What is the excellency of this benefit [of adoption by God’s grace]? Answer. Great every way (John 1:12). He which is the child of God is heir and fellow-heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17), and that of the kingdom of heaven, and of . . . Continue reading →
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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 →
Biblicism Never Dies
In 2016, there was an eruption in conservative Evangelical and Reformed theologians surrounding the doctrine of the Eternal Functional Subordination of the Son (EFS). There’s no need to rehash what has already been said, as that has been summarized helpfully elsewhere. Needless to . . . 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 →
The CIA Considered Using Clergy As Intelligence Operatives
Further, as the committee knows, I have found no circumstances while I am Director of Central Intelligence, that have caused me to do either. But, Mr. Chairman, as the Director of Central Intelligence, I must be in a position to assure 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 →
How Did The Substitutionary Atonement Work?
On the surface the logic of the atonement is straightforward. We sin and are therefore under God’s wrath. When Jesus died on the cross, he suffered the punishment that sin deserves. If we put our faith in Christ, we have eternal life. . . . 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 →
What Socinianism Is And Why You Should Know
The term “Socinianism” has recently appeared in various theological discussions, especially as it relates to topics such as the doctrine of the Trinity and biblicism. At the same time, many have little familiarity with the history or definitive marks of Socinian thought. . . . 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 →
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 →