Calvin Synod Herald, 2008 (109. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
2008-01-01 / 1-2. szám
10 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD A Christian View of Time Continued front page 9 the Torah was a failed endeavor entirely. Only in Christ can we, Jews and Gentiles, receive the fullness of the Father’s blessing. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. ” (Romans 8: 1-4) Going back to the Torah and its calendar would return them to a world of spiritual powerlessness and ultimate hopelessness - a world where the Messiah was not known. Paul called that bit of religious nostalgia “going back to weak and miserable principles” because they portrayed a world that did not know Jesus Christ as the Risen Lord whose reign was confirmed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Paul makes a similar statement in Colossians 2 though we are not sure if he is speaking to a primarily Jewish or ProtoGnostic or Jewish-ProtoGnostic sect! Nevertheless, Paul still calls any return to a Christless calendar or Christless system of viewing the world as empty, hollow, and deceptive. Heeding Paul’s warnings, the Christian Church developed a uniquely Christian calendar that focused the truths of the Apostle’s Creed as they unfold throughout the year so that believers could walk with Christ’s kingship fully in mind throughout the year. The Christian calendar evolved and had to be reformed in the West. But whether we are speaking about the Continental Reformers who retained the so-called “Evangelical Feasts” of the Christian year or the Congregationalists who preferred to exalt the weekly Lord’s Day, our forefathers in the United Church of Christ and all “mainline” churches shared a common view of the calendar. For them a calendar, as way of organizing our lives and time, had to be Christocentric. A Christian view of time required them to conceive of time in terms that were inseparable from the fundamental facts of the Apostle’s Creed. As some choose to “celebrate” the “winter solstice” as a means of “affirming interfaith connections,” we must ask if we are doing the most unloving thing conceivable to the friends to whom we are attempting to demonstrate good will. Are we ourselves thereby returning to a world that does not acknowledge history’s most important fact: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? And by doing that are we continuing to subject ourselves and our supposed friends to more time in the darkness of unbelief? Rev. Chuck Huckaby First Presbyterian Church Lawrenceburg, TN Reformed Doctrine, Chapter XIII of Sanctification i. Those who are effectually called are regenerated. They have a new heart and new spirit. They are sanctified, actually and personally through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection. [ 1 ] His word and Spirit dwelling in them sanctifies them. [2] The dominion of sin over the whole body is destroyed. [3] The lusts of the flesh become weaker and weaker and are controlled. [4] Their person is more and more lively and strengthened in all saving graces.[5] They are enabled to practice true holiness, which is required of all who will see Jesus. [6] II. The whole man is sanctified. [7] Yet, he will be imperfect in this life because there is corruption still remaining in every part of him. [8] From this corruption comes a continuous and irreconcilable war with the flesh warring against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. [9]. III. In this war the corruption of the flesh may abundantly prevail for a time. [10] However, because of the continuous supply of strength from the Sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part of man prevails.[ll] These saints grow in grace[12] bringing to maturity holiness in the fear of God.[13] Questions 1. What is the difference between sanctification and justification? 2. In what sense is sanctification active or accomplished by the person? 3.. Does sanctification originate or end in the person? 4. When does sanctification become complete? 5. Why is said there is a war in the flesh of man? 6. Why does the elect win the final battle with the flesh? [1] I Thess. 5:23-24; II Thess. 2:13-14; Ezek. 36:22-28; Titus 3:5; Acts 20:32; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5-6 [2] John 17:17, 19; Eph. 5:26; Rom. 8:13-14; II Thess. 2:13 [3] Rom. 6:6, 14 [4] Gal. 5:24; Rom. 8:13 [5] Col. 1:10-11; Eph. 3:16-19 [6] II Cor. 7:1; Col. 1:28, 4:12; Heb. 12:14 [7] I Thess. 5:12; Rom. 12:1-2 [8] I John 1:8-10; Rom. 7:14-25; Phil. 3:12 [9] Gal. 5:17 [10] Rom. 7:23 [11] Rom. 6:14; 1 John 5:4; Eph. 4:15-16; see Rom. 8:2 [12] II Peter 3:18; II Cor. 3:18 [13] II Cor. 7:1 OOÖ Dr. Chuck Baynard
