Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Calvin and New Perspective...

I am tempted to complain of how unjust it is that Derek Thomas can say so much in so little space... and how guys like me have to labour for hours to pop off one sentence anywhere close to one sentence he writes below. I am tempted... but I will not do it.

BUT, you must read this short explanation of how Calvin would view the New Perspective.

Reformation21 » Calvin and NPP: "As someone who believed medieval Rome taught a piecemeal salvation through a treadmill of sacramental performance, something which he equated in its essence to that of inter-testamental Judaism (aka Pharisaism) as a religion which rung the changes on works-righteousness -- seeing both of these as examples of man's innate tendency to idolatry and self-justification, he would not recognize the New Perspective as doing justice either to the exegesis of Scripture or a diagnosis of man's real problem. He would regard it as wrongheaded pastorally as well as historically. As one who insisted on double-imputation, he would find the New Perspective's denial of the imputation of Christ's righteousness as wholly inadequate to deal with the real problem of fallen (Adamic) man's relationship to God. As one who made the cross central, he would be perplexed at the inadequate responses of the New Perspective to the question which inquires as to the necessity of the cross or what it actually achieved. Penal substitution through satisfaction were Calvin's main emphases and a perspective which substitutes ecclesiastical categories (who belongs to the covenant community?) rather than soteriological categories (how can a sinner be made right with God?), and one that answers the former by emphasizing 'boundary markers' of baptism and the Lord's Supper, he would view as Catholicism redivivus."

6 comments:

  1. His first sentence is quite a sentence, rivals John Owen in terms of its length!

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  2. Nice find....that is right on the money! The whole irony is that if one were to open their Bible, read everything that Paul wrote, it would be near impossible to come up with the conclusions of the NPP guys. To read Paul and miss the importance and absolute necessity of imputation and penal substitution to the gospel, is like watching a hockey game and thinking the commercials were an integral part of the game.

    BTW, Sabres/Leafs Saturday night...it's not gonna go well for you guys!

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  3. Sorry to hijack this very good post, but Mr. Brooker must be answered to!

    As I wrote privately to Darrin:

    Atlanta 5, Buffalo 4
    Toronto 4, Atlanta 2

    Atlanta beat Buffalo, Toronto beat Atlanta, looks like 2 points for the Leafs on Saturday.

    I find it difficult to understand how Sabre fans bask in the glory of apparently matching the Leaf's 10 game winning streak to start a season. Three of the Sabres 10 wins were in shoot-outs, something that didn't exist when the Leafs accomplished their feat. So, congratulations ( and an asterisk ) to the Sabres on starting the season with 7 wins and 3 ties!!

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  4. Please do not type the word "Sabres" on my blog.

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  5. I'm not a wagering man but I say the loser has to show up for Sunday morning service at Paul's church adorned in the opposition's jersey. Leave it to OH to degenerate this valuable post....

    *abres S*bres Sa*res Sab*es Sabr*s Sabre* *abres S*bres Sa*res Sab*es Sabr*s Sabre* *abres S*bres Sa*res Sab*es Sabr*s Sabre* *abres S*bres
    etc.

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  6. Let's see... where is that chocolate Calvin medal...

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