This is a wonderful story to tell about very great men and pillars of the churches. Paul is the only one who has his eyes open and sees the sin of Peter, Barnabas, and the other Jews, who were acting insincerely along . . . Continue reading →
Law and Gospel Distinction
An Aberration Or Standard In Progressive Covenantalism? Issues About Covenant Conditions
Caneday’s main argument is to undermine the law-gospel distinction. In his words, “This chapter disavows the notion that all of Scripture consists of two isolatable messages: law, consisting of God’s demands, and gospel, composed of God’s gracious giving. Instead, it argues that the formulation of covenant stipulations remain the same while the content of stipulations changes.” (pg. 103; italics original). Continue reading →
A Useful Test For Evaluating Sermons And Ministry: If A Sermon May Be Preached In A Mosque Or Synagogue It is Not A Christian Message
Years ago I remember hearing an elder say that if my sermon could be accepted in a Jewish synagogue then it is not a distinctively Christian sermon. I’ve thought a lot about that over the years. What makes Christian sermons distinctively Christian? . . . Continue reading →
Stop Saying It Please
Reformed people need to stop saying that the distinction between law and gospel is “Lutheran” and that the Reformed did not (and do not) make that distinction. Continue reading
What Reformed Churches Can Learn From Mark Driscoll
…A new megachurch in Lynden was drawing out the boomers from classic Reformed churches by the thousands. This church purchased the local shopping mall and created the closest thing as they could achieve, in appearance and message, to Rick Warren’s Saddleback church, . . . Continue reading →
The Way Calvin Read The Ten Commandments May Not Be The Way You Are Used To Reading The Ten Commandments (But It Should Be)
For my entire Christian life, without exception, whenever the minister has read the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue) in the worship service—which I heard only when I began worshiping in the Reformed churches—he always begin with the words “I am the Lord your . . . Continue reading →
The Gospel Is About Justice But Not That Kind Of Justice
In an article in By Faith Online (Feb, 2021) Megan Fowler writes, “Moses Lee believes Gen Z isn’t asking philosophical questions about epistemology [the theory of knowing]. Gen Z wants to know that the gospel is beautiful and true, and that it is deeply concerned about justice.” Continue reading
Heidelmini-cast: Why The Ten Commandments Say No And More
David writes to the Heidelcast to ask about the ten commandments. “Do you have any thoughts why the first commandment as well most of the ten commandments start with the word no?” So we know what we’re talking about let’s listen to . . . Continue reading →
Erskine On The Difference Between Presenting Ourselves To God On The Basis Of Our Obedience And On The Basis Of Christ’s Obedience
He then runs to the way of works by the law, and tries what he can do for his own salvation by his reformation, his prayers, years, vows, penances, and the like. When the man has wearied himself in pursuit of salvation . . . Continue reading →
New Resource Page: On The Marrow Controversy
The Marrow of Modern Divinity was regarded by the orthodox Reformed, in the 17th century, as a good summary of the orthodox view of law and gospel, justification, sanctification, and the third (normative) use of the law in the life of the Christian. . . . Continue reading →
The Synopsis Of Purer Theology On The Law And The Gospel
While it is from the Law (about which we disputed above) that we come to know the contagion and defect of our spiritual illness, that is, of sin, it is from the Gospel that we learn the remedy for it. …In the . . . Continue reading →
What Happens When We Turn The Good News Into Bad News?
The word “Gospel” is so familiar and frequently used that it is possible to lose sight of its genuine meaning, “good news.”
With The RenewalCast On Distinguishing Law And Gospel
With the RenewalCast On A Reformation Basic: Distinguishing Law and Gospel Continue reading →
How Not To Respond To Antinomianism Or Nomism
The Antinomian denies the abiding validity of God’s moral law. Continue reading
Perkins: Rome Confuses Law And Gospel
The Church of Rome in a manner confounds the law and the gospel, saying that the gospel, which is the new law, reveals Christ more clearly than Moses’ law did, which they call the old law. But this is a wicked opinion, . . . Continue reading →
Colquhoun: Ignorance Of The Difference Between Law And Gospel Leads To Self-Righteousness
Ignorance of the difference between the law and the gospel promotes also, in a great degree, the strength and influence of a self-righteous temper. When a man is driven to acts of obedience by the dread of God’s wrath revealed in the . . . Continue reading →
Perkins: The Law Written On Our Hearts Is Still The Law
Is Your Congregation An Oasis Or A Mirage?
When I was boy we made frequent pilgrimages to my grandparent’s farm in Southwestern Kansas. That is where I learned to drive, put up fence, buck bales of hay, and chew tobacco. I do not recommend the latter. On the trip, on . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck Distinguished Law And Gospel
Synod Of Dort: The Law Neither Gives The Remedy Nor The Strength To Save Sinners
