RQ: Haller, Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Origin of New Testament Reality
When we study Acts, we notice that even after Pentecost, not everything was New Testament in nature. The church, as it is found on the day of Pentecost, can by no means be the "original church" we are called to return to. The Christendom of the apostles is in no way the superlative model. On the contrary, it was a newborn babe. It needed to grow up out of its baby clothes and reach the maturity of manhood.
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The infant stage is marked by observable signs and wonders, etc. On the other hand, the mature community gradually lays aside these things and begins to live out of the reality of the Lord within.
A great deal of struggle and a great deal of revelation was required to bring the New Testament reality, "in Christ" into this world.
Antioch (Acts 13) was where the new was first able to extricate itself from the old. The process continued much longer. Yes, even past the time of Paul's letter to the Galatians. In that letter we read of Paul's public correction of Peter because Peter had retreated from the New Testament. Galatians shows the force of the conflict when someone took a stand for the newly-disclosed reality, "Christ in me." It did not come easily.
When we study Acts, we notice that even after Pentecost, not everything was New Testament in nature. The church, as it is found on the day of Pentecost, can by no means be the "original church" we are called to return to. The Christendom of the apostles is in no way the superlative model. On the contrary, it was a newborn babe. It needed to grow up out of its baby clothes and reach the maturity of manhood.
-------------
The infant stage is marked by observable signs and wonders, etc. On the other hand, the mature community gradually lays aside these things and begins to live out of the reality of the Lord within.
A great deal of struggle and a great deal of revelation was required to bring the New Testament reality, "in Christ" into this world.
Antioch (Acts 13) was where the new was first able to extricate itself from the old. The process continued much longer. Yes, even past the time of Paul's letter to the Galatians. In that letter we read of Paul's public correction of Peter because Peter had retreated from the New Testament. Galatians shows the force of the conflict when someone took a stand for the newly-disclosed reality, "Christ in me." It did not come easily.
posted by GBT at
Saturday, September 10, 2005
