The law, as it has a promise of life, is very unlike the gospel. The former promises eternal life to a man on condition of his own perfect obedience and of the obedience of no other, whereas the latter promises it on . . . Continue reading →
HeidelQuotes
Too Much Confidence And Not Enough Controversy?
Who/what did Machen oppose (and who/what opposed Machen) besides theological liberalism of the Fosdick and Auburn Affirmation ilk? Moderate evangelicals who put unity, peace, and growth before doctrinal fidelity Boards and agencies that valued efficiency, worldly ideologies, and influence above faithfulness Ecumenists . . . Continue reading →
Overcoming Overworking
If you’re anything like me, you know that you have to be intentional about learning how to rest. It’s hard for some of us to downshift. Some have a bent toward laziness and others a tendency to overwork. Phil Ryken has made . . . Continue reading →
Evidence Mounts
Illinois public school administrators tried to force a 13-year-old girl to change clothes in front of a biological male, in accordance with the district’s “inclusive” bathroom policy that allows transgender students to use whichever locker room corresponds with their chosen gender, the . . . Continue reading →
The Morally Corrupt Underbelly Of Christian Nationalism
In some circles, Christian nationalism has become a vehicle for race obsession. It is often tied to rhetoric that seeks to reframe Christianity as a predominately European religion, rejecting its deeply Jewish roots, North African developments, and universal call to all nations. . . . Continue reading →
Bates’s Recycled Errors
The gospel is central to Christianity. Protestants and Roman Catholics have been reflecting on and debating the gospel’s content for centuries. However, Matthew Bates argues that most of Western Christianity to date—Protestant and Roman Catholic—has completely misunderstood the gospel. In Beyond the Salvation . . . Continue reading →
Colquhoun: The Law Cannot Give What It Demands
The law shows us “what manner of persons [we ought] to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11), but it does not inform us by what means we may become such (Luke 10:27–28). Whereas, the gospel teaches us how . . . Continue reading →
SCOTUS Takes Up Important Case With Far Reaching Consequences For Free Speech And Religious Freedom
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to weigh in on the constitutionality of Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” – that is, the effort to “convert” someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. That announcement came as part of a list of orders released on Monday . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Through Faith Two Apparently Inconsistent Things Are Reconciled
Then these two things, though apparently inconsistent, do yet perfectly harmonize when we speak of faith; for the Spirit of God shows to us hidden things, the knowledge of which cannot reach our senses: Promised to us is eternal life, but it . . . Continue reading →
Owen: A Little Faith Gives The Whole Christ
True faith in the least degree, gives the soul a share in the first resurrection. It is of the vital principle which we receive when we are quickened. Now, be it never so weak a life we have, yet it is a . . . Continue reading →
DOJ Sides With Church In Zoning Dispute
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has intervened in a case involving a city’s use of zoning ordinances to stop the expansion of a church congregation. On March 3, the Justice Department section for the Western District of Pennsylvania filed a statement . . . Continue reading →
Nothing New Under The Sun
The year was 1972, the month was July, and I was living the summer school’s-out vacation dream in the small town of Senath, Missouri that I’ve often compared to Andy Griffith’s Mayberry. How was it like Mayberry? Well, I could walk two . . . Continue reading →
Colquhoun: The Law In Its Commanding Power Differs Much From The Gospel
The law in its commanding power differs much from the gospel. The law says, “Do and you shall live; you shall, by performing personal and perfect obedience, entitle yourselves to eternal life” (see Matt. 19:17). Whereas the gospel says, “Live, for all . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Those Who Reject Infant Baptism Are “Fanatics”
Moreover, we believe, that since baptism is a treasure which God has placed in his Church, all the members ought to partake of it. Now we doubt not that little children born of Christians are of this number, since God has adopted . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck: All Heretics Quote Scripture
Every sectarian and heretical school of thought initially begins with an appeal to Scripture against the confession and would have us believe that its deviation from the doctrine of the church is required by Scripture. But in most cases further investigation leads . . . Continue reading →
Bringing Singles Into The Church
The OPC raised me well. Even in my earliest memories, my church felt like home. But when I returned as a young adult from serving two years on a mission field, I began to feel deeply the tension of being single and . . . Continue reading →
What The Cave Of Adullam Tells Us About The Visible Church
The cave of Adullam would not be David’s last place of residence. His life would not always be on the run with “everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul.” (1 Samuel . . . Continue reading →
In Person Is Best
But before one decides to avoid the alleged “ivory tower” of seminary, before one decides not to fight the battle of uprooting one’s self or family, we should count the costs. One of the benefits of in-person seminary education is that it . . . Continue reading →
Colquhoun: You Cannot Add Your Works To Christ’s
As this is a great error [to mingle law and gospel], so it is a very dangerous error. If a man attempts to add any works of his own to the consummate righteousness of Jesus Christ as the ground of his justification . . . Continue reading →
The Polish Reformed (1570) Rebuke The Anabaptists For Denying Infant Baptism
We also rebuke and reject all Anabaptists, who repeat their baptism and do not allow little children among God’s people to be baptized. James T. Dennison Jr. ed., Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation: 1523–1693, vol. 3 . . . Continue reading →