I have several volumes in this series already and have used them in my sermon prep and study. While I haven’t seen the Dearman volume yet, it has already received some good reviews, and if in line with the rest of the series it will be marked by high scholarship from a generally evangelical perspective. Of course, what counts as an “evangelical perspective” with regards to OT studies anymore, who knows!

But I’ve also learned a lot about God’s Word. And the more I live – and consequently see people I know sin, suffer, and die – the more I am convinced that we are all much too attached to this present age and so easily lose our focus on the age to come.

This has become very clear to me over 8 years of teaching and preaching through the Bible. And as I better understand the Bible I realize all the more that Christ is really what everything is all about. For those who have not yet heard Sinclair Ferguson’s sermon at this year PCRT on the Christ of History, you must do everything in your power to listen to it. Dr. Ferguson used to tell us in his class on the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit that if we do not yet own Abraham Kuyper’s book on the Holy Spirit, we must do everything we can to get it, even if it means robbing or pillaging to get it! Calm down, he was only joking. But the same applies here to this message on the Christ of History. Do what it takes, even if it means pawning your wedding ring. It was far and away the best sermon I’ve ever heard Ferguson preach (and I’ve heard many great ones). In fact, it may have been the best sermon I’ve ever heard – period.

You see, the good Scottish Doctor begins with Genesis 3:15. And from there he unfolds for us the grand scheme of redemptive history. He declares Christ as the great leitmotif, the metanarrative, of Scripture. Edmund Clowney would have been proud!

But my point – following Ferguson – is this. Christ is not just the center of Scripture, but also the center of everything, of all of history. For him, to him, by him are all things, and in him they all hold together. This is not some strange kind of pantheism, but the teleology taught by the Bible. Everything that happens in history, everything that happens in redemptive history, is to the end that God’s people would know and dwell with Christ forever. For this we were made. For this we were redeemed.

And if we preach anything in abstraction from this grand overarching significance of all things, we are really preaching our own particular agendas and will thus leave the people of God with something short of the full Christ, and the fullness of Christ. And that is simply unacceptable.

Now, lest one think that this is some hair-brained scheme of preaching invented in the 20th century and which is an aberration from the Old Reformed Paths, I assure you its not. John Owen was trying to hit this point home, as far as I can understand (which, granted, may not be very far!), when he speaks about the idea of the beatific vision. Owen, and the Reformed, do not forsake the notion passing it off as some Romish doctrine. But they, of course, Reform it. The visio Dei for Owen is the great end for which God created the World (this is also the same for Edwards as well). Everything drives to the end that God’s people might forever behold and enjoy and glorify the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So, what we will enjoy forever is not some bare divine nature, but we will enjoy God through the one by whom he has perfectly revealed himself. To see Christ is to see God, even though God still forever remains incomprehensible to us. In Christ we see God perfectly, even if not exhaustively.

So, you see, this what the Bible is all about. And this can be agreed upon by both R-H preachers and so-called neo-Puritan or experimental preachers. In fact, I would argue, true R-H preaching must be experimental (is there anything more stirring or moving than holding up Christ in all his Glory for your people to see), and true experimental preaching must be R-H. Moralisms, self-helps, and trite platitudes will not do. Show them Jesus!! From the OT, show them Jesus! From the NT, show them Jesus! From Genesis 1, show them Jesus! From Esther, Ruth, the Proverbs, and the Song of Solomon . . . lift up Christ in all his Glory to the people of God. They need to see him by faith. They need to behold him daily. They need to exalt him, worship him, and obey him. But they will not unless you resolve to know nothing but Christ and him crucified.

Now, I know what your thinking. Oh, no, he wants to advocate allegorical hermeneutics in which we force Jesus into every grain of sand mentioned, or into the threads of the temple, or into the minute details communicated. After all, how can I preach Christ from Esther or Proverbs when he’s not even mentioned there? Good question. A question that only a Christ-centered biblical theologian can answer or figure out. When I get to those book, I’ll share with you what I learn. But I do know this, without performing eisegesis on the text, those books are about Christ. And yes, that is an a priori commitment. And you know what? The NT tells me that’s OK to do. More later . . .

For Ferguson’s Sermon go here.

For Clowney’s great book on the subject, go here.

It is clear to me that Thornwell in his debate with Hodge has won the day in the OPC today, whereas the PCA seems more Hodgean. Ironic? Perhaps not if we consider the fact that the founder of the OPC was himself a Southerner!

You can read more about it in Dr. Hart and John Muether’s book, Seeking A Better Country.

There are very few figures as large as John Stott and J.I. Packer for understanding the advancement of twentieth century evangelicalism in the Reformed tradition. To be sure, neither of these men are perfect, and certainly made decisions which were significant mistakes in their ministries. But, then again, so have I! And so have we all. So, without judging self righteously, let us thank God for all these men have done and enjoy learning more about them! Let us learn, humbly, from their accomplishments as well as their errors.

“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

This latest volume is on the book of Ecclesiastes and is being offered at the Westminster Bookstore for a 45% discount. But its a limited time offer, so jump on it!

Also fantastic is this volume on 1 Samuel by John Woodhouse in the same series. I have tell you, I love this book. I have been using it as part of my prep work for Wednesday night Bible Study. It is expositional and Christ-centered! Two qualities hard to find together in one commentary. I highly recommend it!