Justifying faith is properly that which is defined in the catechism; according to which definition, the general nature of saving faith consists in knowledge and an assured confidence; for there can be no faith in a doctrine that is wholly unknown. It . . . Continue reading →
HeidelQuotes
Piper’s New Book Is Edwardsian
The major—and expected—exception is Jonathan Edwards, whose view of faith no doubt stands behind Piper’s approach to this issue. Edwards believed that love is at the heart of faith: “That even faith, or a steadfastly believing the truth, arises from a principle . . . Continue reading →
Who is Permitted to Read the Word Publicly to the Congregation in the PCA?
It is somewhat surprising, though, that we often do not consider this question of the public reading of Scripture in the light of a wider understanding of the biblical nature of authority in the church, as set down in the Preliminary Principles . . . Continue reading →
Mathison: When Reformed Theology Is Adapted To Enlightenment Presuppositions It Withers And Dies
In other words, if we want to know why there are so many Reformed theological giants in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and comparatively few afterwards, a large part of it has to do with the later theologians adopting various forms of . . . Continue reading →
PCA SE Alabama Presbytery Asks SJC To Assume Original Jurisdiction In Johnson Case
Whereas in his responses to the Standing Judicial Commission’s additional questions, TE Greg Johnson affirmed his belief in the Bible’s teaching on human sexuality with regard to same-sex attraction (homosexual orientation, inter alia) and qualifications for ordained ministerial office, as summarized in . . . Continue reading →
Alito: Roe And Casey Must Be Overturned
We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The Constitution makes no reference to abortion and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision, including the one on which the defenders of Roe and Casey now chiefly rely—the due . . . Continue reading →
The Crucifixion Contradicted Paul’s Pre-Christian Messianic Expectations
But that Jesus of Nazareth could be the expected Messiah, as his disciples maintained, was out of the question. It is unlikely that the status, career and teaching of Jesus conformed in any way with Paul’s conception of the status, career and . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On Romans 7: Paul Writes About The Believer’s Struggle With Sin
Paul begins now to make a closer comparison between the law and the nature of man, in order that the origin of the wickedness which leads to death may be more clearly understood. He then sets before us the example of a . . . Continue reading →
Fedya Says: Please Continue Praying
In the meantime, he grieves his separation from his family, mourns his country’s suffering, and hopes in the gospel. “I believe the Lord is using this terrible situation to advance his gospel,” he said. “That’s the only hope for the world.” Minakov . . . Continue reading →
Hart Reviews Noll—America’s Book: The Rise And Decline Of A Bible Civilization, 1794–1911
Many Americans born after 1960 have trouble imagining that for much of the country’s history the Bible was a chief source of national identity. Older Hollywood directors sometimes get it right. Take “Liberty Heights” (1999), written and directed by Barry Levinson (born . . . Continue reading →
Madueme And Wingard Review Johnson’s Still Time To Care
Throughout the book, Johnson denies that Christians should expect change and prefers to emphasize the stability of our sexual desires and propensities. For example, he writes, “There is no cure for corrupted nature in this life. We remainescapably children of Adam. There is . . . Continue reading →
The Two Sexes As God Created Them Enables A Deeper Union
The noblest of God’s binaries, though, is found in humanity. God crowned us with the honor of bearing his image, uniting a physical body and a rational soul (Genesis 1:26, 2:7). Then he split the man into “male and female” (1:27, 2:22), . . . Continue reading →
Allen On The “Libertine” Question In Romans 6:1
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1) [T]he reader must assess whether their interpretation of the preceding verses would likely prompt such a query. In other words, the libertine question in Romans . . . Continue reading →
Waters Contra Intinction: We Must Observe The Sacraments In The Way Christ Instituted Them
We must observe the sacraments in a way that submits to the teaching of Scripture. In the public worship of God, we may only do what God has authorized us to do. What he hasn’t expressly authorized in Scripture is thereby forbidden. . . . Continue reading →
Too Late For This (Western) “Holy Week” But There Is Always Next Year: Rome Offers A Full Indulgence
A plenary indulgence can be obtained during Holy Week for oneself or for a deceased person if one of the following works established by the Church is performed. A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits . . . Continue reading →
Trent’s Knowing And Intentional Rejection Of Justification Sola Fide
After theologians the bishops took the floor, song speaking for two or more hours at a time. Some were well-versed in the subject. Their approach, like that of theologians, was generally framed by Scholastic categories, and, despite Pole’s words, they often seemed . . . Continue reading →
University Settles Suit Over Professor’s Right Not To Use Student’s Preferred Pronoun
Shawnee State University will pay a professor $400,000 in damages and attorney’s fees to settle a lawsuit over not using a student’s preferred pronoun. In 2018, Shawnee State philosophy professor Nicholas Meriwether called a transgender student “sir” during a lecture when she . . . Continue reading →
Is Your Religion Ben Franklin’s Or Paul’s (And Can You Tell The Difference)?
Locke and Shaftesbury opened an intellectual world firmly in the deist camp, even though deism itself was more an outlook and reading list than a card-carrying affiliation. Franklin later described his religious sensibility as the sort of minimalist belief he found in . . . Continue reading →
On The First Day Of The Week
Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple . . . Continue reading →
Haldane: “Ungodly” In Romans 4:5 Means What It Says Just As “Works Not” Means What It Says
Ver. 5. —But to him that worketh not, but we leave it on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. But to him that worketh not.—This is entirely misunderstood by Dr. Macknight and Mr. Stuart, as if it . . . Continue reading →