A Theological Interpretation of John's First Letter

One of the fundamental hermeneutical tenets of New Covenant Theology is that we should learn how to approach the Old Testament from Jesus and the Apostles. This basic principle needs to be worked out and demonstrated by examining text after text. This little book is offered to that end. It examines the promises given to Abraham in light of the book of Galatians. I hope and pray it is illuminating and points the reader to the marvelous work Jesus Christ has accomplished.

Blake White first shows how North America is a mission field then examines several biblical-theological images of the church to show that she is a "sent" community, called to proclaim the gospel wherever she finds herself.

What is Christian Ethics? Christian ethics is about "life under the lordship of Christ." In Luke 6:46, Jesus said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord, ' and not do what I tell you?" Ethics is about kingdom living. Why Study Christian Ethics? The first reason, as with the reason for all we do, is to glorify God. First Corinthians 10:31 famously says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Second, we should study Christian ethics to be biblical. The Bible is full of moral teaching A third reason is to help us live distinctly Christian lives in a fallen world. We are the people of the living God. We should be different. A fourth reason the study of ethics is important is because of the nature of saving faith. A fifth reason to study ethics is to develop a moral imagination. A sixth and final reason to study ethics is mission. More reasons could be listed for why ethics is worth studying, but if you are reading this book you probably don't need any more

New Covenant Theology is a developing system of theol-ogy that seeks to let the Bible inform our theology. This sounds basic, and almost all systems of theology claim that their system is based upon the Bible. As I hope to show you, New Covenant Theology is the system of theology that al-lows the Bible to have the "final say" most consistently. Whereas Dispensationalism stands on presuppositions pro-vided by its beloved Scofield Bible and Covenant Theology stands on presuppositions provided by its cherished West-minster Confession, New Covenant Theology does not have any outside document that must be imposed on the text of Scripture. It strives to let the Sacred Text speak on its own terms.

To be "in Christ" means everything To be a Christian is to be in Christ. This is why Paul could say in 2 Corinthians 12:2 that he knew a man "in Christ." He could have said, "I know a Christian." In Romans 16:7, Paul says that Andronicus and Junia were "in Christ" before he was. In other words, they were Christians before he was. Christians are those who are "in the Messiah."

"What are Christians to obey? The Bible is the simple answer of course, but upon further investigation, things are not quite that simple. For example, I am sure we have all heard a Christian condemning and calling homosexuality an abomination based upon Leviticus 18:22 or 20:13. However, if one looks on the next page at Leviticus 19:27, should we not also conclude that we should not get haircuts or shave? Why is one normative, but not the other?" "Christianity, after all, is not simply a code of ethics. It is not just a moral system. Being a Christian is not simply trying to 'do what Jesus did.' No, the foundation of the Christian life is the gospel of Jesus Christ. All else flows from the good news of Christ crucified for sinners. As Michael Horton writes, 'It is the Good News that yields good works. Salvation is not the prize for our obedience but the source.'" "The law of Christ cannot be reduced to a list of do's and don'ts. It certainly involves specific things that can be 'listed' as right or wrong, but it is far more than a list like the ten words written on stone. The law of Christ is love, but it is also the example of Christ. Everything Christ taught is part of his law, but so is everything his apostles taught a vital part of his law. Christ himself is his law personified. The whole of Scripture, as interpreted through the lens of Christ as the new covenant prophet, priest, and king, is a part of the law of Christ." May the Sovereign Lord be pleased to bless you, as you read and contemplate the glory of the new covenant in Christ, to see Christ more fully and more gloriously, as the full and final authoritative Word by whom God has spoken in these last days.

La Teologia de Nuevo Pacto es un sistema en desarrollo de teologia que busca que la Biblia informe su teologia. Esto suena basico y casi todos los sistemas de teologia dicen que su sistema es basado en la Biblia. Como espero mostrarle, la Teologia del Nuevo Pacto es el sistema de teologia que permite que la Biblia de la "ultima palabra" mas consistentemente. Mientras que el Dispensacionalismo mantiene presuposiciones proveidas por la Biblia de referencia Scofield y la Teologia del Pacto mantiene presuposiciones proveidas por la confesion de fe de Westminster, la Teologia del Nuevo Pacto no tiene ningun documento exterior que debe ser impuesto en el texto de la Escritura. Intenta permitir al texto sagrado hablar en sus propios terminos. Hablando generalmente la Teologia del Pacto enfatiza continuidad en medio de los pactos aunque haya discontinuidad. Por el otro lado, el Dispensacionalismo enfatiza discontinuidad a expensas de que hay continuidad. La Teologia del Nuevo Pacto acomoda tanto la discontinuidad como la continuidad, sostiene que el Nuevo Pacto esta conectado con lo que hubo antes, pero es nuevo. La Teologia del Nuevo Pacto es sostenida por aquellos de la tradicion de "la iglesia de creyentes" aquellas iglesias que enfatizan el bautismo de creyentes y creen que la comunidad del Nuevo Pacto consiste de creyentes. La etiqueta "Teologia del Nuevo Pacto" es relativamente nueva, pero no es un nuevo metodo de interpretacion. En este libro quiero mostrar las nociones principales de la Teologia del Nuevo Pacto. Habra puntos donde sonare como un teologo del pacto y puntos en los que sonare mas como un Dispensacionalista, pero unidas estas nociones son unicamente Teologia del Nuevo Pacto. Hay muchas mas cosas que me gustaria decir, pero mi objetivo es hacer disponibles las nociones esenciales de la Teologia del Nuevo Pacto de una forma accesible para los miembros de la iglesia. Entonces, Por que es la Teologia del Nuevo Pacto importante? Por que es necesaria? Por que es un asunto primordial? Jesus es el asunto primordial Colosenses 1:16 dice que todas las cosas fueron creadas para Jesus. El es el centro del universo y el centro de la Biblia. Cristo es el pinaculo de la revelacion. El es el Rey Esto tiene implicaciones para sus Palabras. Debemos tomar sus Palabras con absoluta seriedad, interpretamos y aplicamos cada pasaje de la Escritura a la luz de El. Como 2 Corintios 1:20 dice "Pues tantas como sean las promesas de Dios, en El todas son si; por eso tambien por medio de El, Amen, para la gloria de Dios por medio de nosotros." Esto tiene implicaciones teologicas inevitables y me parece que la Teologia del Nuevo Pacto es el unico sistema que hace justicia a la autoridad y centralidad de Jesus, espero mostrar por que en las siguientes paginas. Solo piense cuantas veces la relacion entre judios y gentiles es tratada en el Nuevo Testamento, subrayando esos conflictos relacionales es el asunto de como interpretar y aplicar el Antiguo Testamento a la luz de la venida de Jesucristo. Finalmente, quiero enfatizar que esta es una discusion "de la casa." A fin de cuentas somos hermanos y hermanas unidos en Cristo. La ultima cosa que necesitamos en la iglesia es arrogancia y auto-justicia. Estamos de acuerdo con las "grandes," las doctrinas fundamentales de la fe. Debemos ser apropiadamente balanceados y dejar las "cosas principales" las cosas principales. Donde te sujetes en este asunto no es una prueba de ortodoxia. Habiendo dicho eso, yo si creo que la Teologia del Nuevo Pacto es el sistema de teologia que es mas consistente con el principio protestante de sola Scriptura (solo la Escritura) y estoy seguro esta es una discusion de la que todos los cristianos se beneficiaran.