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2012 Archive
Heidelcast 4: What Do We Mean By “Comfort”?
Reformed theology and piety has been frequently caricatured as “dry” by which I take it critics mean to suggest that it is overly academic, overly intellectual and unconcerned about the interior, spiritual life of the believer. That this is a caricature is . . . Continue reading →
Peter Martyr Vermigli on Law and Gospel
In the history of Christian theology there have been two ways of speaking about the relation between law and gospel: 1. historically and 2. theologically or hermeneutically. These two ways of relating law and gospel are complementary. The first way of relating . . . Continue reading →
Top Posts For 2012
The Most Downloaded Posts Of 2012 Baptism: The Doctrine that Caused Tears (4) Deconstructing Puritanism Resources on Understanding the Differences Between the Lutheran and Reformed Traditions Brothers We Are Not Perfectionists Baptism: The Doctrine That Caused Tears (1) Covenant Theology Is Not . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast Episode 3b: Follow Up to DGM (Part 2)
Heidelcast episode #3: A Gentle Rebuke to Brother John (pt 2)
Heidelcast 3a: A Gentle Rebuke to Brother John (UPDATED)
UPDATE: added to the two Heidelcast episodes audio clips from the video linked below. § These episodes grew out of the decision Desiring God Ministries to invite the de facto leader of the self-described Federal Vision movement to speak at the 2009 DGM . . . Continue reading →
Calvin on “Not Having a Righteousness of My Own”
He says, that believers have no righteousness of their own. Now, it cannot be denied, that if there were any righteousness of works, it might with propriety be said to be ours. Hence he leaves no room whatever for the righteousness of . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On A Mistaken Confidence In Works
We, too, when treating of the righteousness of faith, do not contend against the substance of works, but against that quality with which the sophists invest them,1 inasmuch as they contend that men are justified by them. Paul, therefore, divested himself—not of . . . Continue reading →
Subscribing to the Heidelcast (Updated)
Heidelcast 1: BBQ And The Kingdom Of God
I’ve spent part of the Christmas vacation lightly editing and re-posting the old Heidelcast episodes. So, I thought I would re-post them here one at a time. It’s been interesting to listen to them develop. Don’t judge the whole series on the . . . Continue reading →
Perkins on the Two Covenants in Gal 4:24-25
(HT: Particular Voices) The two testaments are the Covenant of works and the Covenant of grace, one promising life eternal to him that does all things contained in the law; the other to him turns and believes in Christ. And it must . . . Continue reading →
Perkins on “The Law is Not of Faith”
Thanks to Particular Voices for posting a page from William Perkins’ commentary on Galatians 3:12. Thanks to Rich Barcellos for pointing me to it. I took the liberty of transcribing the text and updating the spelling to make it more accessible. Perkins . . . Continue reading →
Why the Focus on the Confessions?
One of the first questions ever sent to the HB was the question, “Why the focus on the Reformed confessions?” and the closely related question, “How do you relate your emphasis on the confessions to sola Scriptura?” Those are fair questions and . . . Continue reading →
New (Old) Heidelcasts Uploaded
Do the Canons of Dort Reject Natural Law?
Jeremy writes to ask whether the Canons of Dort 3/4.4 require Reformed Christians to reject the civil use of natural law. In the Canons we confess: There remain, however, in man since the fall, the glimmerings of natural light, whereby he retains . . . Continue reading →
Rome Agrees With the Medievals Except When It Doesn’t
The related identification of Scripture as pure, holy, sufficient, and perfect—pure, holy, and sufficient in its teachings for the preaching of salvation and perfect or complete in its communication of those teachings—is a point of doctrine that marks out a major line . . . Continue reading →
Christianity Gravely Threatened in the Middle East
Christianity is in serious danger of being wiped out in its biblical heartlands because of Islamic oppression, according to a new report from a leading independent think-tank. But Western politicians and media largely ignore the widespread persecution of Christians in the Middle . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Bob Godfrey on Hebrews 3:7-4:13 (Pt 2)
Bob Godfrey is on Office Hours again, for part 2 of our discussion of Hebrews 3:7–4:13. What does Hebrews 4 mean by “Sabbath” and “rest”? Bob does a great job with these issues in full-color stereo! Here’s the part 1 of this two-part episode. I . . . Continue reading →
The Death of Santa
As a young boy I certainly believed in Santa. We made the annual cookie oblation and went to bed under the conditional covenant that he would not come if we did not sleep (or at least stay in bed). Nevertheless, I think I . . . Continue reading →
The Forgotten Second Point
In a controversial decision, at synod Kalamazoo (1924), the Christian Reformed Church adopted “Three Points” on “Common Grace” (Gemeene Gratie). They are: Concerning the favorable attitude of God toward mankind in general and not only toward the elect, the Synod declares that . . . Continue reading →