Those who are citizens of Christ’s kingdom have certain, well-defined responsibilities — Christ teaches us how we are required to live before Him. These requirements are not idealistic — “something to shoot for,” and they are not “for somebody else” — the Jews of the Old Covenant, say. The teaching is a pattern of living …
The Potency of Sola Fide
One of the reasons why John Robbins and Sean Gerety are not to be trusted is because of their deliberate misrepresentations, as has been shown in previous posts. But there is another problem that runs throughout the book, which would be better classified as an inability to grasp the argument. For example, consider this: “In …
Working Out What He Works In
So then, for those who persevere, how they subjectively receive grace is part of what has been objectively given. We are to work out our salvation because God is at work in us to will and to do for His good pleasure. My continued subjective positive responses tomorrow must be considered as part of His …
Heart Change
Eventually, the view that natures are unchanged (or non-existent) has to go one of two directions—either we must minimize how bad unbelievers are, or we must emphasize how bad believers still are. Either way gets us into trouble, and the only alternative is to stick with some notion of the traditional evangelical and reformed notion …
Pleasant, Good, and Sweet
Our Father and gracious God, we pray to You in the name of Jesus. The food before us is pleasant, the wine is good, the fellowship is sweet, and for all of it we give thanks to You. We know that if You had not raised Jesus Christ from the dead two thousand years ago, …
Video or Snapshot?
Affirming the absolute need for personal regeneration is the sine qua non of historic evangelicalism. Affirming that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church is the sine qua non of historic catholicity. Deny the former only, and the end result is the deadly nominalism found in many quarters of the institutional Church. …
A Continuing Witness
Once a staunch Presbyterian was shipwrecked on a desert island, just like Robinson Crusoe. He was of the rock-ribbed sort, and being a thorough-going predestinarian, took this sort of thing in stride. When it came to suffering adversity, he was at his best. But of course, he also had to deal with some of the …
A Handy Guide for Navigating Theological Controversies
For all those interested second-year seminary students who are watching the varied logomachies being undertaken on their behalf by their elders in the gates of Zion, it seems that someone ought to have prepared a handy guide like this long before now. But they haven’t, and you know how it goes. But you can’t tell …
Alternative Knowledge?
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 1611) Growing Dominion, Part 12 We have noted the importance of Christians “getting healing right.” Christ is our Savior and Healer, and He brings His salvation and healing not only to us, but also to the whole world. And one of the central ways this …
An Argument God Loves/Psalm 13
In the language of the old proverb, troubles arrive on horseback but depart on foot. This is a psalm offered up in the midst of troubles at the point of despair, and it gives us a pattern or example to follow in similar circumstances. “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how …