Meet Mr. Complementary Hermeneutic: A Glance at Israel, the Church, and the New Covenant

Kirk E. Miller 8 Comments

The New Covenant–Old Testament

A huge theme that pervades all of scripture is the theme of promise and fulfillment. In the Old Testament, many promises were made to the nation of Israel that anticipated future fulfillment. One very significant example would be the promise and provisions of the New Covenant (i.e., Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:22-36).

Now the Old Testament, without any exceptions, explicitly affirms that the parties of this covenant will be God and Israel (i.e., Jeremiah 31:33). That’s key to our discussion, so allow me to state it again. The Old Testament promises that the New Covenant will be made between God and Israel.

The New Covenant–New Testament

But a normal, simple, natural, and literal reading of various texts in the New Testament reveals that the Church participates in the New Covenant. For example, the Lord’s Super, an ordinance of the Church, refers to the to cup of the New Covenant (Luke 22:19-21; Matthew 26:27-28; Mark 14:24; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Paul, the self-proclaimed apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13) and minister of the mystery of the Church (Ephesians 3:6-8), called himself a minister of the New Covenant (presently), saw the New Covenant as having presently superseded the Old Covenant, and spoke of the New Covenant ministry of the Spirit as a present reality (2 Corinthians 3). And the author of Hebrews is explicit about the present reality of the New Covenant and Christ’s present ministry as the mediator of this New and better Covenant (for a brief sampling see Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 8:6-13; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 10:16-17; Hebrews 12:24).

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Facing Trials with Spiritual Integrity (James 1:2-18)

Kirk E. Miller

The following is an adult Sunday School lesson based out of James 1:2-18 that I taught at my church, Lake Drive Baptist Church, in Milwaukee, WI on July 8th, 2012.

Download outline.

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Podcast link.

6 Ways to Effectively Lose Your Gospel Witness (A Satire)

Kirk E. Miller 2 Comments

The Christian’s Gospel witness is his or her call to spread the good news that Christ died to save sinners and that all who turn from their evil ways to faith in Christ will be made right with God and saved from His wrath.

Now, many Christians throughout America are currently practicing various techniques that improve their ability to effectively lose their Gospel witness. But in order to help more Christians in this endeavor, I have decided to promote the awareness of these impeccable methods so that more and more Christians might begin employing them into their own lives. The following is a helpful list of various ways in which you too can successfully lose your Gospel witness.

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The Christian’s Proper Response to the Homosexuality Movement–Part 4

Kirk E. Miller 7 Comments

Vote Against “Gay Marriage”

In America, we have the amazing privilege of actually being a small portion of our government. But with this privilege comes the question of what we will do with the political movement that seeks to make homosexual marriage legal. Most conservative Christians would probably impulsively respond to this question by voting against laws to pass “gay marriage.” But let’s think through this, considering it is no light matter.

If homosexuality isn’t primarily a political issue but a spiritual one (see next point below), why should we be concerned with homosexuality on a political level at all? Isn’t it irrelevant whether homosexual marriage passes? If homosexuals already have the political right to practice homosexuality and live together with their homosexual partner, why should we disallow them from being seen as married in the government’s eyes? Are the said “government’s eyes” that important to us? There are several Christian moral standards that are not regulated by law for which Christians are not trying to push legislation (i.e., sex outside of marriage, lust, greed, using the Lord’s name as a curse word, homosexual practice, etc.) Is it the Christian’s duty to try to impose Christian ethics on others through the political realm? And if so, how do we determine which of our views we should seek to put into law as legal requirements? All of these questions are extremely good reasons not to immediately assume that we should vote against “gay marriage.”

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The Christian’s Proper Response to the Homosexuality Movement–Part 3

Kirk E. Miller 5 Comments

Be Tasteful

We must be extremely, purposefully, and intentionally sensitive, cautious, loving, and merciful as we deal with homosexuality. But we must also speak the truth without reservation. Although Paul was speaking directly to believers, I believe his instruction in Ephesians 4:15 is invaluable in this situation—”speak the truth in love.” Speak the truth—yes. But do so tastefully; don’t be cruel, rude, or a jerk about it. And more so, genuinely love the individual; seek their repentance and let that desire affect the way you converse with them.

This point is so important in our culture and at this point in our nation’s history. Eventually, once “gay rights” legislation passes and the history books are being written, they will write about the “gay rights movement.” And my personal belief is that these sections in our future textbooks will look a lot like the sections currently written on the civil rights movement. What’s my point? What I’m saying is that “homosexual intolerance” will be viewed at par with racism. But more so, I believe many people already view “homosexual intolerance” as equivalent to a sexual orientation version of racism. In other words, this matter demands absolute care and precision in our choice of words and actions.

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