It gives precedence to the person and work of Christ over election and the covenant, so that Christ is isolated from these contexts and cannot vicariously atone for his people, since there is no fellowship between him and us. Herman Bavinck Reformed . . . Continue reading →
HeidelQuotes
Ernest Kevan On Baxter On The Marrow Of Modern Divinity
Richard Baxter ought to have recognized a friend in this book, but he opposed it and spoke of “The Marrow of Modern Divinity, which on pretence of Moderation is Antinomian or Libertine, and very injudicious and unsound”. Scripture Gospel Defended, “Breviate of . . . Continue reading →
Why Study The Heidelberg Catechism?
Growing up as a Dutch Presbyterian with parents from a Christian Reformed Church background, I was always familiar with the Heidelberg Catechism, but I did not have many opportunities to read and study it myself. And when I had the opportunity, I . . . Continue reading →
When We Assent To The Faith We Are Agreeing That God Has Come To Us In Christ
True faith rests in God as he has revealed himself, in Christ the Word of God incarnate, and in Holy Scripture, the inspired, infallible word of God written. When we give assent to the Christian faith, we are giving assent to concrete . . . Continue reading →
Luther: To The Contrite We Offer The Gospel
Therefore when I see that a man is sufficiently contrite, oppressed by the Law, terrified by sin, and thirsting for comfort, then it is time for me to take the Law and active righteousness from his sight and to set forth before . . . Continue reading →
What Does It Mean To Say “God inhabits the praises of his people”?
Many Christians have heard the phrase, “God inhabits the praises of His people.” It is often used to suggest that when the church sings, God somehow enters the room or shows up in a special way. That idea is widespread and usually . . . Continue reading →
Shapiro: Our Duty Is To The Truth Not To Insinuations Via “Questions”
Our first duty is truth. We owe you the truth. That means we should not mislead you; it means we shouldn’t hide the ball; we shouldn’t be deliberately obscure about what we are telling you. We have an obligation to clarity and . . . Continue reading →
Images Of Christ Diminish His Humanity
Mrs. Smith: “But Jesus truly came in the flesh. Doesn’t forbidding images make Him seem less human?” Dr. Perkins: Not at all. For the disciples, seeing Jesus wasn’t sinful—it was God’s gift in history. But for us to recreate Him is presumption. . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck: The Ground Of The Free Offer Is Not A (Hypothetical) Universal Atonement
For the universal offer of grace we need no other ground than this clearly revealed will of God. We no more need to know specifically for whom Christ died than we need to know specifically who has been ordained to eternal life. . . . Continue reading →
Justification And Eastern Orthodoxy
Justification has never received much attention in Eastern Orthodox theology. The orthodox view of salvation is largely shaped by the idea of theosis based on such texts as 2 Peter 1:. The word theosis is translated “deification” in English, and the concept . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck: Hypothetical Universalism Leaves Something For Us To Do
The conclusion of universal atonement is that “Christ only secured for God the possibility of entering into a covenant of grace with us… if we believe. The most significant part of the work of salvation, that which really effects salvation, is still . . . Continue reading →
The Evangelical Journey From Fog Machines and Praise Bands To Smells And Bells
We can indeed sympathize with those who are exhausted by the irreverent and shallow approach to worship in evangelicalism, often untethered from any historical ties to the ancient church. Yet deeply embedded in the worship of Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism (amid . . . Continue reading →
In Memoriam Paul Helm (1940–2025)
Paul Helm, who died on December 29 at home in Gloucestershire aged 85, was the leading philosophical defender of Calvinism in the United Kingdom over the past 50 years. Helm was the best kind of Calvinist: His steely intellect was concealed by . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On John 18:36: Christ’s Kingdom Is Spiritual
My kingdom is not of this world. By these words he acknowledges that he is a king, but, so far as was necessary to prove his innocence, he clears himself of the calumny; for he declares, that there is no disagreement between . . . Continue reading →
Van Asselt: Dort Versus Amyraut On The Atonement
While Amyraut posited that Christ hypothetically died for all, the Dort theologians taught that the sacrifice of Christ was sufficient for all but efficient only for the elect. According to the Dort theologians, therefore, Christ died only for the elect. Willem J. . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck Contra Hypothetical Universalism: Christ Really Saved His People
If Jesus is truly the Savior, he must also really save his people, not potentially but really and in fact, completely and eternally. And this, actually, constitutes the core of the difference between the proponents and opponents of particular satisfaction. Herman Bavinck . . . Continue reading →
Hart On Machen’s Most Important Book
Most Christians who know about J. Gresham Machen, associate him with his most popular book, Christianity and Liberalism (1923). Even in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and extending outward to communions in NAPARC, Reformed Christians know Machen mostly through the book he wrote at the . . . Continue reading →
The Hanover Presbytery Rejected The Established Religion As Unamerican
The Memorial of the Presbytery of Hanover humbly represents, that your memorialists are governed by the same sentiments which have inspired the United States of America, and are determined that noting in our power and influence shall be wanting to give success . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck: Christ’s Intercession, Acquisition, And Application Are Inseparably Linked
The idea from which the reference to “the many” arises, however, is a very different one: Christ did not die for a few but for many, for a large multitude. He gives his life as a ransom for many; he sheds his . . . Continue reading →
Hart On The Prejudice Of American Historians
Recognizing the remarkable accomplishments of historical figures who were also flawed seems to be a bridge too far for a certain sector of Americans. Perhaps holding on to slavery as the most important aspect of American history appeals to those inclined to . . . Continue reading →