hammondjones
Puritan Board Junior
I follow a few ministers of the Gospel on Twitter, and this past week there was some amount of discussion about what one of them said regarding warnings to "Christians" that they bear fruit or be cut off, and regarding "Covenantal Justification" (that he loved it). And the there was some name calling and insinuation regarding orthodoxy, etc., mostly by proxy, and I'm not particularly interested in getting into all of that.
But, as I was thinking it over, it brought to my mind "Whom is Paul addressing in Ephesus?" (or substitute Corinth). He doesn't know, does he, that all of them are individually regenerated, right? Nor does "who are faithful in Christ Jesus" act as a qualifier, does it?
Then, is it permissible to speak of belonging to the visible Church as a sort of covenantal justification? it is helpful/wise?
I address my baptized children as Christians. I tell them that they belong to the Lord. I also tell them that they must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Should I change how I talk to them?
Would admonitions against falling away be better directed at "Professors", as opposed to "Christians"?
Hopefully I'm making myself clear, I'm trying to tie all these strands in my mind together. I'm particularly interested in answers which do not assume regenerate church membership. Thanks.
But, as I was thinking it over, it brought to my mind "Whom is Paul addressing in Ephesus?" (or substitute Corinth). He doesn't know, does he, that all of them are individually regenerated, right? Nor does "who are faithful in Christ Jesus" act as a qualifier, does it?
Then, is it permissible to speak of belonging to the visible Church as a sort of covenantal justification? it is helpful/wise?
I address my baptized children as Christians. I tell them that they belong to the Lord. I also tell them that they must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Should I change how I talk to them?
Would admonitions against falling away be better directed at "Professors", as opposed to "Christians"?
Hopefully I'm making myself clear, I'm trying to tie all these strands in my mind together. I'm particularly interested in answers which do not assume regenerate church membership. Thanks.