First, we must consider what a sacrament is. It seems to me that a simple and proper definition would be to say that it is an outward sign by which the Lord seals on our consciences the promises of his good will . . . Continue reading →
2015 Archive
Heidelberg 66: Sacraments Are No More Or Less Than Gospel Signs And Seals (3)
66. What are the Sacraments? The Sacraments are visible holy signs and seals appointed of God for this end, that by the use thereof He may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the Gospel: namely, that of . . . Continue reading →
Grammar Guerrilla: It’s And Its
There are a couple of simple ways to distinguish it’s from its: It’s is a contraction. It stands for it is. Whenever you wish to say it is informally use it’s as in “It’s almost time for lunch.” Its is the neuter possessive. It performs the same function . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 66: Sacraments Are No More Or Less Than Gospel Signs And Seals (2)
66. What are the Sacraments? The Sacraments are visible holy signs and seals appointed of God for this end, that by the use thereof He may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the Gospel: namely, that of . . . Continue reading →
The Root Of Silencing Campaigns
The root of nearly every free-speech infringement on campuses across the country is that someone—almost always a liberal—has been offended or has sniffed out a potential offense in the making. Then, the silencing campaign begins. The offender must be punished, not just . . . Continue reading →
The First Amendment Has A Past
Even so, the American constitutional commitments were hardly concocted ex nihilo. They reflected a recovery, adaptation, and consolidation, under the fresh circumstances of the New World, of themes that went back centuries— of the medieval theme of libertas ecclesiae (freedom of the . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 66: Sacraments Are No More Or Less Than Gospel Signs And Seals (1)
66. What are the Sacraments? The Sacraments are visible holy signs and seals appointed of God for this end, that by the use thereof He may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the Gospel: namely, that of . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 64: Sanctification By Grace Versus Sanctification By Scolding (2)
64. But does not this doctrine make men careless and profane? No, for it is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness (Heidelberg Catechism 64) In part 1 we began to look . . . Continue reading →
My Favorite WWII Aircraft: The Corsair
The Predicted Darkness Upon Us?
We are approaching a darkness in the land. Boys and girls are emerging from every level of school with certificates and degrees, but they can’t read, write or calculate. We don’t have academic honesty or intellectual rigor. Schools have abandoned integrity and . . . Continue reading →
Before Bill Nye There Was Professor Julius Sumner Miller
Heidelberg 64: Sanctification By Grace Versus Sanctification By Scolding (1)
Usually, if a boss wants greater efficiency and productivity from her employees, she sets up a system of incentives for her employees. If the boss is of the ordinary, uncreative sort, those incentives are likely to be negative. Fail to meet this goal and x (e.g., loss of pay, demotion etc) shall happen. A more creative boss might set up a series of positive incentives: meet this target and you shall receive y reward (e.g., extra paid vacation, flexible scheduling, company car etc). Whatever the nature of the incentive, the very structure is a covenant of works. Continue reading →
Holmes: Free Trade In Ideas Is The American Constitutional Theory
Persecution for the expression of opinions seems to me perfectly logical. If you have no doubt of your premises or your power, and want a certain result with all your heart, you naturally express your wishes in law, and sweep away all . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 63: Rewards Merited For Us By Christ And Given Freely To Believers
When the medieval church thought about rewards, it thought about merit. They distinguished between two kinds or aspects of merit. That which we most frequently discuss was called “condign merit” (meritum de condigno). Condign merit is intrinsically worthy. The second category was “congruent . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 65: Faith, Union With Christ, And The Means Of Grace (3)
Neither Holy Baptism nor the Holy Supper create the realities they signify and seal but they are gospel sacraments. They are promises of good news to believers. Faith receives what they promise. Faith knows, assents, and trusts and receives all that they promise. The sacraments do not replace faith. They supplement faith. They confirm faith the way a registered letter embossed or stamped with a government seal confirms a declaration. Continue reading →
The Hungarian Reformed Sanctified The Sabbath
We perform divine service publicly according to the sanctification of the Sabbath as follows: by teaching, listening, administering the sacraments, assembling together. On these days, we forbid work that hinders the public sanctification of the Sabbath, As did Christ and the apostles. . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 65: Faith, Union With Christ, And The Means Of Grace (2)
65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, whence comes this faith? The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the Holy Gospel, and confirms it by the use of the . . . Continue reading →
The Regulative Principle Is The Fundamental Principle Of Protestantism
Here, then, we have the principle tinctured with the blood of our Puritan, Covenanter and Huguenot forefathers — that which is not commanded, either explicitly or implicitly in the Scriptures, is prohibited to the church. She can utter no new doctrine, make . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 65: Faith, Union With Christ, And The Means Of Grace (1)
65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, whence comes this faith? The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the Holy Gospel, and confirms it by the use of the . . . Continue reading →
Hungarian Reformed Churches: Instruments For Antichrist Masses And Marks Of Idolatry
The musical instruments, however, adopted for the pantomime Mass of Antichrist, together with images, we have whore. There is no use for them in the church, and indeed they are marks and occasions of idolatry. Continue reading →