Thanks to Randy Booth, who supplied me with some interesting quotes on general and special election from Calvin. Here, then, a twofold class of sons presents itself to us, in the Church; for since the whole body of the people is gathered together into the fold of God, by one and the same voice, all …
Some Bayly Questions
As I have said before, I respect the Bayly brothers highly, and have appreciated the integrity of their conduct in the whole FV flap, despite our obvious differences. Please take a moment to read this.
Call It a Shadow Ordo
The Westminster Standards say that non-elect covenant members partake of “common operations of the Spirit.” Calvin consistently speaks of general election and special election. Now when some in the FV have used ordo words like regeneration and applied them to those who are not of the special elect, the response from the FV critics has …
So Confusing. I Don”t Want to Pay Attention to the Adjectives.
A friend brought our attention to Calvin’s commentary on Acts 3:25, where he says, “And so, although the common election be not effectual in all, yet may it set open a gate for the special elect.” The rot is spreading. Somebody needs to bring charges, and soon. What would the charge be exactly? Well, it …
By Popular Request
In the comments in the previous post, there were a couple of requests for me to amplify just a tad. So here goes. The NPP wants to say that Second Temple Judaism was fundamentally a religion of grace, contra those folks who tend to see it as a first century version of the monkish merit-mongering …
Two Kinds of Blamelessness
In a recent conversation with a friend about the New Perspective on Paul, we were talking about the center of Sanders’ contribution to that school of thought, the point which N.T. Wright regards as “settled.” This is not to say that Wright agrees with Sanders on everything, of course, and you may insert all manner …
A Passing Cat by the Ears
It would be nice if we could work through the questions surrounding the FV without all the heat and acrimony that some are generating. But it is kind of like discipling kids. Paul says (Gal. 6:1) that if anyone is overtaken in a trespass, the one who is spiritual should correct him, considering his own …
Why Wouldn’t We Quote Him?
In a comments thread over at Greenbaggins, Jason Stellman says this: “And lastly, I do find it interesting that I can’t seem to ellicit a response from a Federal Visionist that doesn’t mention Scott Clark. If you all insist on complaining about being lumped together (which sometime you unfairly are), then you should stop doing …
Bells On His Jacket
Scott Clark appears to be auguring in. First, he complains about someone on the URC list who received a request from China to have the Federal Vision statement translated into Chinese. Clark was displeased with the fellow on the list who then arranged for it. “. . . a post from China asking for a …
Westminster 28.6
Greenbaggins attempts to answer my challenges on Westminster 28.6 here. Before engaging with that response, let me say express some disappointment that Lane also says that this will be his “final statement on it.” When it comes to the efficacy of baptism, I get to have the last word. The problem with this is that …