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)....
The Movement of Baptism: From God to Us
Why does understanding the movement of baptism matter?...
Eternal Functional Subordination and the Problem of the Divine Will
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 pattern for all created male-female relationships. Advocates of EFS are confident in their theology. We are told that “if we do not have economic subordination, then there is no inherent difference in the way the three persons relate to one another,” such that, if we reject EFS, “we do not have the three distinct persons existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for all eternity.”2 Those who reject EFS are said to be “condemning all orthodox Christology from the Nicene Creed onward” because the Nicene Creed affirms that the Son is eternally begotten.3 This paper will suggest against such claims that EFS is completely contrary to classical Christology, but it will do so using a different argument than the standard one presented by opponents of EFS....
Good-Day, Bad-Day and the Covenant of Grace
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....
The Collapsing of the Covenants: Narrow is the Way that Leads to Destruction
Collapsing the covenants into one overarching theme of grace confuses law and gospel and effectively eliminates an explicit law-gospel distinction in Scripture....
Dishonoring the Spirit?
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?...
John Calvin on the Four Causes of Salvation
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)....
Law and Gospel: The Chief and Most Expressive Mark of the True Church
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."...
Theodore Beza on how the Gospel changes the effect of the preaching of the Law in believers
Theodore Beza on how the Gospel changes the effect of the preaching of the Law in believers....
Theodore Beza on the Law and Gospel, Part 2
Theodore Beza on the similarities and the differences between the Law and the Gospel....
Theodore Beza on the Law and Gospel, Part 3
Theodore Beza on what end (purpose) the Holy Spirit uses the preaching of the Law....
Theodore Beza on the Law and the Gospel, Part 4
Theodore Beza on the Gospel and its authority, why, how and for what end (purpose) it was written....
Theodore Beza on the Law and Gospel, Part 5
Theodore Beza on the manner in which the Gospel includes, in substance, the books of the Old Testament....
Theodore Beza on the Law and Gospel, Part 1
Theodore Beza on the two parts of the Word of God....
Dr. James DeYoung Revisiting The Shack & Universal Reconciliation
Dr. James B. DeYoung, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Western Seminary (Portland Campus), provides a much needed and helpful review of the widely popular but misleading book, The Shack. Like the book, the movie continues to exert a great deal of influence within Christian as well as non-Christian circles. Before Evangelicals rush out to watch and commend the movie (and the book), read this article first. Dr. DeYoung brings a unique perspective in his reviews due to the fact that he is personally acquainted with William Paul Young. This article was first written in 2008 to help inform and protect the members of Paramount church....
Confusing Law and Gospel: A Review of David Platt's book, Radical.
A review of David Platt's book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream....
Dispositional Soteriology: Jonathan Edwards on Justification by Faith Alone
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....
Abba is not Daddy
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....
The Role of Music in the Worship and Witness of the Church
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....
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
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 hand in hand. It is of immeasurable benefit to know that God has chosen a people for Himself. Election instills confidence and guards against discouragement because God’s sovereign government prepares the way for and ensures the success of the proclamation of the gospel. ...
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 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 ReadingThe Movement of Baptism: From God to Us
Why does understanding the movement of baptism matter?...
Keep Reading