The Earnest Contender

Friday, August 10, 2007

Transformed by the Rewnewing of the Mind

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Being helped along by a book by by Jay E. Adams called Christ and Your Problems I have come to a fuller understanding of this verse, I am so exited about how the Word of God is working in my life that I can't help but pass it along. I am being transformed by the renewing of [my] mind, by listening to what our Lord has to say to me in His Word. The Bible is not for me only it's for you too.

1 We are responsable for our own actions and we can not blame others for our sin.

2. Others have stood up against their own sin and so can we, availing ourselves to God's resources.

3. God is faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him.

4. Other Christians can help us and we can and should help other Christians.

We have God's Word!
Brother John

10 Comments:

Watch out for Jay Adams:

Incompetent to Counsel

By Matthew Celestine, at 11/8/07 10:42 AM
You're worried about my last post aren't you?

You are...
Aren’t you?

You can admit it.

Thanks DF for the formative link. I will read it with much interest.

By J. Wendell, at 11/8/07 3:58 PM
Nothing objectionable in the last post, but you might have said more about faith in Christ's completed work for sanctification.

By Matthew Celestine, at 11/8/07 4:58 PM
John,

Matthew might be a bit concerned because Jay Adams is a conservative Presbyterian -- a Calvinist (gasp! :o)

By Earl Flask, at 11/8/07 8:23 PM
"...you might have said more about faith in Christ's completed work for sanctification."

I didn't notice that in the text. You are right when it come to resting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the appropriation of His work by faith alone, one cannot say too much IMHO.

By J. Wendell, at 12/8/07 6:00 AM
Hi Earl,
Thanks for your comment.

I have not read the article that Matthew linked to yet, but I know there are many who find Jay Adams’ Nouthetic counseling objectionable. However, according to the article I linked to in this post,

Schools to adopt the Nouthetic approach to counseling include Central Baptist Seminary, Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary, Bob Jones University, Maranatha Baptist Bible College, Calvary Bible College and Theological Seminary, and The Master's College. Although Adams originated his teachings at Westminster Theological Seminary, [even] that institution has modified his approach.*

This does not mean that we all agree theologically nor, must we. There is such a broad varriety in Christ.

*Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_E._Adams"

By J. Wendell, at 12/8/07 6:19 AM
My point and passion is conforming to the immage of God’s Son after we have found our rest in Him and in His finnished work.

Employing 1Cor. 10:13 can be a launching board to freedom from self, to freedom in Christ and thinking His thoughts after Him.

Being transformed by the renewal of the mind, has little to do with ones theological system of thought IMO. It has more to to with practical theology tham systematic theology, I think.

By J. Wendell, at 12/8/07 6:27 AM
John,

One of the things I like about Jay Adams is precisely what you point out, he works with a wide variety of Christians -- even Baptists. :o)

But seriously, there is so much we have in common. That's why I find your blog and Rose's blog so helpful with me.

Thanks for your good work.

By Earl Flask, at 12/8/07 2:01 PM
Thanks Earl,
That was very nice of you to say, I am truly humbled.

By J. Wendell, at 12/8/07 3:56 PM
Hi Matthew,

I read the article you linked to and I do see and understand the concerns of the nouthetic approach to counseling. However to be critical of using the book Proverb in counseling and child training seemed a bit silly, maybe I missed the point on that one. I do think the positional approach would make sense. I will have to find out more. Thanks for your care brother.

By J. Wendell, at 13/8/07 6:06 AM