DISTINCTIVES OF NCT (continued)Allow me to mention a third distinctive of NCT. NCT places a strong emphasis on the type/anti-type dimensions of Scripture. The nation of Israel in the Old Testament is seen as a type and picture (promise). The church in the New Testament is seen as the anti-type and fulfillment. There is much that could be said here, but for sake of simplicity let me make a statement that will hopefully clarify things- "The church is what the nation of Israel never was, could be, or ever was intended to be by God Himself."
Let's deal with each segment of my statement. First, the church is what the nation of Israel never was. This is simply a statement based upon reality. Anyone who honestly studies the Old Testament will observe that the nation of Israel was anything but faithful to the covenant. In fact, they collectively broke the covenant before it was ratified with blood when the children of Israel, under the direction of Aaron, formed and worshipped the golden calf. They had one bad king after another, and God placed them in captivity several times as well. In addition, even those who we would consider to be true believers- David, Moses, etc.- committed pretty heinous sins- sins I would argue would not be tolerated in most Bible based churches without some serious investigation!
Second, the church is what the nation of Israel never could be. Why is this? One answer- the Holy Spirit had yet indwelt God's people to enable them to obey. This, beloved, is the promise of the New Covenant (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Jeremiah 31:33-34, cf. Hebrews 8:6-13; Joel 2:28-29). The Spirit enables believers in the New Covenant (the church) to obey and delight in obedience. Now, I am not saying that true believers in the Old Covenant possessed no power whatsoever to obey. No, no! They had God's word, and the Spirit functioned to empower them in varying degrees (particularly prophets, priests, and kings), but not in the same way that He would in the New Covenant. This is the glory of the New Covenant- a more radical functioning of the Spirit of God in the life of the believer! On the other hand, I am not affirming a perfectionist, Wesleyan understanding of sanctification (or Pentecostal either!). Believers in the New Covenant are not perfect, but their hearts (the very essence of their human makeup) has been changed God-ward forevermore.
Third, the church is what the nation of Israel was never intended to be. I realize that this is a bold statement. But let me say from the beginning it is not a denial of God's sovereignty! The nation of Israel was never meant to be like the church according to the wisdom of God in a manner that we cannot entirely understand. The pictured the church, but they were not the church. How did they picture the church? They pictured the church not because they had a history of faithfully obeying God (which is characteristic of the church). In fact, they pictured the church in a sense that had absolutely nothing to do with their end of the covenant (they broke their end). Rather, they pictured the church when we observe God's faithfulness to them, which was demonstrated over and over again beginning with their (undeserved) deliverance from Egyptian bondage. He loved them in spite of their unfaithfulness. He was faithful, and showed His mighty power and grace in their nation, though they defied Him time and again. He opposed nation after nation that rose up against Israel. And, at times, He rose other nations against Israel to teach them a lesson or two. But He was faithful to them. So in essence, the nation of Israel pictured the ideal- God loving a people who do not deserve it, and who do not always act in accordance with the statutes of a loving God- but Israel's actual relationship with God was not ideal.
Now, this does not mean that every man, woman, boy, and girl in Israel were God-haters. On the contrary, God always preserved a remnant of people who were faithful back to God (Psalm 73;1; Romans 9:6-8; I Kings 19:18). There were always "Elijah's" and thousands who did not bow the knee to some foreign deity. But even this remnant did not bear the final trappings of the ideal relationship between God and His people. That would have to wait until the inauguration of the New Covenant.
So, NCT affirms a robust understanding of type/anti-type theology. This must be grasped. There is so much I did not say. But I will leave this post realizing I can never reveal the depths of God's mind and purposes. Sometimes its better to admit this, and opt for concise explanations. I have chosen to do this here. (Now most of you are hoping that I make that same decision when I preach.)
Still Growing in My Understanding,
Andy
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