Though the mode of baptism is not the primary argument that moved me away it was the starting point that caused me to re-examine Reformed covenant theology as a whole and Jeremiah 31 in particular. Continue reading →
Eschatology
Heidelcast 199—What Must A Christian Believe? (16): Christ Returning
This is episode 16 in the series, What Must A Christian Believe? In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the seventh article: “Whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.” Now . . . Continue reading →
Another Reason Why The Covenant Of Works Matters
Yesterday a prominent evangelical theologian tweeted “The gospel does not begin with Genesis 3 and human sin. The gospel begins with Genesis 1 and God’s goodness and our grandeur. If we start with Genesis 3, we make the gospel seem tiresome, predictable. . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 198—What Must A Christian Believe? (15): Christ Reigning
This is episode 15 in the series, What Must A Christian Believe? In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the sixth article: “He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 195: What Must A Christian Believe? (12) On Christ’s Descent Into Hell
In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the fourth article: “suffered under Pontius, Pilate, crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell.” In this episode we focus on the last clause, “he descended into . . . Continue reading →
Gregory of Nyssa Against The Chiliasts
Now if we loudly preach all this, and testify to all this, namely that Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, always changeless, always imperishable, though He comes in the changeable and the perishable; never stained Himself, but . . . Continue reading →
How Christians May Avoid Panic In The Midst Of A Cultural Revolution
Christianity offers the best news in the world. The gospel declares that through faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the forgiveness of our sins. With this assurance of God’s love, comes the promise that we receive a citizenship in heaven, a home . . . Continue reading →
Hywel Jones: The Lamb Is The Lamp (Rev 21:23)
Whom will Christians see in Heaven? Will it be God or Jesus? Both answers have been given throughout the history of the Church and they are still to be heard today. But will it be the one and not the other? Or . . . Continue reading →
Why You Should Pay Attention To The Reconstructionists In Moscow, ID
Previous accounts of Christian Reconstructionists have tended to focus on these believers’ theocratic vision of a future Christian polity rather than their separation from mainstream society. Today, Gribben concludes, these practitioners of “strategies of hibernation” may no longer be as marginal as . . . Continue reading →
Preparing For Persecution
Since becoming a pastor I’ve been convinced that one of my most important responsibilities it to preach and pray in a way that prepares people to suffer for the glory of God. Suffering – which is a wide and broad biblical category . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 182: As It Was In The Days Of Noah (25)—Peaceful Pilgrims
This is the 25th and final episode in the series, As It Was In The Days of Noah. When I began I thought I would cover both 1 and 2 Peter but I didn’t know that the series would stretch to 25 . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 181: As It Was In The Days Of Noah (24)—We Are Pilgrims Under Christ’s Lordship
With this episode we have almost reached the end of 1 Peter and in our passage (1 Pet 5:6–11) Peter turns again to one of his major themes: the Christian’s pilgrimage to the heavenly city under the Lordship of Christ. This passage, . . . Continue reading →
A Brief Note On The History Of Amillennialism
There have always been three main types of Christian eschatology: chiliasm (historic premillennialism), postmillennialism, and amillennialism. From about the middle of the 19th century there developed subsets of chiliasm (e.g., pre-tribulational premillennialism etc). The same cannot be said of the nomenclature used to describe the views. Continue reading
Heidelcast 177: As It Was In The Days Of Noah (21)—Be Not Surprised (2)
This series is a study of what Scripture says about eschatology, i.e., the relation of heaven to earth and last things. We began with a survey of what Scripture says generally and now we are working through 1 Peter. We have come . . . Continue reading →
Silent Saturday
During this season, which many Christians call “Holy Week,” I am perversely drawn to Saturday.
Heidelcast 176: As It Was In The Days Of Noah (20)—Be Not Surprised
Or Why Peter Was An Amillennialist
This series is a study of what Scripture says about eschatology, i.e., the relation of heaven to earth and last things. We began with a survey of what Scripture says generally and now we are working through 1 Peter. We have come . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 175: As It Was In The Days Of Noah (19)—Living In Light Of The Coming Of Christ
This series is a study of what Scripture says about eschatology, i.e., the relation of heaven to earth and last things. We began with a survey of what Scripture says generally and now we are working through 1 Peter. We have come . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 174: As It Was In The Days Of Noah (18): Applying The Analogy To Preaching, Sacraments, Baptism, And Salvation
The argument of the series is that this is Peter’s over-arching picture or paradigm for the way New Covenant believers are to think about their place in the world and about the return of Christ. There will be no literal 1,000 year . . . Continue reading →
Will Christians Be Taken In A Secret Rapture?
As a young and newly converted evangelical, I was quickly introduced to the evangelical pop sub-culture that included Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). In 1969 the famous CCM artist Larry Norman released “I Wish We’d All Been Ready.” …The premise of the song . . . Continue reading →
With Presbycast In The Cantina On Common Grace, Nature And Grace, Eschatology, And Christian Liberty
The Presbycast guys are at it again, this time they have set up an online Star Wars Cantina. It is a rough neighborhood but they took good care of me and I escaped unhurt. I cannot speak for all the other guests . . . Continue reading →