Beginning in 1528 and 1529, Luther developed his primary defense of infant baptism. Without repudiating his earlier position on infant faith, Luther appealed instead to infant baptism as grounded on God’s gracious promised attached to the sign and God’s command to baptism . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: R. Scott Clark
New In Print: Samuel Miller On Presbyterianism
Samuel Miller (1769–1850) is significant figure in American Presbyterian Church history. He is a figure that anyone who is interested in Reformed theology, piety, and practice should know. He belonged to the Old School of American Presbyterianism. He was professor of Church . . . Continue reading →
Synod Of Dort: The Law Neither Gives The Remedy Nor The Strength To Save Sinners
New In Print: The Works of William Perkins Volume 9
Few theologians are as important to Reformed tradition as William Perkins (1558–1602). Remarkably, as important as he was, Perkins works went out of print and remained so for centuries. We are truly fortunate to have a new edition of Perkins. To their . . . Continue reading →
Olevianus: The Reformed Retain The Distinction Between Law And Gospel
New Resource Page: On Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism describes a way of reading the Bible and a system of theology the nearest roots of which are in the 19th century. There have been premillennial (traditionally known as “chiliastic) movements, including some Reformed theologians, since the early church but most . . . Continue reading →
Perkins: Your Good Works Are Of No Value To Your Justification
New Resource Page: On The Unity Of The Covenant Of Grace (Link Updated)
Reformed theology teaches and the Reformed Churches confess that the Old and New Testaments are fundamentally unified in important ways. The triune God of the New Testament is the God of the Old Testament. The Apostle John says that God the Son, . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On The Unity Of The Covenant Of Grace
5. Now, if we choose to investigate whether it is right to administer baptism to infants, shall we not say that a man is talking nonsense or indeed raving who would halt with the mere element of water and outward observance, but . . . Continue reading →
The Wall In The Middle Of The Book: Evangelicalism To Presbyterianism
Office Hours: With Jon Payne On Discipleship And Revoice
Our Lord Jesus called the church to make disciples (Matt 28:18–20) and he even ordained means by which we might become disciples and grow in our discipleship. The Apostles followed this pattern (Acts 2:42; Rom 10:14). Nevertheless, when we think about discipleship . . . Continue reading →
Vos: God Allowed The Republication Of The Covenant Of Works
Everyone will have to agree that for Adam, perfect keeping of the law for a fixed period of time was the means to acquire eternal beatitude that cannot be lost. When the covenant of works was broken, God could have rescinded this . . . Continue reading →
Hywel Jones On Psalm 119: An Edifying Resource (For Especially Trying Times)
Hywel Jones is one of God’s gifts to his church. He is a model of piety and grace. He gave devotions every week in chapel for several years during his career at Westminster Seminary in California. One of those series was on . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck: The Reformers Taught One Covenant Of Grace In Two Administrations Against The Anabaptists
Vos: The Substance Of The One Covenant Of Grace Was In The Old Covenant
What Augustine so strikingly formulated concerning the relation of the two historic economies of the history of redemption: “Novum Testamentum in Vetere latet, Vetus in Novo patet” [The New Testament hides in the old, the Old reveals itself in the New] permits . . . Continue reading →
Perkins: Two-Stage Justification Is Not Protestant
Witsius: One Covenant Of Grace, Multiple Administrations
I. It is a matter of the greatest moment, that we learn distinctly to consider the covenant of grace, either as it is in its substance or essence, as they call it, or as it is in diverse ways proposed by God, . . . Continue reading →
Owen: The New Covenant Was Inaugurated After The Fall And Christ Was Its Mediator
[5.] We on all accounts stand in need of a surety for us, or on our behalf. Neither without the interposition of such a surety could any covenant between God and us be firm and stable, or “an everlasting covenant, ordered in . . . Continue reading →
PCA General Assembly Rulings On Virtual Communion
For those who’ve inquired about any PCA precedent on digitally “administering” the Lord’s Supper, below is a pertinent string of excerpts from the Minutes of the 39th, 40th and 41st General Assemblies (2011, 2012 and 2013 in Louisville, Virginia Beach and Greenville SC). Continue reading →
Turretin: We Affirm The Unity Of The Covenant Of Grace Against The Socinians, Remonstrants, And Anabaptists
FIFTH QUESTION: THE UNITY OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE Was the covenant of grace one and the same as to substance under each dispensation? We affirm against the Socinians, Anabaptists and Remonstrants I. This most important controversy is waged by us with . . . Continue reading →