The Adversary also often uses deception here as well.
I couldn't agree more. Thus the need to teach how to discern the difference between the true the the false, between what the adversary brings and what the Spirit of Truth provides. The Puritans spent a great deal of time doing just that, rather than ignoring or minimizing the issue because they realized, I believe, the dangerous and deadening consequences of the former approach.
Perhaps if we spent less time (not no time, less time) in endless, deadening debates on paedo vs credo baptism, the nature of outward covental signs such as circumcision on the OT and baptism in the NT, we would find that there would be more love in our hearts and true power for service.
In my post to Janean I was emphasizing that Paul taught in Eph 3 that this fullness is for the real and true believer who seeks it. I believe that this truth is ignored, minimized set aside, etc. by the modern church, including the true Reformed church, in part precisely because of a fear of confusion with Charismatic teaching. With Joel Beeke, and the Reformation Divines, I find myself concerned that the doctrine of assurance of faith is so little discussed in the current church; from Beeke:
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In one sense, assurance was the most critical issue of the post-reformation. And the churches, for the most part, benefitted from by it. The post-Reformation expostitions of assurance contributed to the spiritual health of the congregations as long as they did not degenerate into an unbiblical mysticism that was Word-regulated within a Christ-centered and Trinitarian matrix. Out of that grew their strong emphasis on experimental religion that was not intended to lead from but to Christ for increased faith and assurance. By sincerely believing that sound experimental religion was from Christ and his Spirit, they aimed to rest that experience in the objective Gospel.
The divines made no attempt to divorce subjective religion from the objective. That kind of religion, they would have said, may provide a full head while retaining and empty heart."
From the Conclusion of Joel Beeke's "The Quest for full Assurance, the Legacy of Calvin and His Successors", page 275.
You further stated:
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What I can tell you is that in nearly every single case where I have talked to people who are involved in these things, the overwhelming answer has been, "I wasn't being filled, satisfied, etc., in the church I was formerly attending." In some instances, those former churches were faithfully preaching the Word and seeking to glorify God according to His infallible Word. Yes, in some cases, the churches were failing to do this to one degree or another. But, IMHO, what was lacking was a "new heart" in the individual. The love of Christ which only the Spirit of God can give was not present.
It seems to me that you are in full agreement with what I am saying, judging by your last statement at least. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> "The love of Christ which only the Spirit of God can give" was, indeed, not present. Or as Paul put it in Romans, "the love of God shed abroad in the heart" had not been shed abroad, or, if it had, in some measure, because of either a lack of teaching on the wonderful gift this is, or an out and out denial of it as a genuine manifestion of Christ's Spirit, it is ignored or minimized and, as Paul said again, "you have forgotten your first love".
I believe that in some measure this love is a real, felt, experienced, divine love, accompanied by a peace that passeth understanding, that, as Edwards clearly taught, cannot be provided by a false spirit, for they do not have or know it. A cheap imitation can be counterfited by the adversary, but it will be seen as such if proper teaching to discern the difference is provided.
Again, from Beeke on assurance:
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Today many, even in the Reformed tradition, suggest that this doctrine is no longer relevant since "nearly all Christians posess assurance". But we are convinced that the docttrine of assurance is relevant precisely because we live in a day of minimal assurance. Sadly, the church, for the most part, is scarcely aware that it is crippled by a comparitive absence of strong, full assurance.
Beeke, "Quest for Full Assurance" pg 279
In Him,
Gerry
Last edited by acts2027; Sat Apr 17, 200412:42 PM.
