New Creation Library

New Creation Library:

FOR INFORMATION:

Over the years the New Creation Teaching Ministry helped many people.
Geoffrey Bingham has now gone home to the Lord.
His materials - hundreds of books and songs are still available for free.

Grace is the Theme of his ministry.
New Creation Library is now accessible here:

newcreationt.wordpress.com

A 500mb Zip File can be downloaded, and many PDF books are there to read.

Blessings in the Risen Christ,
Trevor Faggotter

The flower fades (Tulip ...and Roses)

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8)

The Ascended Jesus—the once crucified Christ, together with the Father, pours out the Holy Spirit upon all flesh (Acts 2). The gift of the Holy Spirit, is necessary, in order to hear and receive the gospel, the wonderful Word of God’s redeeming grace in Christ. Christ himself, by the Spirit, imparts the gospel to our hearts so that, through faith, our minds are profoundly changed, and we come to know God as Father, and ourselves as new creatures 'in' the Son, forgiven and redeemed for genuine life.

Try as they may, even the very best theologians have weakness and deficiencies, and so does their teaching.  The gospel cannot be reduced to a formula, or put into a nutshell. It can however be imparted to the very simplest person (even in the womb—as with John the prophetic cousin of Jesus), and to the most intelligent mind and even the most complex of human beings, by the Holy Spirit’s power.

For many years, in an attempt to help people in their faith and understanding, five important elements of the gospel, have been set forth in Calvinist teaching in the following manner, under the heading of TULIP.

T     Total Depravity

U     Unconditional Grace

L     Limited Atonement

I      Irresistible Grace

P     Perseverance of the Saints

Without going into the detail, the system had weaknesses, though it was and is fiercely defended.

The whole system really needed qualification and renewal, through gracious conversation. It has rightly come in for some criticism. It is the work of human beings and is not a tradition that should be elevated to the high standing of Holy Scripture, for example.

The flower fades.

The TULIP has faded. In recent times, someone has joyfully chosen to renew the beauty of this rather lonely tulip, by bringing in a bunch of freshly picked ROSES.

I set it forth briefly for your help, (as I found it set forth by another):

R           Radical Depravity           

O           Overcoming Grace

S            Sovereign Election

E            Eternal Life

S            Singular Redemption

I am grateful to Kenneth Keathley for his explanation, here below:

What are the tenets of ROSES, in contrast to TULIP?

Radical depravity: The old term, total depravity, gives the impression that fallen humanity always is as bad as it possibly can be.  The new term, radical depravity, more correctly emphasizes that every aspect of our being is affected by the Fall and renders us incapable of saving ourselves. 

Overcoming grace: The old term, irresistible grace, seems to imply that God saves a person against his will.  The new term, overcoming grace, highlights that it is God’s persistent beckoning that overcomes our wicked obstinacy. 

Sovereign election: Often the term unconditional election is presented in such as way as to give the impression that those who die without receiving Christ did so because God never desired their salvation in the first place.  The replacement label, sovereign election, affirms that God desires the salvation of all, yet accentuates that our salvation is not based on us choosing God, but on God choosing us.

Eternal life: The old term, perseverance of the saints, leads to the notion that a believer’s assurance is based on his ability to persevere rather than on the fact he is declared righteous in Christ.  The purpose of the new term, eternal life, is to stress that believers enjoy a transformed life that is preserved and we are given a faith which will remain. 

Singular redemption:  A particularly unfortunate concept, limited atonement, teaches that Christ died only for the elect and gives the impression that there is something lacking in the Atonement.  The new term, singular redemption, emphasizes that Christ died sufficiently for every person, but efficiently only for those who believe.

Kenneth's post is found at:

http://www.theologyforthechurch.com/1/post/2010/04/roses-vs-tulip.html

Thanks Kenneth. 

As has been said: "The best theology is doxology."

Praise the Lord for the freshness of a new day.

Cheers,

Trevor

Writings of George Robert Iles

It is 3 years since Uniting Church Minister, Robert Iles died of cancer. He proclaimed Christ Jesus, crucified and risen, as the central theme of life and service, with good humour, joy, serious nobility and tenacity.

On Thursday 8th November, 2012, I attended the Inaugural 'George Robert Iles Memorial Lecture', held at the Burnside Uniting Church. (Thanks to Owen Davis and others for coming up with the idea). The Lecture was given by Professor Brian Edgar, entitled 'A Tale of Two Cities'. Brian's own Blog can be found at Brian Edgar The subtitle tells what the lecture was about: 'Understanding the Relationship between Christ and Culture'. In this lecture he described 8 ways of conceiving of the church's role in society: 1. Aliens in a foreign land 2. Examples of an alternative community 3. Rulers of Christendom 4. Residents of two cities 5. Reformers of society 6. Workers in all spheres of life 7. Citizens of a pluralistic society 8. Friends of the world The fact is that all 8 ways of participation within the world have some validity, and can be useful in thinking through how best to respond and function in the array of situations within life today. Thanks Brian, it was an excellent Word. At the same time, Callum Iles, Robert's son, released the new Blog which is to host some of Robert's writings. Rob was/is a funny man, and always spoke with theological depth and biblical insight, in his weekly preaching. These writings are to be found at: The Writings of George Rober Iles Keep Thinking, Christologically! Trevor.

The Gospel in a Few Minutes

Is it possible to share the gospel in a few minutes?

I have seen a few recordings on You Tube, of the Gospel in a few minutes, by people who are noble and reliable.
As I am considering these forthright and genuine proclamation talks—I am thankful for them. But as yet, I am undecided about what they really convey. Is it the gospel? Can it ever be? Is it a snapshot of the gospel? Is it a truncated gospel?

I a reminded of Karl Barth's saying that 'no one ever heard the gospel from the lips of another person' — meaning that it is Christ Jesus himself who preaches to a person, and reveals himself to them. 'Faith comes by hearing', and hearing by the 'preaching of Christ'. (Romans 10).

That is, the Ascended Jesus preaching to a human heart, through 'the words' (the agency) of a person like me, or you.

I am also reminded of Geoffrey Bingham's comment that "John 3:16 is not the gospel in a nutshell! Only a nut would think that!"

So, I ask again, is it possible to share the gospel in a few minutes?

On the one had, there is a Word to speak, all the time, that bears witness to Jesus Crucified and Risen, and the grace of God, we know in him, by the Spirit. So lets speak of the good things we know.

However, what of this gospel, can it be summarised or located or identified?

I recall that C. H. Dodd tried to summarise all the elements of the "kerygma", the early Christian preaching. Others have discussed this, and found that, yes, there are common elements, in speeches and content, but, the 'magic words' - as such are unable to be isolated, (pinned down) amidst all of the unique relational talks with real people in real settings, Jews, Gentiles, unbelievers, and believers, pretenders and listeners.

So we note that:

A. Jesus, the centre of the gospel, came 'when the time had fully come' (Galatians 4:4).
B. And yet the gospel was declared to Abraham 'beforehand' (Galatians 3:8).
C. And it is stated, that there is 'an eternal gospel' (Revelation 14:6).

To gather these thoughts. I am thinking that the gospel, in a few minutes, would need to include some setting forth of:

1. Creation, its plan and purpose to Edenise the world
—and the tragic, irrational entrance of sin
2. Abraham and the Promise—God's Covenant of grace
3. Christ Jesus and the significance of his life, death, resurrection and current reign

I think that number 1 and 2 are often neglected a bit, so we have ...a baby without a cradle!

So, rather than just be critical, I might even have a try one Sunday, to pack "the gospel" into about 5 minutes—ready for uploading along with others of genuine heart and noble purpose, yet another attempt to unfold the gospel... on You Tube! Praying of course, that in it all, Jesus himself speaks!
Cheers. Trevor.

Enjoyment

You really need to read Koheleth. Go to Ecclesiastes in the Bible, here is a sample:

18 ¶ This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is our lot.
19 Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil--this is the gift of God.
20 For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives, because God keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts.

(Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

Music and the Gospel

MUSIC AND THE GOSPEL

The following quote is from P. T. Forsyth [numbers added]:
(1) There is at once a compelling grasp and a pervasive idea in great music, which lifts us, if we seek something more than mere amusement, into the vision which sees all things as working together for glory, good, and God.
(2) Music is a universal speech, not only in the sense of coming home to almost all hearts. In that sense it is true only of simple and homely music. But great music is universal in a deeper sense than the simple, as Christianity itself is. Its nature and destiny is universal. It sweeps over us with a wave of emotion, which is humane, universal, and submersive of our own petty egoism.
(3) It exists to purify and organise the selfish emotions, not simply to soothe them, excite them, or indulge them. It lifts us into a world of things which includes our little aches and joys, laps them in a diviner air, and resolves them into the tides and pulses of an eternal life.
(4) It raises us to our place, if but for an hour, in the universal order of things, and makes our years seem but moments in the eternal process. It is not then our personal welfare we think of, or our private enjoyment.
(5) Music, like Scripture and Nature, is of no private interpretation. We feel then that our passions and affections, however real, are but rills and streams in an infinite world of love, sympathy, and consummation. (Forsyth, Christ On Parnassus, p. 209-210).
(6) ‘…we have in a piece of great music the world’s order in miniature.’ (P. T. Forsyth, Christ on Parnassus, p. 212)