Liability, Inability, Inevitability, And, Incarnability

R. Scott Clark

on August 9, 2020

The following is a recent sermon (July 26, 2020), delivered in the Escondido United Reformed Church from Hebrews 10:1–18 and Lord’s Day 5 of the Heidelberg Catechism. The United Reformed Churches follow the ancient Christian pattern of meeting twice each Lord’s Day. . . . Continue reading →

Hodge: New Life Is The Work Of The Sovereign Holy Spirit

Inwoo Lee

on August 2, 2020 | 2 Comments

No amount of mere external evidence can produce genuine faith. The Israelites, who had seen a long succession of wonders in the land of Egypt, who had passed through the divided waters of the Red Sea, who were daily receiving by miracle . . . Continue reading →

Perkins: Justification Is The Greatest Question In The World

Inwoo Lee

on August 1, 2020

Two things are generally to be considered, the occasion of this [Galatians] epistle and the scope. The occasion that moved Paul to write this epistle was because certain false apostles slandered him both in respect of his calling as also in respect . . . Continue reading →

Perkins On The Threefold Use Of The Law

Inwoo Lee

on July 21, 2020

[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 →

Perkins: The Law Promises Salvation On The Basis And Through Obedience. The Gospel Promises Salvation On The Basis Of Christ’s Obedience And Through Faith Alone

R. Scott Clark

on July 21, 2020 | 3 Comments

Synod Of Dort: Salvation Is Through Faith Alone

R. Scott Clark

on June 26, 2020

For this was the sovereign counsel and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of His Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the . . . Continue reading →

New Resource Page: Office Hours Season 7: The Holy Spirit

R. Scott Clark

on June 25, 2020

The Reformed churches, confessions, and theologians have a high doctrine of the Holy Spirit. From the earliest days of the Reformation the Reformed devoted much time and energy to the person and work of the Spirit but they did so in a . . . Continue reading →

Perkins: Civil Righteousness Will Not Do

Inwoo Lee

on June 23, 2020

[S]uch persons as live an honest and civil life, and stand upon this, that they are no thieves, no murderers, no adulterers, no blasphemers, but in outward duties show love to God and man, they must I say, take heed lest they . . . Continue reading →

Perkins: Christ Did Not Obey And Die To Make Our Works Meritorious

Inwoo Lee

on June 14, 2020 | 1 Comment

Objection 2. Christ by His death, merited that our works should merit life everlasting. Answer. That is false. All we find in Scripture is that Christ, by His merit procured pardon of sin, imputation of righteousness, and life everlasting. And it is . . . Continue reading →

What Is Conversion?

R. Scott Clark

on June 10, 2020 | 6 Comments

DEFINITION Conversion begins with the gracious gift of new life and gives rise to a genuine faith and repentance that continue throughout the Christian life. SUMMARY This essay surveys the history of the doctrine of conversion from the early church to the . . . Continue reading →

Christian Corrects Ignorance Concerning The Role Of Good Works In Salvation

R. Scott Clark

on May 23, 2020 | 2 Comments

Olevianus: Salvation Is Through Faith Alone Because Christ Is A Complete Savior

R. Scott Clark

on May 21, 2020 | 5 Comments

157 Q. Now that we have discussed the various articles and parts of articles of the confession of our Christian faith, I would like to hear from you whether we shall be fully saved through such true faith in Christ? A. There . . . Continue reading →

Behold, I Make All Things New

R. Scott Clark

on May 20, 2020

Piper’s Rejection Of The Gratitude Ethic Is A Rejection Of The Reformation

R. Scott Clark

on May 19, 2020 | 13 Comments

The magisterial Protestant Churches, i.e., the Lutherans and the Reformed, agreed that salvation (justification, sanctification, and glorification) is by divine favor alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola fide), in Christ alone. These convictions were essential to the Reformation but those convictions . . . Continue reading →

William Perkins On The Imputation Of Christ’s Active Obedience

Inwoo Lee

on May 18, 2020

“[A]n untruth, namely, that we are justified only by the passion of Christ. But if this were so, we should be justified without fulfilling the law. For (as I have said) we owe to God a double debt: one by creation, namely, . . . Continue reading →

The Reformed Brotherhood: Overcoming Confirmation Bias On Piper And Final Salvation Through Works

R. Scott Clark

on May 15, 2020 | 7 Comments

Does John Piper teach a two-stage doctrine of salvation wherein the initial stage is said to be justification by grace alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola fide), on the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ but in which final salvation . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 152: Calls On Church History, Theocracy, Biblical Languages, Final Salvation Through Works, Jesus’ Faith, And Civil Disobedience

Heidelcast

on May 14, 2020 | 3 Comments

It is time for the monthly Heidelcast call-in show and, as always, we have thoughtful and interesting questions on how to learn church history (and what to read), whether I agree with the 1646 edition of the Westminster Confession of Faith or . . . Continue reading →

Perkins: There Is Only One Justification And That By Faith Alone

Inwoo Lee

on May 13, 2020

I answer, not only in the beginning of our conversion, but also in the continuance and final accomplishment thereof. For here Paul desires in the day of judgment to stand before God only by the justice of faith without his own justice . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 149: Q & A On How Pray, When To Drop The H Bomb, What Did OT Believers Know, And Why Final Justification Through Good Works Is Bad News

Heidelcast

on April 24, 2020 | 40 Comments

Now sanitized for your listening safety, the Heidelcast is back with episode 149 in which we take questions from Lancaster, PA, Houston, TX, Cork, Ireland, and Belfast, UK. The Heidelcast is a global podcast. As always we had some good and challenging . . . Continue reading →

Did Ursinus Teach Final Salvation Through Works?

R. Scott Clark

on April 21, 2020

Zacharias Ursinus (1534–83) was the principal author of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563). He was responsible for perhaps as much as 70% of the catechism, though the two source documents that he created, from which much of the catechism was formed, drew from many sources (including Luther), so the source criticism of the catechism is challenging. For more on the background of the catechism see Lyle Bierma et al ed., An Introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism: Sources, History, and Theology (2005) and J. I. Good, Good, The Heidelberg Catechism in Its Newest Light ( Philadelphia, PA: Publication and Sunday School Board of the Reformed Church in the United States, 1914). Continue reading →