Therefore read these words “me” and “for me” with great emphasis, and accustom yourself to accepting this “me” with a sure faith and applying it to yourself. Do not doubt that you belong to the number of those who speak this “me.” . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: R. Scott Clark
May The Paedobaptist Fairly Appeal To Matthew 19:13–15?
It was a wonderful day yesterday at Escondido URC. In the morning we had two baptisms, one of an adult convert who had never been baptized. So, like the adult baptisms we see in Acts, he received the sacrament, sign, and seal of baptism as a sign of his admission to the Christ-confessing covenant community. My Baptist friends rejoice with us. We also, however, baptized the infant of professing believers. We did so because we are convinced from God’s Word that is what God commands. The pattern begins in Genesis 17 and continues to the book of Acts (2:38–39; ch. 16 [all]). In his sermon our pastor, Chris Gordon, argued for the propriety of infant baptism on the basis of Matthew 19:13–15. Was he right to do so? Continue reading →
What Do We Mean By Sacrament, Sign, And Seal?
The Reformed churches and Reformed theologians (i.e., those who confess and teach within the bounds of the Reformed confessions, e.g., the French Confession (1559), the Scots Confession (1560), the Belgic Confession (1561), the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), the Second Helvetic Confession (1566), the . . . Continue reading →
Paul: Let Him Not Eat
Paul was a theologian of the twofold kingdom. In what Calvin called the “spiritual” aspect of the kingdom we find a covenant of grace in which sinners are accepted (justified) and saved by God out of his free favor (sola gratia), through . . . Continue reading →
All Sins Are Not Alike: Porneia, Chastity, And Wisdom
In some circles it has become axiomatic that sexual sins are no worse and no different from any other sins. This is only half true. To be faithful to Scripture we must divide the question because there are two things to be . . . Continue reading →
In 1776 It Was Not Just Firecrackers
…Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms . . . Continue reading →
Pastors, The Graham Rule, And Wisdom
It was announced this week that another pastor was recently removed from ministry. It has happened before and, sadly, it will happen again. As I write, a series of cases are running through my mind but one of themes that unites them . . . Continue reading →
Paul’s Twofold Citizenship And Ours
Our older Reformed writers regularly mentioned “two kingdoms” in different ways. E.g., in the opening line to his 1576 Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed (translated into English and available in the Classic Reformed Theology series) Caspar Olevianus (1536-87) employed the distinction in . . . Continue reading →
Born Of A Woman: Against The Star Trek Christology
Recently a well-known Presbyterian minister posted a short sentence on a social media site that caused some controversy. My intent here is not to comment directly on his language but to notice and respond to some of the reaction because it illustrates . . . Continue reading →
Kennedy: To Compel Citizens To Contradict Their Most Deeply Held Beliefs Is Authoritarian
It does appear that viewpoint discrimination is inherent in the design and structure of this Act. This law is a paradigmatic example of the serious threat presented when government seeks to impose its own message in the place of individual speech, thought, . . . Continue reading →
Hodge: The (Lutheran) Formula Of Concord Got It Right On Good Works And Salvation
The controversy was renewed not long after in another form, in consequence of the position taken by George Major, also a pupil of Luther and Melancthon, and for some years professor of theology and preacher at Wittenberg. He was accused of objecting . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Reading Scripture Canonically With Darian Lockett
The word “canon” means rule. We who confess the Reformed theology, piety, and practice confess that the holy Scriptures are the canon, the final and ruling authority for the Christian faith and life. In Belgic Confession art. 7 we confess, “We believe . . . Continue reading →
Resources For A Redemptive-Historical Reading Of Scripture
“Biblical theology,” or “redemptive-historical” theology may be new terms or perhaps confusing. After all, is not Reformed theology supposed to be biblical? Yes, it is but in the history of theology there developed, in the 19th century, a movement that intended to . . . Continue reading →
What Distinguishes The Gifts God Gives To Believers From Those He Gives To Unbelievers?
Objection. 1. But the wicked receive many of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, who nevertheless do not ask or desire them. Therefore these things are not merely given to such as desire them. Answer. The wicked do indeed receive many gifts; . . . Continue reading →
What Is Prayer?
Prayer consists in calling upon the true God, and arises from an acknowledgment and sense of our want, and from a desire of sharing in the divine bounty, in true conversion of heart and confidence in the promise of grace for the . . . Continue reading →
The State Of Oregon Wants To “Rehabilitate” Your Religious Beliefs And Practices
The Oregon Constitution allows religious exemptions from laws that are generally applicable, but Avakian ruled that out from the very beginning. Can he really be presumed to be fair and neutral when he said our business was unlawfully discriminating before he had . . . Continue reading →
What Kind Of A Reformation Do We Need?
One of the questions submitted to the Reformation conference last fall at the Lynden URC asks “in regards to the current state of the church, what is needed in terms of a Reformation?” That’s a great question. If we are talking about . . . Continue reading →
Warfield: Study While You Pray And Pray While You Study
I am asked to speak to you on the religious life of the student of theology. I approach the subject with some trepidation. I think it the most important subject which can engage our thought. You will not suspect me, in saying . . . Continue reading →
The Logic Of Fruit As Evidence
The charge made by Rome and the Anabaptists, among others, was that the evangelical doctrine of salvation sola gratia, sola fide would make Christians cold and careless about their sanctification. The Reformed churches refuted that charge by arguing that the same grace by which we have been given new life also produces faith and it is “impossible for this holy faith to be unfruitful.” True faith is God’s gift. It unites us to the risen and ascended Christ who, by his Spirit, works in us conformity to himself and to his moral will. This is how we understand “faith working through love” (Gal 5:6). Rome, remember, turned “faith working through love” into “faith formed by love” (on this see part 1). In response, Calvin wrote on Galatians 5:6, “When you are engaged in discussing the question of justification, beware of allowing any mention to be made of love or of works, but resolutely adhere to the exclusive particle.” Continue reading →
What Happens When We Meditate On The Abrahamic Promise
For the record, a lot of ladies have told me they finally understand baptism because of, "I will be a God to you and your children" — Coleen Sharp (@reformed_gal) June 15, 2018