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 →
HeidelQuotes
Should Christians Baptize For The Dead?
In the middle of a long and detailed discussion of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul drops a confusing bombshell: Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why . . . 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 →
First Amendment Watch: Teacher May Sue Over Being Forced To Use Trans Pronouns
After years of litigation over whether he had a viable claim, a Virginia teacher fired in 2018 for failing to follow his school’s transgender pronoun policy is going to get his day in court finally. On December 14th, the Virginia Supreme Court revived Peter . . . 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 →
Christian, You Have An Advocate
Have you ever thought about what Jesus is doing right now? He ascended to the right hand of God… and then what? What has Jesus been up to since then? The Bible actually tells us that Jesus is doing a lot. He . . . Continue reading →
Can The Person On The Screen Actually Save Your Soul?
Nothing provides a jolt of controversy like touching the worship rails, Almost every discussion of the Second and Fourth Commandments turns into a skirmish if not a pitched battle. While some Reformed folk would slot issues connected to images, worship music, and the finer . . . Continue reading →
Are You More Offended By Statehouse Satanism Or Second Commandment Violations In Church?
Unless you view a state capitol building as a Christian house of worship, your level of concern for allegedly religious displays allowed therein (good, banal, benign, or evil) should be different than your level of concern for what happens in Christian churches.
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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 →
Believer: God Is Not Punishing You For Your Sin
“Did I give my grandmother cancer?” One of my students asked this as tears began to well up in her eyes. My heart broke as I realized she thought God was punishing her for sin and lack of faith by making her . . . Continue reading →
Kline: The First Resurrection In Revelation 20:6
One of the critical points in the exegesis of Revelation 20 is the interpretation of prōtos in the phrase, “the first resurrection” (v. 5). Premillennarians understand it in the purely sequential sense of first in a series of items of the same kind. They . . . 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 →
Perkins: The End Of The Law Is Conviction
Mark further, the end of the law is conviction. And the end of our conviction is that the promise of mercy may be given to them that believe. Here is notable comfort, with encouragement to all good duties. Does the law as . . . Continue reading →
Calvin Contra Biblicism
Nearly half a century after R. T. Kendall published “Calvin and English Calvinism to 1649,” the debate of “Calvin versus the Calvinists” rages on. Kendall’s was not the first attempt at pointing out supposed discontinuity between Calvin and his successors, of course. . . . Continue reading →
Vermont Accused Of Discriminating Against Christian School
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Mid Vermont Christian School and two families filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday [November, 21, 2023] against Vermont officials for denying the Christian school and its students from participating in the state’s tuition program and sports league because of . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger On The Analogy Of Faith
A third critical factor [for the historic Protestant hermeneutic] is the analogia fidei or the “analogy of faith.” This refers to the importance of interpreting an unclear biblical text in light of clear passages that speak to the same subject rather than . . . Continue reading →