Archives for August 2025

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Carl Trueman on the Meaning of Sola Scriptura

June 12, 2024 by John Fonville

Carl Trueman clarifies a common misconception that is popular among Evangelicals concerning the Protestant Reformation doctrine of sola scriptura....

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Prayer Book Statements About Regeneration

July 26, 2023 by John Fonville

J.C. Ryle answers the common arguments in favor of “Baptismal Regeneration,” which are based on the Baptismal Service of the Prayer-book. ...

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The Sacraments as Visible Words

July 14, 2023 by John Fonville

J.V. Fesko on the sacraments as visible words- a visible proclamation of the gospel....

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The Word of God: The Chief Means of Grace

July 13, 2023 by John Fonville

J.V. Fesko on the Word of God as the chief means of grace. ...

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The Death of Christ: The Only True Purgatory

July 7, 2023 by John Fonville

Martin Davie explains from the homily, ‘Of Prayer’ in the Second Book of Homilies, how the English Reformers taught that the only true purgatory is the death of Christ and no other purgation is either necessary or possible....

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Why Use Written Prayers?

May 15, 2023 by John Fonville

Why Use Written Prayers?- Why does your church use prewritten prayers in your service? Isn't this a dry, rote, unthinking, way for the church to pray and worship? Don't pre-written prayers stifle the Spirit and hinder freedom and promote mechanical, vain repetition? Aren't spontaneous prayers more genuine and heartfelt than prewritten prayers? ...

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Martin Luther on How to Read the Gospels (Scripture)

May 5, 2023 by John Fonville

This writing of Martin Luther is from the introduction to his “Postils” (a group of model sermons which he wrote while at the Wartburg Castle). This brief foreword is full of comfort and good news. In it, Luther sets forth insightful instruction on how to read the Gospels (and the entirety of Scripture- the OT and NT)....

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Martin Luther and how Evangelicalism Departed from its Reformation Roots

August 25, 2022 by John Fonville

My argument is this: By the year 1700, Protestant Christianity had begun developing significantly new practices and understandings of the Christian faith that focused upon Christian renewal, conversion, new birth and the coming millennial kingdom. These new practices and understandings were a dramatic departure not only from Roman Catholic Christianity, but also from the original Reformation convictions of Martin Luther and John Calvin some one hundred and fifty years earlier. Evangelical Christianity, of the free church variety especially, is the contemporary expression of this third form of Christianity. Probably most Evangelicals are unaware that their Christian experience and piety are far removed from Reformation Protestant beginnings. Evangelicals would do well to recover their lost heritage....

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Martin Luther's Primary Concern in Liturgical Reformation

August 20, 2022 by John Fonville

Martin Luther's primary concern when constructing the German mass and order of the liturgy in 1526 was that the gospel be proclaimed for the people in their context....

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Worthy Reception of the Lord's Supper

July 28, 2022 by John Fonville

Martin Luther on the worthy reception of the Lord's Supper....

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Infant Baptism and Discipleship

July 27, 2022 by John Fonville

Infant baptism sets Christian discipleship from birth within a covenant context, which means means to understand discipleship as something connected to the ordinary means of God’s grace and the routine work of the church....

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Richard Sibbes: The Scope of the Whole Scriptures is Christ

June 27, 2021 by John Fonville

Richard Sibbes discussing the Christ-centered focus of all the Scriptures....

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Richard Sibbes: The Glory of God is Greatest in the Gospel

February 28, 2020 by John Fonville

Richard Sibbes: The Glory of God is Greatest in the Gospel...

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Michael Horton: What the Third Use of the Law Can and Cannot Do

February 25, 2020 by John Fonville

Michael Horton on what the third use of the law can and cannot do....

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Gerald Bray: WWJD is Impossible to Answer

February 25, 2020 by John Fonville

Gerald Bray: "'What would Jesus do?’ seems like an innocent question to ask, but it is impossible to answer literally and does not reflect the teaching of the New Testament. ...

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William Perkins on Seven Differences between the Law and Gospel

February 24, 2020 by John Fonville

The late 16th century Anglican pastor/theologian, William Perkins, on seven differences between the law and gospel....

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No Creed But The Bible?

February 21, 2020 by John Fonville

No Creed But The Bible?- Carl Trueman on the unbiblical creedal statement, "The bible is our only creed and our only confession."...

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Philip Schaff: The 39 Articles Are Reformed

February 20, 2020 by John Fonville

Philip Schaff: The 39 Articles are found in every collection of Reformed confessions....

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Confusing Law and Gospel: A Review of David Platt's book, Radical.

November 19, 2015 by John Fonville

A review of David Platt's book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream....

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Dispositional Soteriology: Jonathan Edwards on Justification by Faith Alone

November 10, 2015 by John Fonville

George Hunsinger shows how Jonathan Edwards crosses the fine line laid down by the Reformation concerning justification sola fide. Edwards taught that works are not simply external evidence that faith exists. Rather, works are necessary to the efficacy of faith. Works, as the external expression of faith, play a role in justification....

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Eastern Church Fathers on Penal Substitutionary Atonement: Patristic Teachings from Justin Martyr to

August 14, 2025 by John Fonville | Category: Patristic Theology | Tags: Gregory Nazianzen, Cyril of Jerusalem, Eastern Church Fathers, Penal Substitutionary Atonement, Justin Martyr, Athanasius of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, Patristic Theology, Early Christianity, Christ’s Sacrifice, Divine Justice, Atonement Doctrine, Nicene Fathers, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Christian Theology

Cappadocian Fathers

Explore the teachings of Eastern Church Fathers—Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD), Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373 AD), Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD), Gregory Nazianzen (c. 329–390 AD), and John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD)—on Jesus' penal substitutionary atonement. This post compiles key quotes from their writings, sourced from the Ante-Nicene Fathers an...

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Guarding the Flock: The Implications of Article 23 in the 39 Articles for Unauthorized Bible Teache

August 7, 2025 by John Fonville | Category: Ecclesiology | Tags: Anglican, English Reformation, 1662 Book of Common Prayer, 39 Articles, ordained ministry, Article 23, rogue Evangelicals, unauthorized teaching, doctrinal unity, church oversight

Preaching in the Church

This article examines how Article 23 of the 39 Articles, rooted in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, ensures lawful ministry. It tackles Evangelicalism’s issue of self-appointed, unauthorized Bible teachers, promoting ordained oversight to safeguard confessional unity. ...

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J.V. Fesko’s Case Against Paedocommunion: A Balanced Perspective

August 6, 2025 by John Fonville | Category: Paedocommunion | Tags: faith, covenant theology, baptism, sacraments, Lord's Supper, reformed theology, J.V. Fesko, Paedocommunion, Christian doctrine

Holy Communion

Explore J.V. Fesko’s reasoned argument against paedocommunion, highlighting the distinct roles of baptism and the Lord's Supper, the necessity of faith, and the theological progression within the covenant....

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Beyond the Means of Grace: Revivalism’s Pelagian Drift

August 6, 2025 by John Fonville | Category: Church History | Tags: means of grace, Pelagianism, reformed theology, Church History, Cane Ridge, revival, Second Great Awakening, Charles Finney, ordained ministry, emotionalism

Cane Ridge Revival

This article marks the 224th anniversary of the Cane Ridge revival (August 6, 1801), critiquing revivalism's negative impact on the church. It examines how it bypasses ordained ministry, neglects the means of grace for emotionalism, and reflects Charles Finney’s Pelagian influence, urging a return to Reformation principles. ...

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