But you might say, “Isn’t there also much Law in the Gospels and in the Epistles of Paul, and again many promises in the books of Moses and the prophets?” Answer: There is no book in the Bible in which both are . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: Tony Phelps
Perkins On The First Mark Of Faith
The second question is, when faith begins first to breed in the heart? Answer. When a man begins to be touched in his conscience for his sins, and, upon feeling of his own spiritual poverty, earnestly hungers and thirsts after Christ and . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger: Christ Is Our Prophet, Priest, And King
As the story of redemption unfolded in the Old Testament, the offices of prophet, priest, and king repeatedly came into view. Moses prophesied that “the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. . . . Continue reading →
Luther On The Two Words
The second word of God is neither Law nor command and demands nothing of us. But when the first word of the Law has worked misery and poverty in the heart, then He comes and offers us His blessed and life-giving Word. . . . Continue reading →
Johnson On The Timing Of The Kingdom
Jesus’ parables sometimes send mixed messages about the timing of the coming kingdom. He speaks the parable of the wedding banquet in response to a fellow dinner guest’s pious-sounding beatitude that seemed to envision a distant future age, “Blessed is everyone who . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger: Christ Is The Central Character
The central character of the story, even in the Old Testament, was the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and sinful humans (1 Tim. 2:5). He lay hidden in Old Testament shadows but was revealed in the New. Seeing the . . . Continue reading →
Luther: We Have Nothing Apart From Christ
The word “Gospel” is Greek and signifies “joyous news,” because it proclaims the wholesome doctrine of life by divine promise and offers grace and forgiveness of sin. Therefore, works do not belong to the Gospel, for it is not Law; rather, only . . . Continue reading →
Perkins On The Abrogation Of The Law
…how far forth the law is abrogated? Answer. The law is threefold: moral, ceremonial, judicial. Moral is the law of God concerning manners or duties to God and man. Now the moral law is abrogated in respect of the church and them . . . Continue reading →
Luther: Meditation On The Law Teaches What We Are Apart From Christ
Overconfidence follows when a man strives to fulfill the Law by works, by trying hard to do as the words of the Law command. He serves God, doesn’t swear, honors father and mother, doesn’t kill, doesn’t commit adultery, and the like. But . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: The Spirit Feeds The Soul On Christ’s Body
In the Supper of the Lord, the external minister holds forth the external symbols, the bread of the Lord and the wine of the Lord, which are perceived by the organs of our body, consumed and swallowed. The internal minister, the Holy . . . Continue reading →
Luther: The World And Its Glory Is Nothing Compared To Christ
If someone could believe with a certain and constant faith, and could understand the magnitude of it all, that he is the son and heir of God, he could regard all the power and wealth of all the kingdoms of the world . . . Continue reading →
Perkins: What Does Paul Mean By “Schoolmaster”?
Here by “schoolmaster” understand one that teaches little children or [minors] the first rudiments or elements, A, B, C. And the law is “a schoolmaster to Christ,” for two causes. One, because it points out and shadows forth unto us Christ by . . . Continue reading →
Luther: Why Weak And Beggarly Elements?
But why does Paul say that the Galatians are “turning back to the weak and beggarly elements,” that is, to the Law, when they never had the Law, since they were Gentiles (even though, as we shall say later, he writes this . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger: Christ Is At The Center Of Old Testament Eschatology
The first thing we should note about Old Testament eschatology is that from the moment the human race fell into sin and came under God’s curse, there was an expectation that God would send his promised Redeemer. He also promised to put . . . Continue reading →
Luther On Crying Abba
In form this crying and sighing is that amid your trial you do not call God a tyrant, an angry judge, or a tormentor, but a Father—even though the sighing may be so faint that it can hardly be felt. By contrast . . . Continue reading →
Perkins On The Civil Use Of the Law
Again, here we see the use of God’s laws, which serve to prevent, restrain, and cut off sin, into which otherwise men would fall unless they were compassed and guarded by laws. Some object for freedom of will, on this manner. If . . . Continue reading →
Perkins In Defense Of Particular Redemption
Whereas Paul says that “the promise is given to believers,” [Gal. 3:22] it is manifest that the promise is not universal in respect of all mankind, but only indefinite and universal in respect of believers. Wherefore their doctrine is not sound that . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger On The Difference Between Moses And Abraham
Unlike with the covenant of promise that God made with Abram, in this covenant of law, God did not swear the oath of ratification. Rather, the people of Israel did so. By swearing their obedience on oath, they would receive the promised . . . Continue reading →
Luther Vs Papal Wickedness
With this wicked doctrine, by which he commands men to doubt the favor of God toward them, the pope has removed God and all His promises from the church, has undermined the blessings of Christ, and has abolished the entire Gospel. Then . . . Continue reading →
Luther On The Chief Point Of Scripture
Moreover, the chief point of all Scripture is that we should not doubt but hope, trust, and believe for a certainty that God is merciful, kind, and patient, that He does not lie and deceive but is faithful and true. He keeps . . . Continue reading →