Description
Book SynopsisWhen it comes to the Christian life, what exactly can we expect with regard to personal transformation? Gary Millar addresses this most basic question. He explores the nature of gospel-shaped change, exposing the dangers of both promising too much and expecting too little. The central part of his study focuses on ‘life in the middle’ - between the change that is brought about when we become Christians, and the ‘final’ change in which we will be raised with Christ. Millar reads the ‘character studies’ of major Old Testament figures as depicting a moral decline throughout their lives, and their innate sinfulness and lack of change. This problem is resolved by a new covenant that promises both individual and corporate transformation in the power of the Spirit. The New Testament presents this as a rich and complex process that cannot be contained or adequately described by a single set of images. Transformation is real, deep-rooted and far-reaching. In developing an integrated biblical theology of transformation, Millar draws on the contributions of some key theologians, including Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Edwards and Owen, and concludes with a careful synthesis.
Trade ReviewGary Millar … not only traces the development of the theme of personal transformation across the canon, but also probes the extent to which such a vision has (or has not!) been captured by an array of thinkers in the history of the church. Then, reflecting his own commitments as a pastor-theologian, he puts together the whole and demonstrates that the best practical application emerges from the most integrated biblical theology. * D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, USA *
