When we come before God, when we gather our families together to worship Him, we are doing something that we have been summoned to do. God speaks and we respond. We are to respond in the words He has given us, and with the heart He has given us. We do this submissively, and this …
Some Headway, Maybe
Green Baggins is reviewing a new book on the Federal Vision, and, if you check out the comments section of this entry, you will find that an ecumenical dialogue of sorts has broken out. Well, not exactly, but I think the exchange was more productive than not.
The Farmer Scratched His Chin
One day two theologians were traveling to a conference together and their car broke down on a country road. They began the long walk back to the nearest town together, which was about five miles away and, as they walked, they fell into a deep and profound conversation. To pass the time as they walked, …
Not Exactly Joy Upon Joy
The third essay in Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministy is by Iain Duguid, and is entitled “Covenant Nomism and the Exile.” It is really quite good overall, and my critical comments will not be extensive at all. There is one place where he has a superb interaction with N.T. Wright’s confusion about courtroom imputation. In …
Westminster XXXII: Of the State of Men After Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
1. The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption (Gen. 3:19; Acts 13:36): but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them (Luke 23:43; Eccl. 12:7): the souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the …
Thanks for the Overflow
Lord and Father, God and Savior, we know that gratitude in the heart needs opportunities for ritual expression, and we thank You for this chance to show our thanks to You. Father, we thank You that the Sabbath is not a fast day, but rather a feast day. We thank You that we have the …
Johnnie, M’Boy
The book I have been commenting (Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry) on makes it very clear that the imputation of the active obedience of Christ (which I hold) has to be considered a sine qua non of Reformed orthodoxy concerning justification (which I don’t hold). If you would like to read a very short article …
Kind of Tacky to Point Out
In Chapter Two of Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry, David VanDrunen continues to sound the alarm. The doctrine of justification is “under fire” (p. 25), being attacked (p. 25), there are “three distinct lines of attack” (p. 26), and he concludes that “justification is indeed under attack” (p. 57). He desires to describe the views …
Moving Beyond Repentance
The joy of the Lord is our strength. As we pray for reformation, as we worship with reformation in mind. This phrase, taken from Nehemiah, should not be mis-rendered. We should not say, “The grief of the Lord is our strength.” God’s purpose is to save and deliver us. This does entail the grief that …
Like a Man Dragging a Rope
I am afraid that Westminster West is disgracing itself. I finally had a chance to begin reading Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry, edited by R. Scott Clark, and released by Presbyterian and Reformed, proud publishers of Norman Shepherd’s Call of Grace. The first essay in this new bucket of fruit is by Clark, and is …