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December 2009 New Horizons

Looking at Christ's Coming

 

Contents

Christ's Coming

The Repentance of God (Ex. 32:14)

Spiritual Improv

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Christ's Coming

Surely you are familiar with Charles Dickens's beloved story, A Christmas Carol . It is the story of a stingy miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who is transformed by his encounter with three Christmas spirits—the spirit of Christmas past, the spirit of Christmas present, and the spirit of Christmas future Titus 2:11–14 is breathed out by a different Spirit, but it likewise points to the past, present, and future in relation to the coming of Christ. It is Christ who transforms—who transforms by his coming in the past, by his coming in the future, and by his ongoing interim coming through his Word and Spirit. Keep Looking at Christ's Past Coming First, the Christ who has come transforms . He came precisely in order to "purify for himself a people for his own possession" (vs. 14). Keep looking to the finished work of Christ in the past. "For the grace of God has appeared , bringing salvation for all people" (vs. 11). Our English word epiphany comes from the Greek word translated "has ... Read more

The Repentance of God (Ex. 32:14)

One great Reformation truth is that Scripture is perspicuous (clear) in matters of faith and life. Yet this does not mean that it is equally clear everywhere. Some less clear passages speak of God repenting or relenting, such as Genesis 6:6, Exodus 32:14, and 2 Samuel 24:16. How can God change? In these passages, it seems that God was going to do one thing, but then changed his mind and did something else. There is a religious movement today called Open Theism. According to Open Theists, God is open to change, learning as he goes along. In the words of Terrence Fretheim, "God adjusts to new developments.... The future is thus not locked in by a word that God speaks" ( Exodus, p. 66). Interestingly, Mormons teach a similar doctrine, that God always progresses. This essay is a Reformation answer to that heresy. The historic teaching of the church is that God is immutable (unchangeable); this is also a confessional truth of the Reformation (as stated, for example, in the Westminster Larger Catechism, Q. 7). ... Read more

Spiritual Improv

Dear James, I am late in welcoming you home for the holidays. Before I could see you, your parents whisked you away for a skiing vacation. Perhaps we can catch up in person before you begin your final semester. Since you asked, I am eager to discuss with you the provocative lecture by your provost that I attended when he was in town a couple of weeks ago. It's easy to understand his popularity. He is an uncommonly gifted communicator. (Why do schools convert their most gifted teachers into administrators?) But Professor Davis created quite a stir when he talked about the so-called "no religionists." Of course, the failure of many college students to go to church does not need a sociological explanation. Even back in my day at Rutherford College, Pillow Presbyterian and Bedside Baptist were favorites on many Sunday mornings, especially during finals. Your professor insisted, however, that more was involved here. This new behavior is different because it stems from a sense that institutional ... Read more

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