David Bernard endorses Trinitarian book!!!

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Originalist

EDORSED BY DR. DAVID K. BERNARD!!!! (see Dr. Bernard's comments below)

"A distinctly Pentecostal doctrine of justification"

In recent years, several scholarly works have discussed the theology of salvation, particularly justification and sanctification, in ways that are of special interest to Oneness Pentecostals. One such book is, “Justified in the Spirit: Creation, Redemption and the Triune God” written by Frank D. Macchia.

Macchian is an Assemblies of God scholar and university professor. He argues for a distinctly Pentecostal doctrine of justification. In contrast to traditional Protestant explanations, he emphasizes that justification is not just forensic (legal).That is, it is not solely a transaction or declaration that occurs outside humans. “Justification in scripture has legal overtones but cannot be grasped by any legal metaphor. Righteousness is not imputed; it is accessed or participated in through faith and by the life of the Spirit” (6). Justification is both in the Spirit and by faith (53). It is both imputation and indwelling, not one without the other (67).

As a corollary, he argues that the legal theory of the Atonement is also inadequate, specifically Anselm’s satisfaction theory. Christ’s sacrifice is not merely a legal payment, but it involves God himself taking on the consequences of our sin through the death of Christ. “Justice is fulfilled through mercy and redemption by God’s taking injustice, shame and death into Godself in order to bring all things into the intimate communion of the Spirit” (166).

Finally, he asserts that we cannot separate the Atonement from Pentecost or justification, as Protestants typically do. “One cannot…..separate the cross from the resurrection and Pentecost along the lines of justification and sanctification.

…………Rather than sanctification and justification representing two thoroughly distinct stages or dimensions of one’s salvation, they are to be viewed as two overlapping and mutually complementary lenses” (8). “If we are ever to recover the ancient integration of justification and the Spirit, we must heal the breach between the cross and Pentecost”(162).

While Macchia links the doctrine of the Atonement to the Trinity, his explanation can easily be enunciated in Oneness terms. He addresses classic Oneness interests: Christ’s work on the cross is actually God’s work in Christ; justification involves the work of the Holy Spirit; and justification issues forth in sanctification. Indeed he quotes from Frank Ewart several times and cites my work on justification. He suggests that the Oneness Pentecostal view of initiation, which includes the impartation of the Holy Spirit, is the ‘quintessential Pentecostal soteriology”(187).

http://www.amazon.com/Justified-Spir...the+Triune+God

I clicked on the link and could not find "endorsed by David Bernard". Where do I go?

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I clicked on the link and could not find "endorsed by David Bernard". Where do I go?

The endorsement is from Bernard's article in "FORWARD" magazine. The link is to Amazon, not an endorsement.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Insults are cool as long as they are not "needless?"



As you carry on the great tradition!

So did you also just "carry on the tradition" by correcting me?

[Esaias]

He's looking our way!!

lol

I've been saying for years that justification and sanctification are two sides of the same coin. I believe others had said so as well far longer and better than I. Funny how we keep reinventing the wheel on so many things.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Originalist

EDORSED BY DR. DAVID K. BERNARD!!!! (see Dr. Bernard's comments below)

"A distinctly Pentecostal doctrine of justification"

In recent years, several scholarly works have discussed the theology of salvation, particularly justification and sanctification, in ways that are of special interest to Oneness Pentecostals. One such book is, “Justified in the Spirit: Creation, Redemption and the Triune God” written by Frank D. Macchia.

Macchian is an Assemblies of God scholar and university professor. He argues for a distinctly Pentecostal doctrine of justification. In contrast to traditional Protestant explanations, he emphasizes that justification is not just forensic (legal).That is, it is not solely a transaction or declaration that occurs outside humans. “Justification in scripture has legal overtones but cannot be grasped by any legal metaphor. Righteousness is not imputed; it is accessed or participated in through faith and by the life of the Spirit” (6). Justification is both in the Spirit and by faith (53). It is both imputation and indwelling, not one without the other (67).

As a corollary, he argues that the legal theory of the Atonement is also inadequate, specifically Anselm’s satisfaction theory. Christ’s sacrifice is not merely a legal payment, but it involves God himself taking on the consequences of our sin through the death of Christ. “Justice is fulfilled through mercy and redemption by God’s taking injustice, shame and death into Godself in order to bring all things into the intimate communion of the Spirit” (166).

Finally, he asserts that we cannot separate the Atonement from Pentecost or justification, as Protestants typically do. “One cannot…..separate the cross from the resurrection and Pentecost along the lines of justification and sanctification.

…………Rather than sanctification and justification representing two thoroughly distinct stages or dimensions of one’s salvation, they are to be viewed as two overlapping and mutually complementary lenses” (8). “If we are ever to recover the ancient integration of justification and the Spirit, we must heal the breach between the cross and Pentecost”(162).

While Macchia links the doctrine of the Atonement to the Trinity, his explanation can easily be enunciated in Oneness terms. He addresses classic Oneness interests: Christ’s work on the cross is actually God’s work in Christ; justification involves the work of the Holy Spirit; and justification issues forth in sanctification. Indeed he quotes from Frank Ewart several times and cites my work on justification. He suggests that the Oneness Pentecostal view of initiation, which includes the impartation of the Holy Spirit, is the ‘quintessential Pentecostal soteriology”(187).

http://www.amazon.com/Justified-Spir...the+Triune+God

So can we simplify all this? The Apostles never wrote in such a manner. I THINK he is saying Acts 2:38 is the true plan of salvation. I have been attending an AOG Church now and then lately and the first time there I read an article along this line.

I think it was by the president of the AOG. He seemed to be saying he now believed Acts 2:38 was Christian initiation. That certainly is a step up in understanding.

[Jermyn Davidson]

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

So can we simplify all this? The Apostles never wrote in such a manner. I THINK he is saying Acts 2:38 is the true plan of salvation. I have been attending an AOG Church now and then lately and the first time there I read an article along this line.

I think it was by the president of the AOG. He seemed to be saying he now believed Acts 2:38 was Christian initiation. That certainly is a step up in understanding.

All Christians except Quakers believe baptism is a Christian initiation

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

All Christians except Quakers believe baptism is a Christian initiation

Not true. Many "evangelicals" believe baptism is a sign you already are a Christian.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Not true. Many "evangelicals" believe baptism is a sign you already are a Christian.

Yes...that is still an initiation.

They believe God baptized that person into the Church. The water baptism would be their way of accepting that Person as a brother to the local congregation (and by extension the rest at large)

They all believe that

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Yes...that is still an initiation.

They believe God baptized that person into the Church. The water baptism would be their way of accepting that Person as a brother to the local congregation (and by extension the rest at large)

They all believe that

That's not "Christian initiation " which about becoming a Christian, that would be "initiation as a member of a local assembly" and those evangelicals make that explicitly clear.