Category: Engaging the Culture

“Is it legitimate in any way to say that non-elect members of the visible church are not part of the Church? Sure. Scripture is full of this kind of thing—a true Jew is one who is one inwardly, synagogues of Satan, you are of your father the devil, and countless more. Our whole point is that baptized covenant members are Christians, members of the Church, connected to Christ, etc. in some important sense, not that they are participants in these things in every sense. So, is there a legitimate way to say that non-elect members of the covenant are not part of the Church? Absolutely.”

The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p. 714

“We are justified by faith alone, apart from works of the law, and this includes the law that ‘thou shalt score 100% on the justification portion of your Westminster exam.’”

The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p. 710

“I can see broader uses of the word election in Scripture without denying in the slightest the doctrine of decretal, jet fuel election, a doctrine which flies our Reformed fighter jets really, really fast, and which I like as much as anybody.”

The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p. 707

“What we are saying is that if ‘election’ means one thing one hundred percent of the time in Westminster (because it is being applied in a precise, theological way), and it means that very same thing seventy percent of the time in Scripture, a Bible teacher needs to be able to say what is going on exegetically that other thirty percent of the time. That is all, and it ought not to be controversial.”

The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p.707

“The historic Reformed faith is a spacious mansion. We really need to stop living in the broom closet that some want to call true Calvinism. And it is possible to come out of the broom closet and not be in the process of leaving the house.”

The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p. 706