Karl Barth being rightfully critical of a reformed Federal or Covenantal theology. Here we see what it looks like to think from a noncompetitive relationship between God and humanity; and to simply think humanity from Godβs life for us. It is God who is genuinely free in His inner and eternal life, and not us (βNot unto us, not unto us, but to God be the gloryβ Ps 115). It is Godβs being in becoming for us, wherein the βusβ comes to have the type of creaturely, and thus contingent independence (as TFT would say it) vis-Γ -vis God that the creature has. That is to say, it isnβt us, apart from Him, or prior to Him, that grounds a relationship, a knowledge of Him; indeed, quite the contrary! God in Christ is the condition for all that is, and ever will be. The primacy of Christ (see Col 1.15ff), the βpantocrator-nessβ of the living God is indeed that. As such, as we abide as humans, in the Branch of Godβs life for us, it is here where we come to move and breathe and have our being; since this is the only place where human being obtains in and through the free humanity of God in Jesus Christ.
. . . If we hold fast to Godβs decree of grace in Jesus Christ, and to His activity of grace in the history of the covenant, we can never dream of setting the creature over against God as a kind of second party to the contract, knowing as we do that the creature has no freedom but that which is grounded on the unconditioned and irresistible freedom and supremacy of God, having no power to concur but only to corroborate and understand and glorify. If we take absolutely seriously the meaning and character of the divine lordship, we are in a position to take with equal seriousness recognition of it as such.[1]
[1] Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics III/3 Β§49 [119] The Doctrine of Creation: Study EditionΒ (London: T&T Clark, 2010), 121.
ββ¦the creature has no freedom but that which is grounded on the unconditioned and irresistible freedom and supremacy of God, having no power to concur but only to corroborate and understand and glorify. If we take absolutely seriously the meaning and character of the divine lordship, we are in a position to take with equal seriousness recognition of it as such.β
Thanks be to God!β¦ for his indescribable gift.
Human being (as created being) is by nature contingent; and apart from βGodβs being in becoming for usβ we are and have nothing. It is only by immersion in the given power of the Holy Spirit that mankind is enabled (and must) βcorroborate and understand and glorifyβ the divine lordship of the one in whose image mankind was fashioned/formed, so as to cohere in relationship with Godβs own personal coinherency.
Remain in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit from itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.
βI am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in himβthis one bears much fruit, for apart from me you are not able to do anything. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit, and prove to be my disciples. (Jn 15:4β8)
Amen, Richard. Well stated.