Because Adam sinned, we are all born dead in sins and trespasses (Ps 51:5; Eph 2:1–4). By nature we are “children of wrath” (Eph 2:3), idolaters (Gal 4:8), at war with God, given to all manner of wickedness (Gal 5:19–21). God is . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: Tony Phelps
Fighting for Gospel Truth and Freedom: An Exposition of Galatians 2:1–10 (Part 2)
Paul is continuing with his apologetic apostolic autobiography—to defend the gospel against the Judaizers. What happened when Paul went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas? What should we, with the Galatians, learn from Paul’s story? Thanks be to God, first, the truth of . . . Continue reading →
Fighting for Gospel Truth and Freedom: An Exposition of Galatians 2:1–10 (Part 1)
People often say, “Freedom is not free. You have to fight for it.” This is true in the realm of individual liberty. And it is true all the more in the realm of the gospel, because if you believe the gospel of . . . Continue reading →
Luther: The Enemy Does Not Present To Us The Whole Christ
So far as the words are concerned, we know all this very well and can discourse on it. But in the struggle, when the devil tries to mar the image of Christ and to snatch the Word from our hearts, we discover . . . Continue reading →
Not Man’s Gospel: An Exposition of Galatians 1:11–24 (Part 2)
Paul is recounting how the false teachers from Jerusalem—the Judaizers— challenged his apostolic credentials. They also believed that Jesus is the Messiah, that he died for sinners and rose from the dead. But they rejected Paul’s “faith alone” gospel, that we are . . . Continue reading →
Not Man’s Gospel: An Exposition of Galatians 1:11–24 (Part 1)
Presbyterians adhering to the Westminster Standards do not follow the church calendar as a matter of conviction. We do not observe various man-appointed holy days. We observe fifty-two God-appointed holy days per year—the Lord’s Day. Many American evangelicals will observe not only . . . Continue reading →
Luther: Not Only For Others But For Me Too
…believe that Christ was given not only for the sins of others but also for yours. Hold to this firmly, and do not let anything deprive you of this sweet definition of Christ, which brings joy even to the angels in heaven: . . . Continue reading →
Dame Fortune Is A Pagan Myth
Dame Fortune is a pagan myth. Random chance is a pagan myth. Things do not just happen, even if it might seem that way to us. Getting to grips with the doctrine of providence is central to our piety. Ursinus reminds us, . . . Continue reading →
Luther: For Assurance We Need A Right Definition Of Christ
…By adulterating the genuine definition of Christ with his poison [the devil] produces this effect, that although we believe that Christ is the Mediator, in fact our troubled conscience feels and judges that He is a tyrant and a tormentor. So Satan . . . Continue reading →
Astonishing Gospel Apostasy: An Exposition Of Galatians 1:6–10 (Part 2)
It is absolutely astonishing for anyone to desert the gospel of grace and peace for another so-called gospel. That is why we see next the double damnation of “other gospel” preachers in verses 8–9: But even if we or an angel from . . . Continue reading →
Astonishing Gospel Apostasy: An Exposition Of Galatians 1:6–10 (Part 1)
“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” This timeless bit of parental advice is usually given to children prone to complain about everything and everyone—all the time. There are many adults who could still benefit from . . . Continue reading →
Luther: God Wants Us To Listen
Thus [Paul] says also to the Romans (11:13): “Inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry.” That is to say: “I want men to receive me, not as Paul of Tarsus but as Paul the apostle or . . . Continue reading →
Luther: Of Course Error And False Teaching Springs Up In The Church
We should not marvel nor be terrified if there spring up among us many different false teachings and false faiths. Satan is constantly among the children of God. These words teach us how we should conduct ourselves toward these heretics and false . . . Continue reading →
A Letter To Recovering Pharisees: An Exposition Of Galatians (Part 2)
As we continue in our exposition of Galatians 1:1–5, we are reminded of the key issues driving this epistle: Do Gentiles need to become Jews in order to be justified? Or is Christ all sufficient as our righteousness? Thankfully, we have the . . . Continue reading →
Luther On Law, Gospel, And Conscience
Give no more to the Law than it has coming, and say to it: “Law, you want to ascend into the realm of conscience and rule there. You want to denounce its sin and take away the joy of my heart, which . . . Continue reading →
Luther: The Afflicted Conscience Has No Remedy But Grace
Therefore the afflicted conscience has no remedy against despair and eternal death except to take hold of the promise of grace offered in Christ, that is, this righteousness of faith, this passive or Christian righteousness, which says with confidence: “I do not . . . Continue reading →
When We Assent To The Faith We Are Agreeing That God Has Come To Us In Christ
True faith rests in God as he has revealed himself, in Christ the Word of God incarnate, and in Holy Scripture, the inspired, infallible word of God written. When we give assent to the Christian faith, we are giving assent to concrete . . . Continue reading →
Luther: To The Contrite We Offer The Gospel
Therefore when I see that a man is sufficiently contrite, oppressed by the Law, terrified by sin, and thirsting for comfort, then it is time for me to take the Law and active righteousness from his sight and to set forth before . . . Continue reading →
A Letter To Recovering Pharisees: An Exposition Of Galatians (Part 1)
Martin Luther called Paul’s letter to the Galatians his “Katie Von Bora,” the name of his dear wife. In God’s grace, Luther had a wonderful marriage; as a former monk, he had never expected to be married.1 So Luther meant that this . . . Continue reading →
Ralph Erskine: Are You Worried That You Aren’t Elect?
Are you polluted? I offer him to you, as made unto you sanctification. Are you miserable and forlorn? I offer him to you, as made of God unto you complete redemption. Are you hard-hearted ? I offer him in that promise, I will take away . . . Continue reading →