Baptism Is Far From Automatic
Michael Green discussing The Gorham Judgement and clarifying the Anglican position on baptism and regeneration....
Keep ReadingThe Kingdom is the Gospel and the Gospel is the Kingdom
Michael Horton on the gospel and kingdom....
Clarifying, “ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda”
Martin Davie clarifying the often misunderstood post-World War II Latin phrase, “ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda."...
There Are No “Non-Liturgical” Churches
There is no such thing as a “non-liturgical church.” The choice is not between liturgy or no liturgy, but between having an agreed-upon, well-thought-out liturgy or leaving things to the spur of the moment and the discretion of the leader. As one wag has rightly observed, if you think “organized religion” is bad, try disorganized religion....
The Protestant Reformation: A Two-Front War
The Protestant Reformation was waged on two fronts: the errors of Rome and the errors of the radical Reformation (i.e., so-called Anabaptists)....
The Double-Edged Nature of the Gospel and Sacraments
The Double-Edged Nature of God's Revelation- The sacraments are means of grace. However, because they are linked to the covenant and more broadly to divine revelation, they are not always means of grace but sometimes means of judgment apart from a Spirit-wrought faith....
Christ has Redeemed us through His Obedience
John Calvin: Christ has Redeemed us through His Obedience, which He practiced throughout His Life (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.16.5)...
"Christ is not divided. You cannot have half a Christ."
Walter Marshall on how true saving faith embraces Christ for both justification and sanctification. He shows that God's grace is twofold (i.e., the duplex [twofold] beneficium [benefit]). Justification is the first benefit (beneficium) and sanctification is the second benefit (beneficium). ...
Andy Stanley, Marcion, and the Bible
According to Andy Stanley, the 21st century church must “unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish scriptures.” Is this correct? No! We know this from Jesus' attitude towards the Old Testament, as well as the Apostles' and NT writers. We also object to Stanley's suggestion because of the nature of progressive revelation and the Scriptures central witness to Christ and His saving work....
How Do I Know I'm A Christian?
Assurance lies in the very direct act of faith as one is presented with Christ, the object of faith. The reflex act of faith can support our profession but it cannot become the ground our assurance....
The Mountain of Law vs. The Mountain of Grace
In Hebrews 12:18-24, the author of Hebrews expresses deep concern about where his readers stand in relation to the God who asks, “Adam, where are you?” To prevent his readers from a calamitous reversion to Jewish beliefs and practices, the author of Hebrews sets forth two contrasting relationships with God, determined by two antithetical covenants. By contrasting the old and new covenants, the author demonstrates the superiority of the new covenant over the old covenant. This superiority not only stresses the disastrous consequences of reverting under the old covenant (10:26-31; 12:25-29) but also provides the motivation for his readers to progress and move forward rather than drift and fall away from God (2:1-3; 3:12)....
Confirmation Cannot Be a Sacrament
Confirmation cannot be a sacrament- a means of grace. Rather, confirmation is one's profession of faith- the believer's act, a response to the promise made in baptism....
Keep ReadingWhy are the means of grace restricted to Word and sacrament?
J.V. Fesko, in his book, Word, Water and Spirit: A Reformed Perspective on Baptism, explains why the means of grace are restricted to Word and sacrament....
Keep ReadingReconciliation: The Good News of the Gospel
Jerry Bridges discussing the good news of God's initiative in reconciling His enemies to Himself. ...
Keep ReadingThe Kingdom is the Gospel and the Gospel is the Kingdom
Michael Horton on the gospel and kingdom....
Keep ReadingClarifying, “ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda”
Martin Davie clarifying the often misunderstood post-World War II Latin phrase, “ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda."...
Keep ReadingThere Are No “Non-Liturgical” Churches
There is no such thing as a “non-liturgical church.” The choice is not between liturgy or no liturgy, but between having an agreed-upon, well-thought-out liturgy or leaving things to the spur of the moment and the discretion of the leader. As one wag has rightly observed, if you think “organized religion” is bad, try disorganized religion....
Keep ReadingThe Protestant Reformation: A Two-Front War
The Protestant Reformation was waged on two fronts: the errors of Rome and the errors of the radical Reformation (i.e., so-called Anabaptists)....
Keep ReadingThe Double-Edged Nature of the Gospel and Sacraments
The Double-Edged Nature of God's Revelation- The sacraments are means of grace. However, because they are linked to the covenant and more broadly to divine revelation, they are not always means of grace but sometimes means of judgment apart from a Spirit-wrought faith....
Keep ReadingChrist has Redeemed us through His Obedience
John Calvin: Christ has Redeemed us through His Obedience, which He practiced throughout His Life (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.16.5)...
Keep Reading