The story of the Bible opens up with one creation, one covenant, one people, and one city. After the fall, however, there is still one creation, but there are now two covenants (works and grace), two people (seed of the serpent and . . . Continue reading →
christian life
Grace and Peace to Aliens and Strangers
1 PETER 1:1-2 This sermon was originally published in Modern Reformation in the Ex Auditu. section in the January/February 2000 issue and is republished here by permission. § Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered . . . Continue reading →
A Catechism on Legalism
At AH
Believing in Creation But Denying That We Are Creatures?
Anita writes to ask about a couple of things I said in class last night. In brief she asks why I suggest that some who believe quite strongly in creation don’t really seem to believe in creation at all and second, why . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Meet Dave VanDrunen
On Today’s episode of Office Hours, the podcast of Westminster Seminary California, David VanDrunen, Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, talks about upbringing, how he became a minister, his training at WSC, and his research into the biblical, . . . Continue reading →
Leaving, Leaning, and Looking (Phil 3:8-14)
The time after Christmas, including, in some places Boxing Day—for which different etymologies have been given—is a time for writing thank you notes. The Apostle Paul also wrote a thank you letter and the Spirit of God preserved it for us in . . . Continue reading →
How to Understand and Preach Romans 7
My impression is that, over the last few decades, the historic Reformed reading of Romans 7 has taken one on the chin, as it were. Perhaps that’s not so. I’ve not done a survey to see how pastors are reading and preaching . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: David VanDrunen on Hebrews 12
Hebrews 12 is a vital chapter in the book. In it we get a clearer sense of the challenges they faced, the persecution they were experiencing for Christ’s sake, and the temptation they had to overcome by God’s grace. The pastor invokes . . . Continue reading →
Secularization Interrupted
it was becoming increasingly clear that at least on the street, the the veneer of Christianity was peeling away to reveal a canvas of various native (pre-Christian) folk paganisms. As Cambridge historian Patrick Collinson concludes, the Reformation was an “episode of re-Christianization . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Horton On Calvin’s Doctrine Of The Christian Life
John Calvin is one of the most influential writers in the Reformed tradition, so much so that Richard Muller has argued that, in the modern period, Calvin has been over emphasized to the neglect of the rest of the Reformed tradition. Nevertheless, . . . Continue reading →
Is The Christian Life More Like Colorado Or Nebraska?
For most of my conscious life I have listened to other Americans complain about having to drive across Nebraska on I-80. As soon I tell non-Nebraskans that I am a Cornhusker they have two comments: 1. Your football team isn’t what it . . . Continue reading →
Audio: The Gospel And The Means Of Grace
Here is the second talk from the Gospel-Driven Life conference in Ponte Vedra, FL in January, 2007 (I think). The audio has been lost for a few years. Thanks to Brad Lindvall for curating the audio and for making it available. This . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 43: How Does Christ’s Death Benefit Our Sanctification?
When the Scriptures seek to illustrate the nature of the Christian life, the nature of sanctification, it uses two images: death and life. Note the order, death then life. In the covenant of works, made with Adam as the federal representative of . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 88: The Two Parts of the Christian Life
The doctrine of the Christian life is remarkably simple. There are two parts: death and life. The practice of the Christian life, however, is quite another thing. The practice of the Christian life, the living out of our life in Christ, by . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 92: What Is The Law Of God? (2)
The law was a covenant of works, not a covenant of grace. The “commandment of life” was “the day you eat thereof you shall surely die” (Gen 2:17). It was a commandment of life because, if Adam kept the commandment he would have entered into eternal life (see also Heidelberg 6, 9; Rev 22:14). The condition of the covenant was, to use the words of Christ, “do this and live” (Luke 10:28). His status before God was conditioned upon his obedience to God’s holy law. Continue reading →
Heidelberg 92: What Is The Law Of God? (3)
There is a way of life, i.e., there is a way that believers live. There is a way of salvation, a path that believers walk toward eternal life, in the grace of Christ, in union with Christ. It is essential to distinguish, however, between is and through or because. The moralist wants to turn is into through or because. We are not saved through obedience. That is Romanism. We are not saved because of our obedience. That is sheer Pelagianism. Nevertheless, it is the case that those to whom God has sovereignly given new life, to whom he has given the grace of faith and through it union with Christ, will and shall seek to live, sola gratia, sola fide according to God’s moral law. Continue reading →
The Necessity And Limits Of The Imitation Of Christ
There is no question among orthodox Christians, i.e., those who believe and obey God’s Word, who believe the catholic creeds, who have a substantial connection to the ancient church, whether Christians ought to seek to imitate Christ. The questions are how do we imitate . . . Continue reading →
Resources On A Covenantal Approach To The Christian Life
Chris writes to the HB to ask about moving from the conversionist paradigm for the Christian life to the covenantal vision for the Christian life, how does a “covenantal” approach to the Christian life appear? This is an important question. Since the . . . Continue reading →
AGR: The Christian’s Continual Struggle with Sin (Part 1)
It was my pleasure to fill-in for Chris Gordon on Abounding Grace Radio this week. On Monday we broadcast a sermon on Romans 13. In that message I tried to help the congregation read Romans 13 against the social-political background of the . . . Continue reading →
AGR: The Christian’s Continual Struggle with Sin (Part 3)
It was my pleasure to fill-in for Chris Gordon on Abounding Grace Radio last week. Tuesday–Friday we broadcast a 4-part series on Romans 7: “The Christian’s Continual Struggle Against Sin.” Here is part 3 of the series. You can also find the series . . . Continue reading →