The next chapter in By Faith Alone is by T. David Gordon, and it too is a critique of N.T. Wright. The bulk of the chapter is just fine. Gordon, like Venema, is not hyperventilating over this, and he brings Wright’s approach to biblical theology under scrutiny, and does so in a moderate and fair …
Weapons, Women, Wealth
When we understand the nature of ministerial and delegated authority, and we understand how to submit to it, we have found the root of all civil liberty. Remember that this fifth commandment is the command with a promise. Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish . …
Write That Spot Down
Chapter one of By Faith Alone is a critique by Cornelis Venema of N.T. Wright’s views on justification. This chapter was very good, and was admirable on a number of levels. Readers of this blog know that I have learned a lot from Wright, and I appreciate much of what he has to offer. In …
Oh, Never Mind
Guy Waters’ Introduction has three main sections. In the first, he summarizes the doctrine of sola fide. That section was quite good in many respects, actually. I can say this because I affirm, believe, and teach the doctrine of sola fide. The only place I would quibble with Waters here is that I would want …
Palm Sunday 2007
Introduction: This is a message about three crowds. In the grip of individualism, we have too often neglected to heed what the Bible teaches about group behavior, and the results of this neglect are often tragic. The Text: “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the …
The Hell You Say
The original Auburn Avenue conference, the font of all the trouble, occurred in 2002. The ruckus proper began the following summer, and since then, we have had another Auburn Avenue conference, a Fort Lauderdale colloquium, a book that resulted from that, a book published by Athanasius Press (The Federal Vision), a book by me (“Reformed” …
Us Dwarfs
Full disclosure right at the outset. The Foreword to Faith Alone was written by David Wells, and if that man’s books were orange juice concentrate, I could still eat them right out of the can with a spoon. When he is on his message (which is the exposition of the soul destroying nature of relativistic …
Because He Knows My Name
Minister: Lift up your hearts! Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord! The one who dwells in the secret place, The secret place of the Most High, Shall abide and dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say this about the Lord— He is my refuge and tower, My God, in whom …
In the Kind Name of Jesus
Our gracious Father, Lord of all creation, we approach You now in the kind name of Jesus. We are grateful for all that You have done for us this last week, built on the foundation of last week’s Lord’s Day, and we look forward in faith to the kindness You will show to us in …
Whiffing Another Slap Shot
Someone needs to tell Scott Clark that when you are in the penalty box for a three hour penalty, you don’t get to keep skating around on the ice. He says: There have been numerous attempts to resurrect the old “grace and cooperation” with grace scheme. The Arminians tried it in the late 16th and …