Covenant Chronicles

Hard to believe June is almost complete.  If you've been around Covenant the past few weeks, it has been wonderful to see all the hustle and bustle between VBS, Created for a Purpose and Missions Prep (Maine & Romania).  Come, get involved!

Romanian Breakfast – Join us this Sunday just before the Sunday School hour as the team heading to Romania serves up a wonderful buffet.  Old fashion egg and sausage casserole, everybody's favorite-Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, assorted fresh fruit, and homemade sour cream coffee cake!  You are encouraged to provide a donation towards the trip for a great meal. We are hoping to raise additional monies to pay for each student to attend camp in the Carpathian Mountains.  The total cost for 1 camper is $100 and we are expecting 70 campers = $7000.  A portion of the money that each of our members raise goes directly to a camper.  We will also have prayer cards where you can pray for a team member or Romanian by name the week of camp.  We leave Tuesday, June 28th.

Sunday School Shuffle – We hope you have enjoyed the four classes offered this June.  All have been well attended and drawn great feedback.  This Sunday is the last one.  July 3rd there will be on Sunday School and one service at 10 a.m.

Praying for Bill(s) - Just want to encourage everyone to continue praying for both the Boyds and the Hays as they make the transitions to Emeritus and Senior.  Both are new roles for them and their families.  These are exciting days of anticipation as we move closer to August 28th when Bill Boyd preaches his first sermon as our Sr. Pastor.  For the duration of the summer, Bill and the staff will preach through Philippians.

Fear the Beard – Since I'm the only one on staff who consistently sports the facial hair I thought Id share some of these sweet options.  Steakley?  http://www.amazingmania.com/amazing-facts/worlds-most-bizarre-beards-and-mustaches/   Looks like Justin Huench could be the third one down.

Wed Worship – Place August 24th on your calendars as Wed Worship and the mid-week activities will resume.  The Ten Commandments will be the focus of our preaching this Fall.

Theology 101

Packer on Regeneration and Sanctification

J. I. Packer’s Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs is valuable not only for its theological content but also for its exemplification of Calvin’s desire for “clarity and brevity.” As Dr. Packer has said on more than one occasion: “Packer by name; packer by nature.” Each word is carefully chosen, and Packer often says it better in two pages than many theologians do in twenty.

Here’s an example, from his 3-page chapter on sanctification, where he explains the difference between regeneration and sanctification:

The concept [of sanctification] is not of sin being totally eradicated (that is to claim too much) or merely counteracted (that is to say too little), but of a divinely wrought character change freeing us from sinful habits and forming in us Christlike affections, dispositions, and virtues.

Sanctification is an ongoing transformation within a maintained consecration, and it engenders real righteousness within the frame of relational holiness.

Relational sanctification, the state of being permanently set apart for God, flows from the cross, where God through Christ purchased and claimed us for himself (Acts 20:28; 26:18; Heb. 10:10).

Moral renovation, whereby we are increasingly changed from what we once were, flows from the agency of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13;12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:11, 19-20; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:22-24; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 13:20-21). God calls his children to sanctity and graciously gives what he commands (1 Thess. 4:4; 5:23).

Regeneration is birth; sanctification is growth.

In regeneration, God implants desires that were not there before: desire for God, for holiness, and for the hallowing and glorifying of God’s name in this world; desire to pray, worship, love, serve, honor, and please God; desire to show love and bring benefit to others.

In sanctification, the Holy Spirit “works in you to will and to act” according to God’s purpose; what he does is prompt you to “work out your salvation” (i.e., express it in action) by fulfilling these new desires (Phil. 2:12-13). Christians become increasingly Christlike as the moral profile of Jesus (the “fruit of the Spirit”) is progressively formed in them (2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 4:19;5:22-25). . .

Regeneration was a momentary monergistic act of quickening the spiritually dead. As such, it was God’s work alone.

Sanctification, however, is in one sense synergistic—it is an ongoing cooperative process in which regenerate persons, alive to God and freed from sin’s dominion (Rom. 6:11, 14-18), are required to exert themselves in sustained obedience.

God’s method of sanctification is neither activism (self-reliant activity) nor apathy (God-reliant passivity), but God-dependent effort (2 Cor. 7:1; Phil. 3:10-14; Heb. 12:14).

Knowing that without Christ’s enabling we can do nothing, morally speaking, as we should, and that he is ready to strengthen us for all that we have to do (Phil. 4:13), we “stay put” (remain, abide) in Christ, asking for his help constantly—and we receive it (Col. 1:11; 1 Tim. 1:12; 2 Tim. 1:7; 2:1). Ed. Justin Taylor

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