Lee, that is the real key for me. I had been a Christian for 25 years and had taught in a number of capacities, and still did not understand that the GOSPEL is the heartbeat of this whole deal. I just didn't "get it" that this whole deal is about JESUS and his death/forgiveness/resurrection, and the positive righteousness and UNION with him. I almost blew up my life about 15 years ago (no adultery, but some pretty serious financial sin) and I was FORCED back to the place where I came to Jesus. I had thought of my life as kind of a "doorway" (the gospel) into a workout room (Chrisian disciplines).... and I had been hell on wheels on those disciplines. I was shocked at myself and so ashamed and humiliated, and I bless God for it now. My message had been a version of "God's way works....., just look at me and be in awe!" And yet, when He saved me, I had been just happy he would have me. It was rediscovering the simple gospel and the joy from that caused me to fall in love again with covenant theology. Seeing the entire Old Testament as the great throbbing heart of God as he lays out the SAME message of CHRIST, CHRIST, CHRIST makes it so much more a relevant message...., as it is esentially the SAME message all the way through. I think one of the reasons that covenant theology is not as attractive to some of my brothers is that the church as a whole today is confused about the role of the gospel in the Christian life, and therefore, most people don't see the screaming need for it. I know that was the case for and with me. I don't hate my dispensational brothers, but I think the dispensational division of scriptures really does obscure the gospel in a large part of the Bible. That is the only reason I really care about it, truth be told. In looking at how I "lost" the gospel in all of my evangelical legalism, I just want to avoid anything that doesn't bring that message front and center, all the time.
I got 50 workers' comp policies left to process, it is 11:30 and I am tired. Gotta go.
Grace, and peace from the prince of Peace.
DoP
Our current Sunday School class is about Abraham, and is just like that. I'm waiting to see what he'll make of the covenant (or even if he gets around to it).Lee, that is the real key for me. I had been a Christian for 25 years and had taught in a number of capacities, and still did not understand that the GOSPEL is the heartbeat of this whole deal. ...Seeing the entire Old Testament as the great throbbing heart of God as he lays out the SAME message of CHRIST, CHRIST, CHRIST makes it so much more a relevant message...., as it is esentially the SAME message all the way through.
Said Sunday School class did get to Genesis 15 this last Sunday. What did our teacher have to say about the covenant? About the strange (to our eyes) ritual of the cut animals, and the smoke and the fire of the Almighty (not Abram!) passing between them?
Not. One. Blessed. Thing.
Abraham's life is a sequence of moral lessons, and the promise was about the land. And we're going to get to see a John Hagee video about it an a week or two. Joy.
I wonder if I can get the teacher to read God of Promise?