(See also Part 1 and Part 2 of this series on the Holy Spirit.) This post gives a few more reflections on the nature of the work of the Spirit in the New Covenant. This time the focus is on Jesus’ words about the work of the Spirit from John 14. In verses 16, 17 we read, “And…
Did the Old Covenant Saints have the Holy Spirit? (Part 2) “It is the Spirit who gives Life and Creates the Church”
,This is a follow-up to my recent post on the indwelling of the Spirit. Some operations of the Spirit are common to believers under both the Old and New Covenants for they are essential, morally necessary, for the presence of eternal life. Then there are some operations of the Spirit that clearly mark out the…
Did Old Covenant Saints have the Holy Spirit? “It is the Spirit who gives Life”
,“To those who are called, . . . Christ the power of God.”
,(This is the second post in a series. The first post can be found here: “I delivered to you as of first importance.”) One of the sure ways not to come into closer agreement is to treat theological differences as of no significance. To regard some doctrine as of tertiary importance, when “tertiary” means that it…
“I delivered to you as of first importance”
,Paul’s initial message in new territory he summarized as “Christ and Him crucified.” He viewed this message as of “first importance” (1 Corinthians 2:2; 15:3). Such a description of this message derives from its position as the identifiable, demonstrable, event in which the load of sin that lies as a damning burden on sinners was…
Important Principles in Theological Discussion: Fuller Reflects on Rules of Engagement
,When, in The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation, Andrew Fuller entered the lists of controversy with both hyper-Calvinists and Arminians on the issue of human inability and responsibility, he made a statement about controversy in general that seems an excellent principle to bear in mind. He wanted to avoid “the spirit into which we are…
Fuller’s Fear of the Slippery Slope
,In my most recent post, I mentioned that Fuller envisioned true Christianity as a hearty reception of the deity and the atoning work of Christ with “other corresponding doctrines.” In the framework of that nomenclature, Fuller located the fall of man and its consequences in the determination of God to show his perfect grace in the…
Andrew Fuller Encounters Non-Calvinism: Again
,Self-identified non-Calvinism in Southern Baptist life presents a somewhat confusing—even baffling—phenomenon. What is essentially, and mystifyingly, broadly inclusive and non-descript has been given a name of “Traditional Baptist Theology.” It has been given that name, not because it really reflects any specific confessional stream within Baptist life, but because, ostensibly, it distills the instinctive doctrinal…
Another Non-Calvinist Encounters a Calvinist: The Sandemanians Challenge Fuller
,Amazon When Andrew Fuller published The Gospel worthy of All Acceptation in 1785, he made a comment on Robert Sandeman’s view of faith, as he heard of it, as “a general assent to the doctrines of revelation, unaccompanied with love to them, or a dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.” At that time…
A Non-Calvinist Challenges a Calvinist: Andrew Fuller’s Defense of Calvinism
,In light of the healthy interest in the Southern Baptist convention on the theology and effects of Calvinism, I believe it will be helpful to investigate the historical impact these doctrines have had and the particular objections that have been raised against them. In my most recent post, I looked at the origin of tension…