Martin Luther once observed that young men are tempted by girls. When they are thirty, they are tempted by gold. When they are forty, they are lured and enticed by glory and honor. And when they are sixty, they think, “What a pious fellow I have become!” We too readily confuse the natural waning of …
Ed Veith and Me
A week or two ago, you may recall we had some discussion here about a question Ed Veith had raised on his blog about my views on the penal nature of the substitutionary atonement. Well, he was doing some traveling, as was I, but we finally connected a couple days ago. We had a good …
No Real Disagreement Yet
Green Baggins is continuing his review of my book “Reformed” Is Not Enough, and he continues to do a fine job. In his review of the next chapter where I seek to establish my evangelical bona fides, he basically has one question that he wants clarified, and it has to do with my views on …
A Woman’s Only Real Friend in this World
We now finish the Mosaic exposition of the seventh commandment. But as we do, there are several things which we must keep in mind about the nature of sovereign grace. The first is that it is sovereign. The second is that it is grace. He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy …
All Men to be Saved (1 Tim. 2:1-7)
Introduction: We now come to the practical instructions for the Church that Paul is delivering to Timothy. The point of the letter is to provide direction for public worship, and so here we are. The Text: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; …
The Holiness Code
We must remind ourselves, yet again, that every word that proceeds from the mouth of God is our life. We know that all Scripture is profitable for training in righteousness. The law of the nests considered in our previous installment week was called the least of the commandments by the rabbis, and yet Jesus still …
A Clarification
Green Baggins has come to the chapter of RINE where I seek to establish my Calvinistic bona fides. Some have interpreted the FV as though it were some form of Arminianism or semi-Pelagianism. So early in the book, I set aside a chapter to demonstrate that I wish that the Synod of Dort had promulgated …
Some Standard Misunderstandings
I have been on the road, and have only now had the opportunity to read the recently released PCA report on the Federal Vision. This is just an initial response; more will probably be forthcoming. First, I appreciated the response of the Bayly brothers, which can be found here. And, like Mark Horne, I greatly …
Deemphasis or Denial
I said a few days ago that I was going to say something about why I accept N.T. Wright’s assertion that he holds to penal substitution. This will be brief, and may not be adequate for those with questions, but here it is. It is a methodological issue. I am uncomfortable with assertions of what …
Judas the Christian
In his treatment of my chapter on whether or not Judas was a Christian, Greenbaggins does a good job catching the distinctions I was seeking to make. He hears my qualifications, and is willing to believe them. He says that he has no real problem with the chapter, and had just a few quibble/questions. One …