Redemption Applied

My next paper was titled "Redemption Applied." I particularly enjoyed this one, as I have changed my views in the last year on this one. The issue of redemption applied is intimately tied to the ordo salutis (i.e. the order of salvation). It is basically asking the question, how are the benefits of Christ's accomplishments applied to the believing sinner? I am only concerned in this paper with the actual life history of the believer, so election is not dealt with. It ended up being 18 after the bibliography, but here is bare outline:
I. Evangelical Opinions
A. Arminian: Believer chooses, and thereby receives the benefits of redemption (synergism).
B. Calvinism: Believer is regenerated, or born again, and thus enabled to believe and receive the benefits of redemption (monergism).
C. Calvinists who see problems with the traditional way Calvinists have articulated the ordo salutis. This is the position I am arguing for, but going one step further than most.
1. There are several criticisms here (see Gaffin, Ferguson, Hoekema) but the primary concern is that in focusing on separate acts in salvation, Christ recedes into the background. E.g. Focusing on the ordo at the expense of salutis.
II. Union with Christ
A. The Central Soteriological Doctrine. Note Calvin: "First, we must understand that as long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from him, all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value for us." Union with Christ is the atlas upon which all redemptive benefits turn on.
III Union Appropriated
A. We are united to Christ by Spirit-worked faith. Gal 2.20, 3.26-29, Eph 2.5-8, 3.17, Col 2.12
IV. Faith's Origin
B. Faith is Spirit-worked, through the effectual call of the gospel (I am distinguishing effectual call and regeneration).
V. Always Reforming
A. New life is to be conceived in being raised with Christ (i.e. union with him), of which faith is instrumental (Eph 2.5 & 2.8 - the 'by faith that is explicit in v. 8 is implicit in v. 5 & Col 2.12-13). This has implications for the traditional Reformed doctrine of regeneration. New life (regeneration) is ever only sharing in the resurrection life of Jesus!
VI. Conclusion
A. The believing sinner receives Christ and is united to him, receiving all that he has won for us, by Spirit-worked faith.

See Calvin's "Institutes," Gaffin's "Resurrection and Redemption," and Hoekema's "Saved By Grace."

Watch the new video for the 2008 Together for the Gospel Conference. It is entertaining and encouraging. I think my favorite part is when C.J. Mahaney randomly picks a book out in Dr. Mohler's library and asks Mohler what it is about. I am glad he is my president.

What's on your mind?

This morning, Pastor Daniel mentioned the importance of meditating on the objective work of Christ, rather than introspection. This aspect of the Christian life is so important. We live in such an individualistic and thereapeutic culture that promotes self-centeredness to an unhealthy level. For the believer, one must no doubt examine oneself often (1 Cor 13:5, 1 Cor 11), but it can easily become unhealthy introspection. The believer must examine their heart, and look for wrong motives, but after a brief check, we must look to Christ, crucified and risen, and repent. You cannot experience the joy and freedom of the gospel, if you do not make it a priority to preach the gospel to yourself, daily. Begin the day by focusing on what Christ has accomplished. Look outside of yourself, and think about God's work in Christ. There are two gospel errors to aviod. Focusing on yourself will either lead to despair (because you never have it all together), or arrogance (because you think you have it together when you really don't). Focusing on the gospel leads to joy in Christ (you will never have it all together but Christ does, and he is yours by faith, so rest in him).

I must be a heretic

N.T. Wright reviews C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity"

Definite Atonement

Spring Reading Days is over, and the semester is winding down. That means deadlines are quickly approaching. I have 2 of my 3 papers pretty much finished, so I thought I'd post the outlines of them. The first is on the extent of the atonement, or in other words, for whom did Christ die? Another way of posing the argument could be, did the cross actually accomplish anything. The argument of my paper is that it did indeed. I consider this doctrine second-order and not worth fighting (too much) over. The important issue is the nature of the atonement (penal substitution). As long as one believes that Christ actually paid for sin on the cross, we are on the same team. I just think the implication of substitutionary atonement is an atonement that is limited and effective. Christ actually paid for my sins on the cross.

I. Historical Evangelical Views
A. Arminianism - Universal Atonement
B. Hypothetical Universalism, a.k.a. 4 point Calvinism, 1 point Arminianism, Amyraldianism
C. Calvinism - Limited or Definite Atonement or Particular Redemption
II. Terminology
III. Particular Language
A. Matt 1.21, Luke 1.68, Is 53.8, Rev 5.9, Jn 15.13, Matt 20.28, John 10.11-15 (&10.26)
B. John 6.37-44, Eph 5.22-31
IV. Key Texts (Exegesis)
A. Romans 8.32
B. Romans 5.18
C. 2 Cor 5.14-15
D. 1 John 2.2
E. 2 Peter 3.9
V. Christ Our Great High Priest
A. Priestly Work is that of intercession and atonement. Jn 17 (v.(9)
VI. Trinitarian Harmony
A. Father chooses, Son redeems the chosen, Sprit applies redemption to the chosen
VII. The Gift of Salvation
A. The entire new covenant (faith, repentance, union with Christ, justification, and every redemptive benefit) is a blood-bought gift.
VIII. Effective Atonement
A. Scripture teaches that Christ's cross work did actually accomplish salvation. The cross saves.

For more, see Robert Letham "The Work of Christ," John Murray "Redemption Accomplished and Applied," and Robert Reymond "A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith."

Durant leaves

This is old news by now, but I was out of town so in case you haven't heard the bad news, Kevin Durant is leaving Texas and going pro. I guess one can't blaim him. He won all 6 national player of the year awards, and the NBA pays much better. I hope he does well. The NCAA hasn't seen talent like his in a long time. Strength will be the test.

"We are so greatly formed by our reading (or lack of reading), and the persons we read about were shaped by their reading. . . . Reading is a crucial means of education and gaining knowledge. But books mean more than knowledge in the most basic sense. Books allow minds to meet, ideas to be exchanged, and experiences to be remembered or imagined. Those who do not read impoverish themselves by choice. They are the thieves of their own imaginations and wisdom."

--Albert Mohler

It's Friday

Happy Good Friday. I wonder if unbelievers consider us strange for calling it good. Really, what could be good about a Jewish carpenter being executed in the cruelest means possible? Hanging naked on a tree, beaten and bloody, suffocating in his own blood. Good? Sadly though, all too many only associate this weekend with bunnies, and eggs, rather than the cross of Christ.

Oh but it is good. Almost too good to be true, but it is true. The God-man was crucified, and risen, in space and time history. We sinned, and offended God, but he became a curse for us. He bore the weight of God's wrath so we wouldn't have too. The suffering servant (Is 53) fulfilled his task on earth. The true Israel overcame his temptation (Matt 4). The last Adam won back what was lost in the garden (Gen 1-2), and ushered in the new creation. God's plan has come to fulfillment in the person and work of his Son, and we await its fulfillment. It is good.

But it wouldn't be good without Sunday. I recently had a conversation with a college student, who took the label of Christian. But for him, it would be okay if someone did find the bones of Jesus. He said his spirituality is not physical. This notion of spirituality is foreign to the New Testament writers. Without Sunday, we would still be in our sins (1 Cor 15). Without Sunday, we would not be raised from spiritual death now (Eph 2:1-10), and would await not future bodily resurrection. Without Sunday, God would not be vindicated. God, grant us the mercy to appreciate the person and work of your Son, on our behalf. It's Friday, but Sunday's comin.

Durant wins Naismith Award

The tourney didn't turn out so good, but Durant nabbed the Naismith Award. He is the first fish to take this trophy home. This is Durant's sixth National Player of the Year award. He also won the Oscar Robertson Trophy, the Adolph Rupp trophy, the Associated Press Player of the Year, the National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year, and the Chevrolet/CBS Player of the Year, at age 18. The only one left to take home is the John R. Wooden award, of which he is one of the 5 finalists. It would be nice if he stayed around Austin for another year, or three, but I am not going to get my hopes up.