Vers. 1. O Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Because he knew that the minds of the Galatians were prepossessed with a . . . Continue reading →
Christian Life
Why We Memorize The Catechism
Both children and parents in Reformed congregations often ask, “Why must we (or our children) memorize the catechism? If they must memorize anything at all, should they not memorize Holy Scripture instead?” These are fair questions, but they rest on dubious premises. Continue reading →
Strangers And Aliens (14): Recognizing Differences (1 Peter 3:7)
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (ESV). 7Οἱ ἄνδρες ὁμοίως, . . . Continue reading →
Interview with Theologian R. Scott Clark
November, 2007Nightlight Christian Adoptions As part of our blog’s adoption interview series, I’m interviewing several theologians about the doctrine of spiritual adoption and its implications for earthly adoption. I believe that the practice of earthly adoption will be significantly enriched as we . . . Continue reading →
5 Minutes With R. Scott Clark
By Timothy RaymondCredo MagazineMay 2012 [W]hat theologians in church history do you recommend reading to better understand the doctrine of election? Among the Fathers, Augustine’s On the Predestination of the Saints is essential. Gottschalk’s little treatise, On Predestination witnesses to the vitality . . . Continue reading →
Scott Clark: “Let’s Get Back to the Word of God”
By Will Graham Greetings brothers and sisters and welcome once again to Fresh Breeze. This week it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Dr. R. Scott Clark. R. Scott Clark was raised on the Great Plains in the USA. He . . . Continue reading →
SAET Interviews In Politics And Theology #10: R. Scott Clark
With regard to political action: American Christians (particularly evangelicals) must get over the microwave mentality. We need to think more in terms of camp fires and cook outs. It takes a long time to make a decent meal outdoors and it might . . . Continue reading →
Gay Christians?
Introduction Is it appropriate to speak of “Gay Christians.” Is it appropriate to speak of “Murderer Christians” or “Thief Christians” or “Idolater Christians”? When the adjective “gay” refers to homosexuals, the expression “Gay Christian” is an oxymoron. Remarkably, Millennials (18–34) may be . . . Continue reading →
The Logic Of Fruit As Evidence
The Patristic Period One of the earliest concerns of the Christian church, beginning with the apostles and intensifying through the patristic and medieval periods, was that those who profess the Christian faith should live in a way befitting their profession of faith. . . . Continue reading →
Making A Murderer (Spoiler Alert)
Like a few million other people I recently watched the gripping Netflix documentary, Making A Murderer. Without giving away too much (in case you have not seen it), this documentary tells the story of a the criminal prosecution of a Manitowoc County . . . Continue reading →
Strangers And Aliens (13a): Living Among The Pagans (1 Peter 3:1–6)
1Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3Do not let . . . Continue reading →
Three Things I Learned In 2015
For me it has been an odd year. I spent a good bit of it on the road between San Diego, where I live and work, and Nebraska, where family lives. That has produced a greater sense of dislocation than usual. Professionally, . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: The Holy Spirit In The First Five Books Of Scripture
The Holy Spirit has sometimes been called the forgotten person of the Trinity. Yet he appears at the very beginning of the Biblical story. Genesis 1:2 says, “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the . . . Continue reading →
Strangers And Aliens (12d): Servants Imitating The Suffering Savior (1 Peter 2:18–25)
His suffering was an example to us but it was more than that. It was substitutionary. Jesus suffered in the place of those whom he came to save. He paid the debt owed by all his people, a debt they owed but could never pay. Further, because, by grace alone, through faith alone, by the Holy Spirit, we are united to Christ in his death, we have been separated from from sin. Continue reading →
Office Hours: John Fesko On The Holy Spirit In The Reformed Confessions
This is season 7 of Office Hours and our theme is “The Holy Spirit: Lord and Giver of Life.” When we think of the Reformed and Presbyterian confessions we might think first of the doctrines of grace and salvation but they reflect . . . Continue reading →
The Necessity And Limits Of The Imitation Of Christ
There is no question among orthodox Christians, i.e., those who believe and obey God’s Word, who believe the catholic creeds, who have a substantial connection to the ancient church, whether Christians ought to seek to imitate Christ. The questions are how do we imitate . . . Continue reading →
Strangers And Aliens (12b): Servants Imitating The Suffering Savior (1 Peter 2:18–25)
18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it . . . Continue reading →
The Abrahamic Covenant Unifies Redemptive History
During our senior year of high school (1978–79) three of us went to lunch. Our public high school had an open campus, meaning that we were permitted to come and go so long as we attended classes. We piled into a friend’s . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Sojourners And Exiles (1 Peter 2:11-12)
Here’s the audio of the sermon from last Lord’s Day evening (11-29-15) at the Escondido URC from 1 Peter 2:11-12, Sojourners And Exiles:
Strangers And Aliens (12a): Servants Imitating The Suffering Savior (1 Peter 2:18–25)
There is a thread running through the book of Isaiah, which some have called the Gospel of Isaiah. It is that of the servant. The prophet himself is described as the servant (עבד) of Yahweh (Isa 20:3). David is also Yahweh’s servant . . . Continue reading →