Christianity’s calling in the world remains that of offering the modern world a redemptive vision, centred on the life, death and resurrection of him through whom all things cohere, who by his incarnation shared our time in all its fallenness, so that with us it might come redeemed and perfected to its creator.
From The One, the Three and the Many: God, Creation and the Culture of Modernity.
PART II: DELIVERANCE
12. According to God’s righteous judgment we deserve punishment both in this world and forever after: How then can we escape this punishment and return to God’s favor?
God requires that his justice be satisfied. Therefore the claims of his justice must be paid in full, either by ourselves or another.
Ex 23.7; Ro 2.1-11
Isa 53.11; Ro 8.3-4
13. Can we pay this debt ourselves?
Certainly not. Actually, we increase our guilt every day.
Mt 6.12; Ro 2.4-5
14. Can another creature–any at all–pay this debt for us?
No. To begin with, God will not punish another creature for what a human is guilty of. Besides, no mere creature can bear the weight of God’s eternal anger against sin and release others from it.
Eze 18.4,20; Heb 2.14-20
Ps 49.7-9; 130.3
15. What kind of mediator and deliverer should we look for then?
One who is truly human and truly righteous, yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, one who is also true God.
Ro 1.3; 1Co 15.21; Heb 2.17
Isa 53.9; Heb 7.26
Isa 7.14; 9.6; Jer 23.6; Jn 1.1
From the Heidelberg Catechism.
Here.
The Big Red Tractor from Jacob Lewis on Vimeo.
HT: Tim Brister
Church Planting Novice + Creation Project = jonathandodson.org: On Christ, the Church, and Culture.
Be sure to adjust your links accordingly, visit often, and join our Triune God’s mission in his Creation Project.
9. But doesn’t God do us an injustice by requiring in his law what we are unable to do?
No. God created humans with the ability to keep the law. They, however, tempted by the devil, in reckless disobedience, robbed themselves and all their descendants of these gifts.
Ge 1.31; Eph 4.24
Ge 3.13; Jn 8.44
Ge 3.6
Ro 5.12,18-19
10. Will God permit such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?
Certainly not. He is terribly angry about the sin we are born with as well as the sins we personally commit. As a just judge he punishes them now and in eternity. He has declared: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’
Ex 34.7; Ps 5.4-6; Na 1.2; Ro 1.18; Eph 5.6; Heb 9.27
Dt 27.26; Gal 3.10
11. But isn’t God also merciful?
God is certainly merciful, but he is also just. His justice demands that sin, committed against his supreme majesty, be punished with the supreme penalty–eternal punishment of body and soul.
Ex 34.6-7; Ps 103.8-9
Ex 34.7; Dt 7.9-11; Ps 5.4-6; Heb 10.30-31
Mt 25.35-46
From the Heidelberg Catechism.
Another couple classes I’m currently in this semester are History and Philosophy of Christian Education and Theological Education in Intercultural Contexts. For the former course, the main objective will be to create my own philosophy of Christian Education; for the latter, the objective will be to develop a Manifesto (both in theory and practice) for Renewal in Theological Education. Of course, the layout and design of each depend greatly upon one’s vision, goals, etc., as well as on the setting (formal/informal) for the intended education/discipleship. As for the supplementary lists below, I included those titles I already have on hand. In my hopeful and strategic view, these two classes can best be worked through as complementary rather than at odds with each other. Again, you are welcome to suggest additional books that may deepen and broaden my own research. Thanks!
History and Philosophy of Christian Education
Required:
A Theology for Christian Education (Estep/Anthony/Allison)
A History of Christian Education (Reed/Prevost)
Philosophy & Education: An Introduction in Christian Perspective (Knight)
Supplementary:
On Christian Teaching (On Christian Doctrine) (Augustine)
Christian Knowledge (Edwards)
Theological Education in Intercultural Contexts
Required:
Reenvisioning Theological Education (Banks)
Theological Education Matters: Leadership Education for the Church (Cannell)
Theologia: The Fragmentation and Unity of Theological Education (Farley)
Teaching Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Learning and Teaching (Lingenfelter)
Supplementary:
The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church (Alan Hirsch)
Total Church: A Radial Reshaping around Gospel and Community (Chester/Timmis)
The Calvinistic Concept of Culture (Van Til)
Rethinking Worldview: Learning to Think, Live, and Speak in This World (Bertrand)
If you’ve registered and are planning to attend the (sold out) Verge Conference in Austin next week (4-6), here’s a little about its purpose, and what to expect.
A good bit on how we can be prayerfully preparing our own hearts between now and then:
What will happen at Verge? It largely depends on you. Will you come to engage, repent, adjust, encourage, affirm, critique, dialog, and strategize? If you do, great things could happen. Let’s pray they would, starting now. Let’s come, not just to consume, but to give and strengthen one another in the great task of gospel leadership and the mission of the church.
