Paramount Blog

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....

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. ...

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....

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. ...

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....

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? ...
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)....

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....

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....

Worthy Reception of the Lord's Supper
July 28, 2022 by John Fonville
Martin Luther on the worthy reception of the Lord's Supper....
What is "New" about the New Covenant?
August 12, 2021 by John Fonville | 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?...
Keep ReadingRichard Sibbes: The Scope of the Whole Scriptures is Christ
June 27, 2021 by John Fonville | Tags: Christ-centered hermeneutic, Anglican, Richard Sibbes
Richard Sibbes discussing the Christ-centered focus of all the Scriptures....
Keep ReadingWe Receive A Double Grace
June 23, 2021 by John Fonville | Tags: john calvin, justification, sanctification, double grace, substance of the covenant, duplex beneficium, Justification and sanctification are conjoined and coherent but distinct
In partaking of Christ by grace alone through faith alone, we receive a double grace, namely justification and sanctification. ...
Keep ReadingHow can our imperfect works be accepted by God?
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?...
Keep ReadingJerry Bridges: The Greatest Obstacle to the Gospel
June 12, 2021 by John Fonville | Tags: gospel, righteousness of Christ, self-justification, morality, self-righteousness, moralism
Jerry Bridges: The Greatest Obstacle to the Gospel...
Keep ReadingElection is to be understood and recognized in Christ alone
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...
Keep ReadingJames Ussher on the Law and Gospel
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)....
Keep ReadingWe Never Move On From The Gospel
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....
Keep ReadingScott Swain on the Errors of Eternal Functional Subordinationism (EFS)
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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