Change of Blog Name-Walk by Grace thru Faith

Forgiveness_Chinese

Because of my commitment to believer’s/disciples baptism that I chose to change my blog name from Critical Time to Grace Thru Faith –without neglecting the Reformed emphasis on all of life is Grace. But since it is not really Justification if man does not receive the gift of salvation without faith.

But as I continue in my spiritual journey I realize that  being justified is not the complete story of our salvation – there are people out there that will enslaved us again –to the Law, to works-oriented Christian life –to forgetting our adoption in Christ. Not relying in the resurrection power of Jesus but in trying to kill the old self-the flesh with earthly weapons-instead of relying in the power of the Holy Spirit.

As I was preparing the message for the youth service of San Pedro CRC last 1st week of July- I stumbled upon this outline from Ephesians 5-which is:

I. Walk in Love

²                      And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

³                      But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

⁴                      Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

II. Walk in the Light

⁸                      for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

⁹                      (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

¹⁰                   and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

III. Walk in Wisdom

¹⁵                   Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

¹⁶                   making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

¹⁷                   Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 And so I expropriate it to my blog-calling it “Walk by Grace, thru Faith” regaining the perspective of a life live as well in Grace –and not just in Faith for salvation- i.e. from beginning from Grace (in eternity)to this life now-and then at our final Justification –which is eternally secured because of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The theme of that July message was on Honoring Parents- and because :

1. The Lord says so-it is His claim on our life
2. It is proper and right because in our natural life –even unbelievers honor their parents.
3. Because it insures that our life will be long and well (quantitatively and qualitatively    

So –it-the Word of God really surprises me when I prepared that message –I also realize that walking in love means being committed to purity in life and tongue and sexual fidelity,  living in the light means that I consider –goodness,righteousness and truth. And that wisdom is making sure that every  opportunity is considered as witness to Jesus. The Lord be praised for His unexpected gifts to us.

Still…

Here is my current theological status with respect to Baptism and Tithing:

Though I am still a credo-Baptist- I now no longer see Christians (especially confessional reformed)  espousing covenantal infant baptism as in deep error. But now I see them instead as Christians wanting to submit all of their lives -including their loved ones (children) and possessions under the Lordship protection of Jesus Christ. But I still see that it is misguided and eisegesis that Confessional reformed uses the covenant with Abraham as a textual prop for this ancient church practice . It can be proved however that a credo-Baptist practice is much older and much documented in the Patristics writings like that of the Didache , Apostolic Constitutions, Tertullian and the writings of Justin Martyr .

Current Baptist must regain however the covenantal (New Covenant) basis of baptism which is they woefully ignorant of. And instead of dedications of infants-it must be covenantal blessings/laying of hands should replaced such practice since dedications has an OT flavor to it.

In order to arrest the errors of baptismal regenerations, infants as members of the New Covenant and Half-way Covenantalism- those baptized as infants-local churches should always allow rebaptism as adults so that those infant baptized will understand that it is through their own living faith that unites them to Jesus and not the faith of their believing parents. For here –in the believers/disciples baptism – the death and resurrection of Jesus is properly portrayed instead of in infant baptism.

With regards to Tithing –Now more so –I still, with my readings in the background of Reformed Confessions, ancient church history and New Covenantal Theology- tithing should not be imposed on Christians. Tithing can be used as a personal guide in giving- but local churches should emphasize that this is not the only one guide. We are not under the Mosaic Code-but under Jesus’ Covenant-which is far better and gracious in fact in these days of Jubilee. To impose this-is the error of Galatianism and we are back under the curse of Mosaic Law.