For those who are following the Auburn Avenue fracas, and especially those who are going to be attending the General Assembly for the PCA, I heartily commend to you Joel Garver’s interaction with the PCA study committee report. You can find that here.
The Mountains of the Covenant
The exposition of each of the ten commandments has now been concluded. Once the terms are established and made clear, the covenant is made (Dt. 27-30). One of the great features of covenants, the blessings and curses, is now set plainly before the people. The blessings and curses are mountains on either side of the …
Give to Get to Give Again
In the hearts and minds of the faithful, the prohibition of covetousness is grounded in a right relationship of grace, obedience, and blessing. This blessing is of course grace, which leads to grateful obedience, and more blessing. We receive, and we give, in order to receive again, so that we might grow mighty in giving. …
Getting the Right Lid for the Jigsaw Puzzle Box
Now that my schedule has recovered some of its equilibrium, perhaps I can catch up on answering some of Greenbaggins’ questions. On the law/gospel distinction, Lane says of me that “if there is any distinction, it is in the person, and not in the text, whereas I hold that there is a distinction in the …
Heart Lusts
The tenth commandment excludes covetousness—of anything. In this portion of Deuteronomy, we see many different ways in which covetousness will work its way out if the command is not heeded. The eighth commandment prohibited stealing. The ninth commandment prohibited “legalized” stealing through false witness. The tenth commandment prohibits “legalized” stealing through false motives. “Thou shalt …
Yet Another
Father, we thank You for yet another Sabbath, where we may sit down together with friends and other members of our family in order to prepare our hearts to worship You in the morning. We thank You for connecting us to one another the way You have done, and we pray that a spirit of …
Leprosy and Fraud
The ninth commandment prohibits judicial deceit and corruption, and we now come to the portion of Deuteronomy that treats this commandment. While lying is a way to break the ninth commandment “downstream,” the commandment is actually prohibiting “false witness” or what we would call “false testimony in a judicial setting” against one’s neighbor. We see …
Some Reasonable Questions
A group of ten PCA pastors have written an open letter about the PCA Study Committee on the “Federal Vision, New Perspective and Auburn Avenue Theology.” In the second paragraph of this letter, these men say, “We are not FV men.” Nevertheless, they have a number of very reasonable questions about the report, and good …
Banker Bait
When James I famously said, “No bishop, no king,” he was testifying to the truth an important and obvious principle. In any society where the Church is present in significant numbers, the worship and government of the Church will drive the shape of civil society. This is the case whether or not the worship and …
Children of Abraham
In a battle, foot solders focus rightly on the conflict right in front of them. Generals don’t have the luxury of that simplicity, and so they also have to think constantly about the larger strategic issues. Great generals do not just think of tactics on the field, but also of the larger strategic issues, up …