Critique of
"THE GREATNESS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION"
by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. 
CHAPTER 2
The Covenant and the Great Commission

 

Page 17: A Covenant Establishes a Particular Relation. The purpose of a covenant is to establish a favorable relationship. The heart of God's "covenants of the promise" (Eph. 2:12) is: "I will be your God and you will be My people." This idea occurs a great number of times in Scripture.

Correction: The death of Jesus Christ establishes a favorable relationship for true Christians.

Ephesians 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

 

Page 17: A Covenant Protects and Promotes Itself. Favorable covenantal relations are conditional. They are maintained only by a faithful keeping of the specified legal terms.

Correction: True Christians will promote Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

Note: The author is maintaining that salvation can be lost.

 

Page 19: The English "LORD" translates the Hebrew "Jehovah," which occurs over 6000 times in the Old Testament.

Correction: "Jehovah" is not the name of God.

JEHOVAH, name of the God of the Hebrew people as erroneously transliterated from the Masoretic test. The word consists of the consonants. YHVH or YHWH, with the vowels of a separate word, Adonai (Lord). Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Volume 15, page 24.

 

Page 19: It was God's special, redemptive, covenantal name. By this name He made Himself known to Israel just prior to their glorious deliverance from Egypt. (Exo. 6:2-7).

Note: The name of God points to His character for true believers.

Exodus 3:13-14 Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Note: Have you made the connection between Jehovah and Jesus? I have.

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

 

Page 19: The name Jehovah immediately spoke of God's exalted majesty and glorious might. This was He Who spoke and made covenant in Deuteronomy.

Note: Salvation is found in the person and name of Jesus Christ.

John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

Page 21: Moses and Elijah, who represent the Law and the Prophets (the Old Covenant), even appear somewhat later in Christ's ministry on the Mount of Transfiguration to cede their covenantal authority to Christ. They spoke to Him regarding His soon coming departure from the world through death, when He would formally establish the New Covenant.

Correction: Moses and Elijah were bearing witness to Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

MAIN INDEX

BIBLE INDEX

HINDU INDEX

MUSLIM INDEX

MORMON INDEX

BUDDHISM INDEX

WORD FAITH INDEX

WATCHTOWER INDEX

MISCELLANEOUS INDEX

CATHOLIC CHURCH INDEX