Friendly Theology: Barclay’s Catechism – Chapter 4 (part 2)

CHAP. IV. (cont.)

Of the New Birth, the Inward Appearance of Christ in Spirit, and the Unity of the Saints with him.

Q. Is this Christ within, the Mistery of God and Hope of Glory, which the Apostle Preached?

A. To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery, among the Gentiles, which is, Christ in you the Hope of Glory, whom we preach [Col. 1:27-28].

Q. Doth the Apostle any where else press the putting on of this New Birth?

A. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof. [Rom. 13:14]

Q. Doth he write to any of the Saints, as having put off the Old, and on the New Man?

A. For as many of you, as have been Baptized into Christ, have put on Christ [Gal. 3:27].

Seeing that ye have put off the Old Man with his Deeds, and have put on the New Man, which is renew’d in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him [Col. 3:9-10].

Q. What speaketh Christ himself of the Necessity of this New Birth?

A. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God [John 3:3].

Q. Of what Seed cometh this Birth?

A. Being born again, not of Corruptible Seed, but of Incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever [1 Pet. 1:23].

Q. What doth the Apostle Paul witness of himself concerning this New Life?

Barclay makes clear that the Hope of Glory, which is Christ, is something which each person must take onto themselves. The salvation offered by Jesus Christ is universally available, but must be individually taken. Without taking on this new birth which is birth in Christ no one can see the Kingdom of God. We must crucify our selfishness, our ego, our narcissism, our pride, our vanity with Christ; in this way Christ may fully come alive in us.

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Leviticus 5 – Bribing God

“If his means are insufficient for two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then for his offering for that which he has sinned, he shall bring the tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering”

In order to purchase two birds as a sin offering an individual would have to have a certain amount of resources to purchase the birds from a trapper. Most people did not have the knowledge, skill, or equipment to get the birds on their own. For those who did not have the resources to procure two birds God provided an alternative; a tenth of an ephah of flour. A tenth of an ephah is about two liters. This amount is not insignificant, but it would be a resource which everyone could obtain. It was a small enough amount to be feasible, but it was a large enough amount that a certain amount of work and sacrifice would be put into the offering. Grinding flour is a long, tedious job, and giving away two liters of flour is giving away a significant investment of your time.

We are living in a time when God does not ask us to make animal sacrifices. God has given us a means for the forgiveness of our sins through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Still we are called to sacrifice. Too often we focus solely on giving God money. God has not called all of us to give money; some have very little money to give. God is calling us to sacrifice our time, and our energy. God has made it possible for each of us to give back to him what he has blessed us with. Be sure you are not trying to buy off God with your money; be sure to sacrifice your time and your energy for God’s purposes.

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