The Supreme Court of the United States has just finished hearing arguments in Dobbs v Women’s Health. Continue reading
Moral Law
Two Millennia Of Western History To The Michigan AG: Yes, Please Enforce The Second Table Of The Decalogue
Until Very Recently We All Expected The Magistrate To Enforce The Second Table Of The Decalogue
…All of the items Plutarch mentions—adultery not least—are scourges that undercut the very fabric of society. It is a sad fact that some dads don’t know this, or don’t care; it is positively shocking that Michigan’s attorney general seems not to, either. . . . Continue reading →
Is Missing Church A Sin?
Joe writes, “Is missing church a sin? Like if my child has a game, if I’m on vacation, or have to work?” Over the years many people have asked me some version of this question. It is an important question, one faced by the New Testament church and by the church in the twenty-first century. Continue reading →
Are Mental Images Of God Unavoidable?
Q. 109. What sins are forbidden in the second commandment? A. The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counseling, commanding, using, and any wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself; the making any representation of God, . . . Continue reading →
What Is And Is Not Gossip?
In recent months, I have had several people speak with me about situations going on around them. Each of these parties were godly Christians seeking counsel about difficult matters involving others. Each time, they would pause and say something like “I don’t . . . Continue reading →
Who Is The Legalist?
There is much antinomianism in the modern evangelical church. By antinomianism I mean the rejection of a fixed moral law and specifically to the rejection of God’s moral law as summarized in the Ten Commandments and applied in the New Testament to . . . Continue reading →
Titus 2:3–4 Advice From A Mature Christian Woman To Younger Christian Women (And Men) About “Sexual Chemistry”
Extramarital affairs can start because of sexual chemistry—and Christians should never underestimate the power of this kind of chemistry. We hear stories of pastors having affairs, and we wonder how that could happen. Of course he knew better—he is a pastor! What . . . 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 →
Perkins On The Pedagogical Use Of The Law
If life and justice come not by the law, the law then is in vain. And this objection is expressed by way of interrogation, ‘Wherefore then serves the law?’ The answer is in the next words, ‘It is added for transgressions,’ that . . . 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 →
Your Picture Of Jesus Is Inherently Idolatrous
Over the years as a pastor, I have been asked why making an image of Jesus is wrong. In fact, I have been frequently criticized for my position that making images of Jesus is forbidden in the second commandment. I have come . . . Continue reading →
Boston: Believers Are Not Under The Moral Law As A Covenant Of Works But As A Rule Of Life
Objection: But does not the apostle say, Rom. 6:14. ‘Ye are not under the law but under grace?’ and Gal. 5:22, 23. ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, &c.—against such there is no law?’
How Not To Respond To Antinomianism Or Nomism
The Antinomian denies the abiding validity of God’s moral law. Continue reading
Why Do Confessional Presbyterian Churches Use Images Of Christ?
The Westminster Larger Catechism (a constitutional doctrinal standard of the PCA) in answer to question 109 says sins forbidden by the Second Commandment include “making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our . . . Continue reading →
New Resource Page: On The Threefold Division Of The Law
The early Christian theologians implicitly distinguished within the 613 Mosaic Commandments (as the rabbis numbered them) between the judicial, ceremonial, and moral law. The moral law refers to the natural law, the law issued in creation and symbolized by the commandment not . . . Continue reading →
Christmas Confusion
Dear NAPARC Pastor,
If you think that distinguishing law from gospel is “Lutheran” Continue reading
Your Neighbor Has Everything But Hope
“Day one. Day one. Four weeks. I can do it. Day one. Day one.” She wore a wool hat pulled down low over her forehead, and a giant mask, which covered everything but her eyes, and gloves. She moved to the furthest . . . Continue reading →
What Is God’s Will For You In The Ninth Commandment?
Q. 112. What is God’s will for you in the ninth commandment? A.That I never give false testimony against anyone, twist no one’s words, not gossip or slander, nor join in condemning anyone rashly or without a hearing. Rather, I should avoid, under . . . Continue reading →
Perkins On The Threefold Use Of The Law
[W]hy the Lord says, “He that doeth the things of the law shall live,” considering no man since the fall can do the things of the law? Answer. The Lord since man’s fall repeats the law in his [its] old tenor, not . . . Continue reading →