Heidelcast 152: Calls On Church History, Theocracy, Biblical Languages, Final Salvation Through Works, Jesus’ Faith, And Civil Disobedience

by Heidelcast on May 14, 2020 | 3 Comments

It is time for the monthly Heidelcast call-in show and, as always, we have thoughtful and interesting questions on how to learn church history (and what to read), whether I agree with the 1646 edition of the Westminster Confession of Faith or . . . Continue reading →

Perkins: There Is Only One Justification And That By Faith Alone

by Inwoo Lee on May 13, 2020

I answer, not only in the beginning of our conversion, but also in the continuance and final accomplishment thereof. For here Paul desires in the day of judgment to stand before God only by the justice of faith without his own justice . . . Continue reading →

Boston: Sanctification Through Faith Alone Is A Gospel Mystery

by R. Scott Clark on May 13, 2020

The gospel method of sanctification, as well as of justification, lies so far out of the ken of natural reason, that if all the rationalists in the world, philosophers and divines, had consulted together…” Thomas Boston, Preface to The Marrow of Modern . . . Continue reading →

Time Is Running Out To Get Your Heidelcall On Episode 152

by R. Scott Clark on May 13, 2020

I hope to record Heidelcast episode 152 tomorrow, Dv. I have some excellent calls, as always but just in case you were thinking of calling or sending in a voice memo for the program here is your notice that the clock is . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 151: Christ, Culture, And Covid-19

by Heidelcast on May 10, 2020 | 3 Comments

The Covid-19 Shutdown of 2020 has begun to produce a reaction, at least in the USA. Recently we have seen demonstrations large and small in several states and particularly here in California. The various orders issued by governors, mayors, and county executives . . . Continue reading →

New Resource Page On The Canons Of Dort

by R. Scott Clark on May 9, 2020 | 1 Comment

The Canons of Dort (1619) are too frequently described as dry or even scholastic. One wonders if those who speak thus have ever actually read them? The word canons simply means rulings or decisions and these decisions by the Synod of Dort . . . Continue reading →

Arminius Did Not Marry Calvin’s Daughter

by R. Scott Clark on May 9, 2020 | 4 Comments

In Death By Love Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears write: James Arminius was John Calvin’s son-in-law and greatly appreciated Calvin. He said that, after the Scriptures, he believed Calvin’s writings to be the most profitable study for God’s people. Therefore, the acrimony that sometimes . . . Continue reading →

Another Podcast Recommendation: The Black History Fashion Show

by R. Scott Clark on May 9, 2020

I have been reading Lester Cahill for years and and I have been listening to his podcast since it began. Lester is one of my favorite contemporary writers and thinkers because he is independent, intelligent, passionate, and challenging. I always learn something from him. In one of his recent episodes (linked in the post) Lester critiques the recent Netflix series on Madam C. J. Walker and, in another, he introduces us to the founder of an early Black American entrepreneur. Continue reading →

Harrison Perkins With 7 Minutes And 29 Seconds More On The Covenant Of Works

by R. Scott Clark on May 7, 2020

From the early 1650s Reformed theologians began to speak explicitly of the “covenant of works” to describe God’s relations to Adam (and us) in the garden and to explain the nature of the demands of the law upon God’s image bearers. In this second video on the covenant of works, Dr Harrison Perkins explains a bit more about the law as God’s standard of righteousness in the covenant of works. Continue reading →

The Church Needs Prophets, Priests, And Kings (But Not Personality Types And Tests)

by R. Scott Clark on May 6, 2020

Through a good part of redemptive history, certainly since the inauguration of the Old Covenant (c. 16th century BC) there were three offices in the church: prophet (Deut 18:15–22), priest (Deut 18:1–14; 33:8–11), and king (1 Sam 8:19–22). The Old Testament prophets spoke God’s Word to the Old Testament national church and to the OT church in exile. The priests received the offerings of the people and mediated for them to God, and made the appointed offerings on behalf of the people. The kings succeeded the judges and ruled Israel or Israel and Judah) until the exile. Continue reading →

Origen: The Early Church Received The Practice Of Infant Baptism From The Apostles

by R. Scott Clark on May 6, 2020 | 5 Comments

The Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism even to infants. The apostles, to whom were committed the secrets of the divine sacraments, knew there are in everyone innate strains of [original] sin, which must be washed away through . . . Continue reading →

On Being Reformed (E-Book) Now $14.99 Until May 11, 2020

by R. Scott Clark on May 5, 2020 | 9 Comments

This slender volume features essays, one written jointly by Crawford Gribben and Chris Caughey, one by Matthew Bingham, one by D. G. Hart, and one by yours truly. It is ordinarily very expensive even as an e-book but the publisher discounts the . . . Continue reading →

Harrison Perkins On The Covenant Of Works In 7 Minutes And 7 Seconds

by R. Scott Clark on May 5, 2020 | 5 Comments

Cyprian Appealed To Colossians 2:11-12 In His Explanation Of Infant Baptism

by R. Scott Clark on May 5, 2020

For in respect of the observance of the eighth day in the Jewish circumcision of the flesh, a sacrament was given beforehand in shadow and in usage; but when Christ came, it was fulfilled in truth. For because the eighth day, that . . . Continue reading →

Vos Contra Two-Stage Justification

by R. Scott Clark on May 4, 2020 | 1 Comment

18. Is justification an act that takes place once and for all, or an act that can be repeated? a) The Roman Catholic church makes a distinction between a first and a second justification. The first consists in the infusion of habitual . . . Continue reading →

Office Hours: With David VanDrunen On Politics After Christendom: Political Theology In A Fractured World

by R. Scott Clark on May 4, 2020

In the introduction to his new volume, Politics After Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020) David VanDrunen defines a term and a concept that we must understand: Christendom. By Christendom I mean the vision of Christian . . . Continue reading →

The Church And The Virus: Is This An Acts 5:29 Moment?

by R. Scott Clark on May 3, 2020 | 58 Comments

Introduction The Covid-19 Shutdown of 2020 has begun to produce a reaction, at least in the USA. Recently we have seen large-scale demonstrations in several states. The various orders issued by governors, mayors, and county executives to restrict movement has produced a . . . Continue reading →

A Brief Note On “Elements” And “Circumstances”

by R. Scott Clark on May 2, 2020 | 13 Comments

While we, some of us anyway, are still on Covid-19 lockdown and unable to gather for public worship it is perhaps a time to think about the nature of public worship. Our patterns of life have been disrupted. I suppose that some . . . Continue reading →

What Is Astroturfing And Why Does It Matter?

by R. Scott Clark on May 1, 2020

Sharyl Atkisson is a former reporter for CBS, CNN, PBS and other mainstream outlets. She hosts a weekly television news magazine program, Full Measure. In this episode she defines and explains the effect (and affect) of the manipulation of social media (and traditional media) known as “astroturfing.” Continue reading →

The Heidelblog

May 2020 Archive