August 29, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Anglicanism
| Tags: sacraments, Liturgy, Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Formularies, Protestant Reformation, Richard Hooker, Oxford movement, GAFCON Australasia 2022, Mark Earngey, Moore Theological College, Anglican identity, Via Media, Three-legged Stool, Canterbury Tales, Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, Book of Homilies, Ordinal, John Keble, Edward Pusey, John Henry Newman, Tracts for the Times, Lambeth Conference
Dr. Mark Earngey, head of Church History and Christian Doctrine at Moore Theological College, recently spoke at GAFCON Australasia 2022 answering the question, "What is an authentic approach to Anglican identity?"...
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August 25, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
German Pietism
| Tags: evangelicalism, john calvin, martin luther, Anglican church, Protestant Reformation, German pietism, Douglas Shantz, pietist studies, John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Reformation paradigm, Renewal paradigm, Evangelical paradigm, English Methodism, justification, sola fide, sacraments, Conversion, Liturgy, Self-examination, church, new birth, head knowledge, heart knowledge
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 o...
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August 20, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Liturgy
| Tags: gospel, worship, martin luther, Liturgy, German Mass 1526, Protestant Reformation, liturgical reformation, Word and Sacrament
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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August 18, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
1662 BCP
| Tags: sacraments, Sacrifice, Holy Communion, altar, table, Mass, sacerdotalism, 1662 BCP, Reformation Anglicanism, Anglican Foundations
Instead of using the word "altar," the 1662 BCP uses the word, "Table." The word, "sacrifice" is used carefully....
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July 28, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Lord's Supper
| Tags: martin luther, sacraments, means of grace, Lord's Supper, Eucharist, Holy Communion, Visible Gospel, worthy reception, German Mass, Sacrament of the Altar
Martin Luther on the worthy reception of the Lord's Supper....
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July 27, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Infant Baptism
| Tags: covenant theology, means of grace, reformed theology, infant baptism, paedobaptism, sacraments, Visible Church, Discipleship
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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July 26, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Idolatry
| Tags: Idolatry, Anglican Formularies, Reformation Anglicanism, The Book of Homilies, images, Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article 22 Of Purgatory
The homily, 'Against Peril of Idolatry,' in the Second Book of Homilies, makes four key points against the use of images, which, it says, are idols under another name. ...
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May 23, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Sacraments
| Tags: baptism, sacraments, Lord's Supper, Paedocommunion, sacrament of imitation, sacrament of covenant ratification
J.V. Fesko on The Illegitimacy of Paedocommunion. Just because infants are baptized and are members of the church does not mean that they are automatically entitled to participate in the Lord’s Supper....
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May 9, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Job Description
| Tags: paramount church, Senior Executive Pastor, Job Description
We are Hiring!- Paramount Church is currently seeking to hire a Senior Executive Pastor. Click the link below for the job description. All enquiries can be sent to admin@paramountchurch.com....
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May 4, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Adoption
| Tags: grace, 10 commandments, Mercy, Adoption, sonship, Son, slave, Thomas Watson
Thomas Watson, "Adoption is greater mercy than Adam had in paradise."...
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April 11, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
1662 BCP
| Tags: Anglican Formularies, Palm Sunday, 1662 BCP, The Sunday Next Before Easter, Reformation Anglicanism
Why does the 1662 BCP have "The Sunday Next Before Easter" rather than "Palm Sunday?"...
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April 5, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Law of God
| Tags: sanctification, law and gospel, good works, obedience, justification, ten commandments, moral law, law of God, fruit of the Spirit, three uses of the law
The basic function of the law never changes. What is this function? Read on to find out....
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April 5, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Gospel-driven
| Tags: third use of the law, Normative, guide, grace-driven obedience, evangelical obedience, justification, sanctification, christian life, holiness, obedience, promise, guilt offering, thank offering,
How do believers respond to the moral law?...
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April 5, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Christian Living
| Tags: grace, gospel, obedience, covenant of grace, covenant of works, legalism, antinomianism, Gratitude, guilt, christian life, Normative, pedagogical, law of God, three uses of the law, guide, victory, defeat, sailing
Sailing and the Christian life....
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April 4, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Three Uses of the Law
| Tags: grace, righteousness, john calvin, Holy Spirit, Mercy, conviction, normative use, pedagogical use, three uses of the law, civil use, mirror, restrain, guide
John Calvin discusses the three uses of the moral law....
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March 22, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Lordship Salvation
| Tags: sanctification, repentance, faith, obedience, holiness, assurance, moralism, michael horton, righteousness, justification, lordship salvation, sola fide, solus christus, sola gratia, soli deo gloria, Love, Regeneration, Knowledge, Trust, King, prophet, priest, assent, affections, Protestant Reformation, duplex beneficium
Ten propositions in response to Lordship Salvation from the book, Christ the Lord: The Reformation and Lordship Salvation....
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March 17, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
St. Patrick
| Tags: Ireland, St. Patrick, Ancient Church, St. Patrick's Day
Why St. Patrick came back to Ireland in his own words....
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March 2, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
A Commination
| Tags: Book of Common Prayer, Commination, Lent, Ash Wednesday, judgment, Wrath, repentance, law, confession of sin, Mercy, forgiveness
A Commination or denouncing of God’s anger and judgements against sinners with certain prayers to be used on the first day of Lent and at other times as the ordinary shall appoint....
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February 15, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Assurance
| Tags: assurance, Christian Freedom, lordship salvation, direct act of faith, reflex act of faith, pietistic nomism
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....
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February 4, 2022
by John Fonville
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Category:
Christian Living
| Tags: sanctification, obedience, holiness, justification, lordship salvation, guilt, Bondage, Corruption, Holy, christian life, condemnation, righteous, duplex beneificium, sanctified, reconciled
Holiness is not an option for a Christian. ...
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November 5, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Reformation Anglicanism
| Tags: justification, sola fide, solus christus, sola gratia, Reformation Anglicanism, Katherine Parr, good works
In her book, The Lamentation of a Sinner, Katherine Parr recounts her conversion to the truth of the gospel of justification by grace, through faith, in Christ alone....
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November 4, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Christian Living
| Tags: grace, law and gospel, preaching, moralism, legalism, law, graeme goldsworthy, Christian living, expository preaching, indicative, imperative, Biblical theology, Ethics
Graeme Goldsworthy on the relationship of the gospel to Christian living. ...
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November 3, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Justification
| Tags: grace, sanctification, merit, inherent righteousness, righteousness, justification, sola fide, material cause, duplex beneficium, imputed righteousness, marvelous exchange, forensic
Justification and a Divided Church- Michael Horton discusses the two distinct positions on justification that continue to divide Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church....
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October 31, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Liturgy
| Tags: gospel, worship, Prayer, divine service, J.I. Packer, 1662 Book of Common Prayer, Reformation liturgy
The Gospel in the Prayer Book- Collected short writings by J. I. Packer on The 1662 Book of Common Prayer....
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October 27, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Protestant Reformation
| Tags: justification, john calvin, martin luther, sola fide, sola gratia, sola scriptura, soli deo gloria, Thomas Cranmer, collect, Protestant Reformation, Reformation Sunday, solo Christo, Oxford Martyrs, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley
A collect for Reformation Sunday....
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October 26, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Justification
| Tags: justification, sola fide, solus christus, sola gratia, Thomas Cranmer, Protestant Reformation, catholic, catholicity
In his homily, A Sermon of the Salvation of Mankind, Thomas Cranmer quotes from many scholars and sources to convince us of the catholicity or universality of justification sola fide....
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October 25, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Liturgy
| Tags: Holy Communion, confession of sin, confession of sins, general confession, Reformation Anglicanism, 1552 Book of Common Prayer, 1662 Book of Common Prayer, Morning & Evening Prayer, divine service, auricular confession, priestly absolution, Liturgy
From 1552 onward, the striking thing about the daily services [in the Book of Common Prayer) was the prominent place given to the general confession of sins in corporate worship....
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October 24, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Lordship Salvation
| Tags: good works, faith, repentance, Reformation, King, Rod Rosenbladt, lordship salvation, justification, michael horton, assurance, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, prophet, priest, W. Robert Godfrey, Kim Riddlebarger
Ten propositions in response to Lordship Salvation....
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October 14, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Justification
| Tags: inherent righteousness, Salvation, sola fide, justification, Reformation Sunday, Roman Catholicism, Thirty Nine Articles, imputed righteousness, Council of Trent, Reformation
Two Radically Different Views of Salvation: Thirty Nine Articles, Articles 11-13 & The Council of Trent: Chapter 7: The Causes of this justification are; Session 6, Canons 9, 11-12...
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October 12, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Justification
| Tags: faith alone, sola fide, justification, 5 Solas, English Reformers, Thomas Cranmer, Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, The Book of Homilies, catholic faith
According to the Thirty-nine Articles, the Homily of Salvation or Homily of Justification outlines “a most wholesome doctrine”, that “we are justified by Faith only”. Lee Gatiss...
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October 11, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Confessional Anglicanism
| Tags: Anglicanism, Oxford movement, Reformation Anglicanism, Protestant Reformation, Mark Chapman, Michael Jensen, 19th Century
Mark Chapman writes about the historical distortion of history made by the 19th century Oxford movement. ...
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October 6, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Ecclesiology
| Tags: Church office, Ecclesiology, minister, Elder, Shepherd, Thirty Nine Articles, Anglican church, Bishops, Church of England, presbyter, W.H. Griffith Thomas, Deacons, Priests
Why do Anglicans refer to their ordained ministers as priest?...
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October 5, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Liturgy
| Tags: Liturgist, Liturgy, Reformation Anglicanism, Protestant Reformation, Thomas Cranmer, public reading of Scripture, Protestant Reformers, English Reformation, Reformation Sunday
A distinctive feature of Thomas Cranmer's reforms of the worship of the English church was the prominent place he gave to the extensive reading of Scripture. ...
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September 16, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Liturgy
| Tags: worship, Book of Common Prayer, Thomas Cranmer, Liturgy, Anglican piety, Reformation Sunday, Protestant Reformation, opus Dei (God's Work), Gratitude, grace
Thomas Cranmer's Revolution in Worship: Grace and Gratitude...
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September 16, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Liturgy
| Tags: Thomas Cranmer, Reformation, Liturgy, lex orandi lex credendi, Reformation Anglican Worship, Reformation Anglican, lex credendi lex orandi
Thomas Cranmer was a theological liturgist, which means the Reformer possessed a set of theological convictions that he hoped to express through his liturgy. These theological convictions were a clear step away from the worship of the medieval Catholic Church and the theological convictions that it represented....
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August 12, 2021
by John Fonville
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Category:
Covenant Theology
| Tags: new covenant, old covenant, abrahamic covenant, mosaic covenant, mediator, promise, law, moses, nations, Christ, Holy Spirit, covenant curses, covenant blessings
In their book, Sacred Bond, Michael Brown and Zach Keele answer the question what is "new" about the new covenant?...
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June 27, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: Christ-centered hermeneutic, Anglican, Richard Sibbes
Richard Sibbes discussing the Christ-centered focus of all the Scriptures....
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June 22, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: good works, imputed righteousness, Union with Christ, justification
Since our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin how can they be accepted by God?...
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June 12, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: Love, Mercy, solus christus, kindness, Predestination, assurance, election, grace
John Calvin: Election is to be understood and recognized in Christ alone...
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May 7, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: Trinity College, James Ussher, Reformed confession, covenant of works, covenant of grace, law and gospel, Reformation Anglican, Dublin
In his work, A Body of Divinity, James Ussher sets forth the difference between the law (i.e., covenant of works) and the gospel (i.e., covenant of grace)....
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May 7, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: Catechizing, Catechism, Discipleship, gospel-centrality, Catechist, spiritual growth
In their book, Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way, J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett make the vital observation that in discipleship believers never move on from the gospel but deeper into it....
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May 6, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: Submission, Trinity, Eternal Functional Subordinationism, ERAS, ESS, Subordinationism, Authority, Scott Swain, Wayne Grudem, eternal subordination of the Son, EFS, Bruce Ware, Trinitarian Errors, Eternal Relations of Authority and Submission, aspiration, filiation, paternity, Trinitarian Heresies, Modalism, Owen Strachan, personal properties, divine simplicity, divine will
In his book, The Trinity: An Introduction, Scott Swain argues that Eternal Functional Subordinationism (EFS) is a serious error that Christians should roundly reject because it inaccurately represents biblical teaching on the Trinity and therefore fails to provide a solid foundation for faith in the Trinity....
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May 6, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: Piety, Predestination, Book of Common Prayer, William Perkins, English theologian, scholastic theology, practical theology, Church of England, Reformed conformity, conformist, non-separatist, scholastic piety, A Golden Chaine, A Reformed Catholicke, Exposition of the Symbole or Creed of the Apostles
William Perkins defined theology as “the science of living blessedly forever.” The phrase captures the intellectual rigor and heartfelt piety that come together in the writings of this eminent English theologian, preacher, and spiritual director. Often overlooked or underestimated by modern scholars, Perkins was a very significant and influential scholastic theologian ...
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May 6, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: law and gospel, heidelberg catechism, zacharias ursinus, Reformed confession, Holy Spirit
In his commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, Zacharias Ursinus discusses four differences between the law and gospel....
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May 5, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: gospel, heidelberg catechism, zacharias ursinus
Zacharias Ursinus answering the question, What is the Gospel?...
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February 22, 2021
by John Fonville
| Tags: judgment, assurance, righteousness, conscience, Peace, direct act of faith, reflex act of faith
Calvin explains how believers find peace for their conscience in the direct act of faith. ...
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July 18, 2020
by John Fonville
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Category:
Sanctification
| Tags: walter marshall, the gospel mystery of sanctification, sanctification, gospel-driven, gospel-centered, john fonville, paramount church, Means of Gratitude, means of grace
Detailed chapter outlines of Walter Marshall's book, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification....
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July 18, 2020
by John Fonville
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Category:
Sanctification
| Tags: means of grace
Detailed outline of Chapter 13 in The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification...
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July 18, 2020
by John Fonville
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Category:
Sacraments
| Tags: baptism, gospel-driven, gospel-centered, sanctification, sacrament, sacraments, ordinance, ordinances, spiritual growth, Visible Gospel, promise, treaty ratification, means of grace, justification, righteousness, assurance, justified
To their detriment, it never occurs to a great deal of believers that their baptism has application to their current daily walk. This paper is written to help believers view their baptism as more than an event that happened in their past and to consider how the Scriptures set forth the benefits of baptism for the believer’s daily life....
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July 14, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: evangelicalism, graeme goldsworthy, "live the gospel"
Graeme Goldsworthy explains how we do not live but rather proclaim and believe the gospel....
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June 29, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: Priesthood, Elder, priest, presbyter, sacerdos, Richard Hooker, hierus
Richard Hooker: "I rather term the one sort Presbyters than Priests"...
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June 29, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: Priesthood, Elder, ministry, priest, C. FitzSimon Allison, pastoral ministry, presbyter, ordination, orders, church polity, episcopacy, non-conformists, presbyterianism, hiereus, híerateuma, sacerdos
C. FitzSimons Allison discusses four ways in which pastoral ministry has been separated from its true purpose....
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June 15, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: works, grace, law and gospel, faith, old covenant, new covenant, mosaic covenant, abrahamic covenant, law, justification, galatians, promise, Inheritance
Understanding the Contrast of “Law” and “Promise” in Galatians 3....
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June 12, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: sanctification, holiness, justification, walter marshall, antecedent conditions, consequent conditions, duplex beneficium, progressive sanctification
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). ...
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June 11, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: repentance, means of grace, Confession, sin, 1662 BCP, COVID, Coronavirus, quarantine, lament, A Commination, sorrow, depression
A season of lament.
...
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June 2, 2020
by John Fonville
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Category:
Ecclesiology
| Tags: evangelicalism, Ecclesiology, ministry, Doctrine of Vocation, Extraordinary Office, Ordinary Office, Church Officers, Egalitarianism
There is only one "ministry" but there are multiple vocations. All believers are sheep but not all believers are shepherds. All believers are priests, not all are pastors. All believers have been called by Christ to saving faith but not all believers have been called and entrusted with the one ministry of Christ's church, namely Word and sacrament. All believers are equipp...
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May 1, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: graeme goldsworthy, Reformation, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, Five Solas, Scripture alone, Reformation solas, Reformation Anglicanism, hermeneutics
Graeme Goldsworthy on the Four Reformation Solas: Grace alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, Faith alone....
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April 14, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: Prayer, Ireland, St. Patrick, Fifth Century, Ancient Church
St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer (5th Century)...
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March 23, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: old covenant, new covenant, mediator, mosaic covenant, moses, evangelicalism, israel, resurrection, Hope, comfort
New covenant believers are not under the Mosaic covenant. Therefore, calls for prayer based on the Mosaic (old) covenant during a worldwide pandemic is wrong and should be abandoned. Through Christ, the Mediator of a better (new) covenant, we have been given a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled ...
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March 20, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: resurrection, Death, comfort, Richard Sibbes
Richard Sibbes on a sweet consideration against the fear of death....
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February 28, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: grace, gospel, Mercy, Glory of God, Anglican, Richard Sibbes
Richard Sibbes: The Glory of God is Greatest in the Gospel...
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February 25, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: law and gospel, moralism, wwjd, Gerald Bray, imitation of Christ
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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February 24, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: law and gospel, old covenant, new covenant, Anglican, Richard Sibbes, 2 Corinthians
Richard Sibbes, a 17th Century Anglican theologian, commenting on 2 Corinthians 3 concerning the difference between the law and the gospel....
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February 24, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: law and gospel, covenant of grace, covenant of works, Anglican, James Ussher
James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland for the Church of Ireland (1625-1656) on the difference between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace....
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February 24, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: law and gospel, covenant of grace, covenant of works, Anglican, William Perkins, mosaic covenant, new covenant
The late 16th century Anglican pastor/theologian, William Perkins, on seven differences between the law and gospel....
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February 21, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: Creeds and Confessions, creedalism, biblicism, rationalism, evangelicals, anticonfessionalism
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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February 20, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: evangelicalism, Reformed confessions, coalitions, movements, creedalism, Creeds and Confessions
Carl Trueman on how evangelicalism prioritizes parachurch institutions over and above the church. ...
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February 20, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: 39 Articles of Religion; Anglican Formularies; Reformed confession
Philip Schaff: The 39 Articles are found in every collection of Reformed confessions....
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February 10, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: gospel, moralism, legalism, Exhortation, Self-examination, grace of God, law of God, legal preaching
Graeme Goldsworthy explains why we like to be constantly told what we are to do and why we like to be battered and bruised by preachers....
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January 21, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: sacrament, baptism, faith, repentance, means of grace, Salvation, Regeneration, The Gorham Judgment, Michael Green, baptismal regeneration, Privy Council, Henry Philpotts, George Gorham, Anglican basics
Michael Green discussing The Gorham Judgement and clarifying the Anglican position on baptism and regeneration....
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January 21, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: baptism, sacrament, means of grace, Visible Church, Holy Spirit, confirmation, infant baptism, public profession, adult baptism, Anglican basics
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....
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January 21, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: heidelberg catechism, means of grace, Prayer, Means of Gratitude, Word and Sacrament, Westminster Standards, Westminster Larger Catechism, Westminster Shorter Catechism, J.V. Fesko, Louis Berkhof, Charles Hodge, Wayne Grudem
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....
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January 17, 2020
by John Fonville
| Tags: grace, gospel, propitiation, Mercy, reconciliation, Jerry Bridges, enemy, enmity, justice of God
Jerry Bridges discussing the good news of God's initiative in reconciling His enemies to Himself. ...
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October 31, 2019
by John Fonville
| Tags: evangelicalism, Reformation, ecclesia reformata semper reformanda, reforming, Reformation Day
Martin Davie clarifying the often misunderstood post-World War II Latin phrase, “ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda."...
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October 31, 2019
by John Fonville
| Tags: Liturgy, Reformation, corporate worship, Book of Common Prayer, Liturgical, extemporaneous prayer, precomposed prayers
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....
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October 31, 2019
by John Fonville
| Tags: Protestant Reformation, Rome, 1517, John Hooper, Heinrich Bullinger, Papists, Counter Reformation, radical Reformation, Anabaptists, Thirty Nine Articles, Protestant confessions, Thomas Cranmer, English Reformers
The Protestant Reformation was waged on two fronts: the errors of Rome and the errors of the radical Reformation (i.e., so-called Anabaptists)....
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October 30, 2019
by John Fonville
| Tags: judgment, baptism, means of grace, Lord's Supper, Eucharist, Holy Communion, J.V. Fesko, sacraments, means of judgment, faith, Unbelief
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....
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October 29, 2019
by John Fonville
| Tags: obedience, redemption, john calvin, Salvation, active obedience, passive obedience, Institutes of the Christian Religion
John Calvin: Christ has Redeemed us through His Obedience, which He practiced throughout His Life (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.16.5)...
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February 8, 2019
by John Fonville
| Tags: Old Testament, covenant theology, graeme goldsworthy, Authority, Christ-centered hermeneutic, inspiration, Andy Stanley, Marcion, Marcionism, Aesop's Fables, Bibliology, evangelicalism
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 ...
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October 9, 2018
by John Fonville
| Tags: sanctification, hebrews, perseverance, obedience, holiness, adam, judgment, jews, jewish, old covenant, new covenant, jesus, mediator, assurance, covenant theology
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...
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June 20, 2018
by John Fonville
| Tags: faith, assurance, covenant of grace, baptism, sacraments, promise, Confession, Faithfulness, sign, seal, pledge
Why does understanding the movement of baptism matter?...
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June 7, 2018
by John Fonville
| Tags: Trinity, Christology, Athanasian Creed, Subordinationism, ESS, EFS, eternal functional subordination, male and female relationships, eternal subordination of the Son, Nicene Christianity, manhood, womanhood
The doctrine of eternal functional subordination (hereafter EFS) has been growing in support in evangelical circles in recent years. EFS claims that the Father and the Son are eternally distinguished by an “authority-submission structure”1 such that the Son eternally submits to the Father and the Father eternally has au- thority over the Son. This structure is the patt...
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May 14, 2018
by John Fonville
| Tags: sanctification, covenant of grace, covenant of works, legalism, justification, imputation, blessing, gospel-centered, Jerry Bridges, good-day-bad-day scenario, obedience, gospel-driven
Why is the covenant of grace important for the Christian life? We will consider two radically different days in a Christian's life to understand....
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October 13, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: moralism, merit, treasury of merit, roman catholic, infused righteousness, inherent righteousness, rc sproul, faith, belgic confession, heidelberg catechism, covenant theology, covenant of grace, covenant of works, covenant of redemption, law and gospel, mosaic covenant, abrahamic covenant, adamic covenant, davidic covenant, new covenant, moses, jesus christ, john murray, michael horton, andrew mcgowan, norman shepherd, robert traill, scott clark, benjamin franklin, glenn beck, legalism, antinomianism, creed, immortal, grace, law, righteousness, justification, redemption, propitiation, lordship salvation, imputation, active obedience of christ, passive obedience of christ, atonement, assurance, eternal security, evangelicalism, evangelical, thomas boston, scottish covenant theology, wwjd, zacharias ursinus, graeme goldsworthy, ebenezer erskine, ralph erskine, self justification, theodore beza, john calvin, martin luther, galatians, judaizers, john colquhoun, adamic administration, federal theology, messianic administration, headship theology, royal grant, suzerainty treaty, self-maledictory oath, cut a covenant, typology, hittite treaty, preamble, historical prologue, stipulations, sanctions, invocation, deposit of the treaty, monocovenantal, anathema, geerhardus vos, delbert hillers, covenant of promise, covenant of law, unconditional covenant, conditional covenant, meredith kline, obedience, blessing, curse, israel, mount hagar, mount sinai, mount calvary, mount zion, jesus, son of god, son of man, ten commandments, 10 commandments, resurrection, incarnation, nt wright, john piper, new perspective on paul, ep sanders, covenantal nomism, ge mendenhall, timothy george, t david gordon, bryan estelle, david van drunen, modern reformation, white horse inn, the gospel coalition, sola fide, solus christus, sola gratia, sola scriptura, soli deo gloria
Collapsing the covenants into one overarching theme of grace confuses law and gospel and effectively eliminates an explicit law-gospel distinction in Scripture....
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October 13, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: sanctification, good works, assurance, moralism, inherent righteousness, covenant of grace, antinomianism, justification, Holy Spirit, Union with Christ, antecedent conditions, consequent conditions, duplex beneficium, substance of the covenant, imputed righteousness
Does placing primary emphasis upon justification for assurance understate the importance and necessity of good works (i.e., sanctification)? Does this emphasis dishonor the Holy Spirit’s indwelling work?...
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October 9, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: john calvin, sola gratia, sola scriptura, soli deo gloria, Mercy, Salvation, Glory of God, formal cause, material cause, faith alone, Reformation 500, sola Fidea, efficient cause, Christ's obedience, Christ's death, instrumental cause, final cause, 5 Solas, soulus Christus
John Calvin discusses the four "causes" of salvation (i.e, the efficient cause- God the Father's mercy; the material cause- Christ's obedience/death; the formal/instrumental cause- faith alone; the final cause- the glory of God)....
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October 4, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: law and gospel, covenant theology, zacharias ursinus, reformed theology, hermeneutics
Zacharias Ursinus, author of the Heidelberg Catechism, discusses the law and gospel. Ursinus refers to the law and gospel the "chief and most expressive mark of the true church."...
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July 26, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: gospel, sanctification, faith, good works, preaching, assurance, law, Holy Spirit, Total Depravity, Prayer, Union with Christ, Regeneration, new nature, curse of the Law, disposition
Theodore Beza on how the Gospel changes the effect of the preaching of the Law in believers....
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July 24, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: Geneva, Reformed, john calvin, theodore beza, law and gospel
Theodore Beza on the similarities and the differences between the Law and the Gospel....
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July 24, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: john calvin, Geneva, Reformed, Reformation, means of grace, theodore beza, preaching, law and gospel
Theodore Beza on what end (purpose) the Holy Spirit uses the preaching of the Law....
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July 24, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: john calvin, Geneva, Reformed, Reformation, theodore beza, law, law and gospel, gospel
Theodore Beza on the Gospel and its authority, why, how and for what end (purpose) it was written....
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July 24, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: Geneva, Reformed, fulfillment, Reformation, promise, john calvin, theodore beza, Old Testament, gospel
Theodore Beza on the manner in which the Gospel includes, in substance, the books of the Old Testament....
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July 24, 2017
by John Fonville
| Tags: Geneva, Reformed, john calvin, theodore beza, law and gospel
Theodore Beza on the two parts of the Word of God....
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November 19, 2015
by John Fonville
|
Category:
Discipleship
| Tags: david platt, radical, missional, francis chan, missions, evangelism, cross-bearing, sanctification, law and gospel, repentance, faith, good works
A review of David Platt's book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream....
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November 10, 2015
by John Fonville
|
Category:
Justification
| Tags: justification, sola fide, sola gratia, George Hunsinger, Jonathan Edwards, dispositional soteriology
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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October 14, 2014
by John Fonville
|
Category:
Uncategorized
James Barr carefully argues for the correct meaning of the Aramaic term, "abba," showing that this word doesn't mean, "daddy." Since “abba” doesn’t mean “daddy or papa” one must not use these infantile ideas when addressing his or her heavenly Father in prayer. Otherwise, one may be addressing God the Father without the honor that is due Him....
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May 8, 2013
by John Fonville
| Tags: music, worship, witness, mission, missional, missions, evangelism, singing
The Bible sets forth a high view of the role of music in the church’s worship and witness and believers should as well. Why then does the church gather to sing? What is the role of music in the worship and witness of the church? This paper seeks to explore and answer this question....
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December 17, 2012
by John Fonville
| Tags: election, missions, gospel, evangelism, preaching, church planting, grace
There often exists a widespread suspicion that belief in the sovereignty of God”"particularly election”"undermines or even inhibits zeal for missions and evangelism. Dr. J.I. Packer in his book, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, persuasively demonstrates that such a misunderstanding is, in his words, “nonsense.” Election, faith, the gospel and evangelism go ...
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