Book Review: David J. Hesselgrave and Leanna Davis. We Evangelicals and Our Mission: How We Got to Where We Are and How to Get to Where We Should Be Going.

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Preaching and Definitive Sanctification

This article proceeds from the assumption that the way a preacher conceptualizes a Christian’s identity in Christ shapes how he brings moral exhortation to the congregation. The concept of definitive sancti- fication—first coined by John Murray and developed by Richard Gaffin and others—identifies the believer as, in some sense, holy in Christ. This is not the holiness of imputed righteousness but a renovative change. Moreover, having been made holy, believers must act according to the logic of their identity in Christ. Three implications for preaching emerge from definitive sanctification: (1) preaching Christ and moral commands must be kept together, (2) the biblical indicative and imperative must inform each other, and (3) preaching must be eschatologically oriented. KEYWORDS: Sanctification, John Murray, preaching, eschatology, definitive sanctification, union with Christ

Book Review: Matthew D. Kim and Daniel L. Wong. Finding Our Voice: A Vision for Asian North American Preaching

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The Challenge of Communicating Christ in Melanesian Culture

This article deals with culture and cross-cultural communication. More specifically, the concept of mana in the Melanesian worldview plays a significant role in that culture. I will discuss various approaches to cross-cultural communication of the gospel that have been and continue to be used in Papua New Guinea and suggest some reasons why they have come up short. I suggest that the much-neglected field of elenctics must be utilized more and provide ways that this can be done in the context of mana and the Melanesian worldview. KEYWORDS: Worldview, elenctics, communication, animism, culture, gospel, syncretism, Melanesian Christianity, mission

Book Review: John Calvin. Crucified and Risen: Sermons on the Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ.

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Divine Righteousness and Forgiveness: The Old Testament Background of Hilastērion in Romans 3:25

We Start With An Analysis Of The Term Righteousness Of God In Romans 3:21–26. The Righteousness As A Gift To Believers (genitive Of Source, Verses 21–22) Is Founded On The Righteousness That Characterizes His Being (subjective Genitive, Verses 24–25). However, God’s Righteousness Should Not Always Be Interpreted As God’s Covenantal Faithfulness. For The Apostle, Divine Righteousness Brings Salvation And Leads To Judgment, As It Does In The Old Testament. There The Hilastērion, The Ark Cover, Brings These Attributes Together. After Investigating The Background, We Describe Paul’s Use Of The Image (Rom 3:25) With The Help Of Jewish Sources. In Christ, Divine Justice And Mercy Come Together In This Image. Finally, We Ask To Whom It Applies. KEYWORDS: (Day Of) Atonement, Forgiveness, Jewish Sources, Mercy Seat, Propitiation, Romans 3, Righteousness Of God, Hilastērion, Reconciliation, Sacrifice

The Stigmatization of HIV/AIDS Victims in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Gospel

One of the most challenging issues in dealing with HIV/AIDS in Africa is breaking through the stigmas surrounding the disease and building resilience in communities where large numbers of people are infected with HIV or otherwise affected by the pandemic. This article explores the relationship between shame, fear, guilt, witchcraft, and HIV/AIDS stigmatization by looking at key features of the African traditional worldview and culture. We point out predominant witchcraft beliefs and how they translate to community attitudes towards people living with HIV and AIDS. We highlight the influence of prevailing beliefs in witchcraft and how they aggravate the experience of fear, shame, and stigmatization by people infected with or otherwise affected by HIV. Relevant aspects of the gospel are brought to bear to answer these challenges. KEYWORDS: HIV/AIDS, stigmatization, shame culture, fear culture, witchcraft, ubuntu

Böhl on Justification and Regeneration: Some Implications for Preaching and Pastoring

By the preaching of God’s law, the human being is confronted with his fallenness and existence in flesh, sin, and death. Eduard Böhl, with his emphasis on the synchronicity of God’s act of justification and regener- ation, seeks to maintain the boundary between Creator and creature in creation and history, and between sinner and Christ, flesh and the Spirit. From the viewpoint of the power of God’s word in preaching, the possibility of a redeeming dialogue is reestablished, and the reality of participation by faith in God is restored. By the gospel as the power of God in which his righteousness is revealed, the believer in the word is powerfully brought to newness of life and sustained in sanctification. KEYWORDS: Justification, regeneration, preaching, law of God, Holy Spirit, Christ

Robert Letham. Systematic Theology.

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Judgment and Mercy: Spurgeon’s Preaching of Hell

Charles Spurgeon contended and demonstrated that clear warnings concerning the coming wrath of God are an essential element of biblical preaching. A survey of published sermons provides a taste of such preaching, from his earliest days in Waterbeach to his later sermons in London. This lays the groundwork for assessing some of the particular features of Spurgeon’s preaching of judgment and mercy, including its clarity, vividness, frequency, and consistency, arising out of a sense of duty, with real compassion and grace. While the examples themselves are illuminating, Spurgeon’s instruction and exhortation also prompt today’s preachers and hearers to consider whether we have achieved anything of a Christlike emphasis and tone on this too-often-overlooked element of faithful gospel ministry. KEYWORDS: Charles Spurgeon, hell, judgment, wrath, mercy, Christ, preaching, damnation, grace, ministry