. Did I go the sinful route? Honestly, yes. At one point I just stared out the plate-glass doors at the sidewalk just outside. I could not believe the darkness inside. I had never felt anything like it before. To lose a loved one is one thing. This was a combination of such feelings as that plus the sense of failure and hopelessness. I wondered what it was that I had done wrong to get to this point in the first place. I knew of no unconfessed sin. I thought my "confession life" was current. I was giving to God's work. Why was this happening?

Well, the two hour waite was over. I was finally at the counter. And what happens? I found out that I was standing in the wrong line all along. To top it off, the woman spared no disdain for me, treating me like I was some sort of dummy for having made such a mistake. She also seemed to be of the impression that I was one of those chronically umemployed types who likes to mooch off of society. She did not know that I was a many times awarded, long time employee of one company. My awards? Suggestion awards that saved my company thousands of dollars, attendance awards, and recognition for being a model employee. Yep, that's who she was treating like garbage. If she only knew.

Well, I'll spare you the accounts of sleep-less nights and the like.

The amount of time before a job surfaced: about two months.

He was Lord over this too.

More later.

Please Pray

Folks, one of our bluecollar family is pretty sick. Jim Lush is going to the hospital today due to some terrible headaches. The doctors have been trying for some time to figure out what the problem is. The headaches are very serious. Please pray.

Mark

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS!

It was ten years ago today that I was laid off from my job of twenty two years.

How time flies.

It was one of those deals where a company chooses to relocate its operations to a place where operating a business is cheaper. In this case that meant that my job was split up between Mexico and Texas.

I worked for a well-known eyewear company. I plated sunglasses - the lens frames as well as the temples. The job also entailed responsibilities of repairing our plating equipment as well as running our plating solutions through filter systems on a scheduled basis. I actually enjoyed my job.

Well in April, 1997 we were told of our company's plans to relocate. It was now time to look for employment elsewhere. One by one friends started trickling out the door to new jobs.

I was in a bind. The only jobs available in the area were off shift jobs, ones that were 12 hour over night jobs. I thought such a work schedule would really wipe out my family time. Plus I was active at my church in the after dinner hours a couple nights a week. What a tough situation. I decided to waite it out since my plating job was not scheduled to actually leave the area until November, 1998.

The passage of time at work was occupied with training my successor who came up from Texas to learn my job. He was quite a charming chap. At one point he came right out and asked me what it was like to train somebody who was taking my job away from me to another state. Talk about awkward moments. Another thing that had to be done was to pump out the plating solutions into drums for shipment to waste treatment. I must admit that I actually cried while doing that. Nobody was there to see that though since I was the only plater of twenty left at the place by that point. I watched as auctioneers came in to auction off our plating equipment to plating shop owners who came in from across the country. All the equipment that I had operated for all those years was being hauled out the door to be loaded onto giant flat-bed trucks and taken to places like Detroit. I would look out loading-bey doors to see one last time all that equipment on the back of those trucks, knowing I was seeing it for the last time.

All the memories.

Then came THAT day - November 20, 1998. It was my last day. It was the day that I was to report to work to turn in my badge. The office part of the building still had people working. Some secretaries and office workers were still there, waiting for their own end. I went into the Human Resources deparment. Alicia was there. She was very gracious to me at this sad moment. Her time was coming too; but not today. Today was MY time. She was so sweet and gentle to me as she did what she had to do - give me an exit interview and collect my badge. Tweny-two years was coming to an end.

Alicia kinda bent the rules for me as she allowed me go back, badge-less, into the back of the building to say "good-bye" to Danny the plumber. He was busy shoring up the last of his duties at that time. He was headed on to open his own business in a few weeks.

I had to walk past the remaining secretaries, who were sitting at their desks and sharing some moments of laughter among themselves. They did not know that the person walking through their area was doing so for the very last time. Their moment was light, mine was very heavy.

I got to Danny's area, an area where he and I worked together for years. Then it happened. I did not expect it. As I was talking to Danny, knowing it was the very last time I was going to see him and the area where we worked I broke down and cried like a baby. I could not hold it in. he was kind to me in that moment. There I was, an accomplished power-lifter, crying like a baby.

I left the building "walking backwards". The memories. My powerlifting buddies and I worked side by side all those years. I was married while employed there, many of my co-workers were at my wedding. I had my two kids while employed there, again my co-workers were there to share the glorious moments with me.

That night my wife took the kids and I to the movies, just to ease the pain. After the movies, when she and I were alone I broke down and cried again. Karen did all she could to comfort me. Not only did I say "good-bye" to the past, but I was also headed into an uncertain future. All I could do was cast myself on God's mercy. He was Lord over this too.

More later.

Hey Free Gracer's, Gary (goe) and others...

Now is your opportunity to walk me carefully through this whole charge that Reformed folk preach a false gospel. Now is your chance to show me the error of my ways. I am opening up here.

Please keep in mind that your charges seem only to be a mantra to those of us on the receiving end. Please make every effort to clear this matter up. Please be as precise as possible.

Cristina, I remember...

Cristina is one of those few people at this blog whose exact birthdate is unknown to me.

BUT, I do know that her birthday is some time in November.

So Cristina I'm a wishin' ya a Happy Birthday today!

(number 52... that makes you old enough...Can I call you 'mom'?) :-)

In Light of the Election: A Command and an Encouragement

In Light of the Election: A Command and an Encouragement
The command: 1Tim. 2:1-4 "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Remember when Paul wrote this it was during the time of the wicked Emperors. We haven't seen anything like that yet. We must be faithful and obey the Word of God here.

I'm in good company with my take on John 8:30-32

Here is Ryrie's comment on John 8:31-"believed". Likely only a profession because of what they said in verse 33.
Ryrie Study Bible (KJV), page 1604

Here is what J. Vernon McGee said about John 8:31-32 - Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. It will produce something. After a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, he will want to "continue in His Word." The proof of faith is continuing with the Savior.
THRU THE BIBLE, with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. 4, page 419

More on false disciples…..

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

John in this passage describes some disciples who were not really disciples. He clearly states that if these disciples were true disciples, then they would have continued with us! But they didn’t and John said this makes it plain they were not disciples at all.

Isn’t this the same thing Jesus was stating in John 8:30-32?
Therefore, doesn’t this passage show that these were disciples in name only and not true disciples?

John 8:30-32

John 8:30-32 (Young's Literal Translation)
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
Public Domain
30As he is speaking these things, many believed in him;
31Jesus, therefore, said unto the Jews who believed in him, `If ye may remain in my word, truly my disciples ye are, and ye shall know the truth,
32and the truth shall make you free.'

John 8:30-32 (Amplified Bible)
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
30As He said these things, many believed in Him [trusted, relied on, and adhered to Him].
31So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.
32And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

John 8:30-32 (English Standard Version)
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of
Good News Publishers.
30As he was saying these things,(A) many believed in him.

The Truth Will Set You Free
31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, (B) "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will(C) know the truth, and the truth(D) will set you free."

John 8:30-32 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Truth and Freedom 30 As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, (A) [a] you really are My disciples. 32 You will know the truth, (B) and the truth will set you free."

___________________________________

As I've read this portion of scripture over and over, even in my Bibles on my bookshelf, it seems to me that these very verses indicate that believing in Christ initiates discipleship. Why do the words "remain" and "truely"(Young's), or "truely" (Amplified), or, again, "truely" (ESV), or, and check this out, ""If you continue in My word, (A) [a] you really are My disciples." (Holman Christian Standard Bible), appear in these verses? Again, "you *REALLY* are My disciples.??? Does Jesus see, as the Chaferians do, that the reception of eternal life and discipleship are two different things? If discipleship is truely separate from the reception of eternal life then don't you think that the wording of these verses is a bit odd?

Well it seems evident from this verse that the reception of eternal life ("believed in Him") and disciplship, ("remain in My word", abide in My word", "continue in My word"), are inseparable.

What say ye?