Required reading
A view of the covenant of grace by Thomas Boston (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue the Third Head by reading up to the heading 'III. The promise of sanctification'.
My summary
Today Boston continues teaching us about the promissory part of the covenant.
Now we see that the promise of eternal life to the elect may also be considered in three periods.
Firstly Boston considers the promise to the elect in the period before their union of Christ. There is a promise of:
(i) preservation;
(ii) the Spirit.
Then Boston begins to examine the period from union with Christ until death. This period includes the promises of:
(i) justification;
(ii) a new and saving covenant relation to God.
What grabbed me
I liked the parallel Boston drew between the creation of man and the new birth: 'As God breathed into the first man the breath of life, and he became a living soul, who was before but a lifeless piece of fair earth; that is, God put a spirit, a soul, into hi s body, which immediately showed in the man's breathing at his nostrils: so Jesus Christ, in the time of loves, put his Spirit into the dead soul, which immediately shews itself alive, by believing, receiving and embracing him, known and discerned in his transcendent glory.'
God has made the Christian come alive, twice.
Next week's reading
Continue the Third Head by reading up to the heading 'IV. The promise of perseverance in grace'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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