Brethren,

  First of all to Terry. I appreciate your concerns but I hope you will consider 
what I deem a most important aspect of the New Covenant that relates to both 
promise and fufulfillment

Brethren,

      When we see the widowed man change relationships from Law to Christ we 
must understand that his new relationship with Christ provides him with a 
superior inner dynamic to help him overcome sin and to fulfill our Lord's 
commandments. He is so well equipped for holy living he should never fall and 
remain in the dreaded category of an anti-nomian. He has no excuse. We have no 
excuse.

2 Cor 3
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; 
but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new 
testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the 
spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in 
stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold 
the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done 
away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For 
if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of 
righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no 
glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that 
which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12 
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not 
as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not 
stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were 
blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading 
of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this 
day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it 
shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that 
Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, 
with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into 
the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

Either "we all" have it and know this experience or "we all" are no better off 
than the man wedded to the law in Romans 7. To this writer it's quite obvious 
that this new relationship should be producing "victory fruit" just as promised 
by the word of prophecy. In addition to the New Birth God has inscribed upon our 
hearts His very person. His Spirit in us is the promised Inscription. It is 
through this new Spirit indwelling relationship that the Romans 8 man is 
radically changed. He now enjoys the ability to overcome sin and serve God. To 
equate the abilities of this man when married to Law with the abilities of the 
same man married to Christ is, well to put it as simply and as kindly as I can, 
foolish. This is the age of the heavenly heart transplant. It brings life and 
life abundantly. (Why promise it if nothing is going to really change in the 
inner man?)

   Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit 
within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give 
them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine 
ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

The OT saints, though born of God (John 3:10), did not enjoy the payoff made to 
Christ as we now experince it. The promised Inscription was not their reality as 
it is ours in this new age. Thankfully God looked upon the intent of His heart 
and winked until Pentecost.

If we suggest that the promised and now fulfillled Spirit Inscription does not 
equip and elevate the NC saints beyond what those saints who were merely married 
to an external code of conduct experienced is to this writer a serious failure 
to understand the radical nature of the New Covenant. Why then the promise of a 
new inscription? Why then would Jesus reveal the (then) future indwelling of the 
Triune God? Yes, the new man married to Christ is not without struggles with 
sin. That's not the point. The point is this. Christ is IN us. We have the MIND 
of Christ. We have the POWER to overcome SIN and to SERVE our God and thus 
fulfill the Law of Christ our husband. This new inner working dynamic is unique 
to the man married to Christ. I dare not make God promises of no effect.
 
Ezekiel 36:27 - And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my 
statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 

Those New Perspective and Covenant Theologians do not understand and perhaps 
cannot comprehend the totally radical nature of the New. I pray we who say we 
are NCT at the very least understand why we must not draw back to shadows and 
types and lifeless law when it is Christ in us who has changed everything. Paul 
clearly points out to us how a man who loved God's law was transitioned from the 
old economy into the New in order for Him to know victory in Jesus.

Romans 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who 
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of 
life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what 
the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own 
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after 
the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

I do not wish to be drawn into endless debate. I just don't have time nor the 
smarts. My only desire is to encourage further research and study along these 
lines.

    Love you all! In Christ,
           Moe