From the Archives: What Is New Covenant Theology?

timlittle00

Reprinted with permission from Faith Pulpit (Oct-Dec, 2010).

New Covenant Theology (NCT) is a rather new theological movement.1 Its proponents come from the local church rather than academia, and the majority of its adherents are found within the local church. Its proponents include Tom Wells, Fred Zaspel, John Reisinger, and Steve Lehrer.

Discussion

The Well-Meant Offer: God May Desire What He Doesn’t Decree (Deut 5:29), Part 2

Bob Gonzales

Read the series.

The Objections Addressed

Some object to the exegetical and theological conclusions above. On the basis of texts like Psalm 115:3, they argue that God’s desires must be coterminous with God’s decrees. That is, all that God desires he must decree. Or, all that God decrees exhausts all that God may desire. Accordingly, they impose one or more of the following limitations on the text.

Discussion

The Well-Meant Offer: God May Desire What He Doesn’t Decree (Deut 5:29), Part 1

Bob Gonzales

Unlike you and me, God has both the power and prerogative to bring all his desires to fruition. “Our God is in the heavens,” declares the psalmist, “he does all that he pleases” (Ps. 115:3). Nevertheless, the Sovereign God of all creation has not chosen to fulfill every one of his wishes he has disclosed to us.

Discussion

Hillsong’s Marty Sampson Says He’s Losing His Faith and He’s Not Bothered

Filings

“One of Hillsong United’s original band members, Marty Sampson, has announced he is no longer a Christian…. he mentions preachers falling, the dearth of miracles we see happen, the Bible being full of contradictions, and the seeming dissonance between an unconditionally loving God who sends people to eternal damnation.” - Church Leaders

Discussion

How Jesus Used the Old Testament in Matthew 5:21-48 (Part 1)

Michael Vlach

With Matthew 5:21-48 Jesus quoted the OT seven times. Six of these involve an OT command from the Law of Moses followed by the statement “But I say to you …” A seventh concerns a statement that Jerusalem is “the city of the great King,” a reference to Psalm 48:2 in Matthew 5:35. This latter example, from Psalm 48:2, is a contextual affirmation of the significance of Jerusalem. Our attention, though, focuses on the other six uses of the OT. These reveal how Jesus viewed himself in relation to the Law of Moses. These six uses of the OT by Jesus are:

Discussion