The central character of the story, even in the Old Testament, was the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and sinful humans (1 Tim. 2:5). He lay hidden in Old Testament shadows but was revealed in the New. Seeing the . . . Continue reading →
Scripture
Luther: We Have Nothing Apart From Christ
The word “Gospel” is Greek and signifies “joyous news,” because it proclaims the wholesome doctrine of life by divine promise and offers grace and forgiveness of sin. Therefore, works do not belong to the Gospel, for it is not Law; rather, only . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Christ’s Death and Ours | Isaiah 52–53
A sermon by R. Scott Clark on Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 16. Editor’s Note: This audio was originally published in 2021. RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The Heidelberg Catechism Resources . . . Continue reading →
Luther: Meditation On The Law Teaches What We Are Apart From Christ
Overconfidence follows when a man strives to fulfill the Law by works, by trying hard to do as the words of the Law command. He serves God, doesn’t swear, honors father and mother, doesn’t kill, doesn’t commit adultery, and the like. But . . . Continue reading →
Luther: The World And Its Glory Is Nothing Compared To Christ
If someone could believe with a certain and constant faith, and could understand the magnitude of it all, that he is the son and heir of God, he could regard all the power and wealth of all the kingdoms of the world . . . Continue reading →
Perkins: What Does Paul Mean By “Schoolmaster”?
Here by “schoolmaster” understand one that teaches little children or [minors] the first rudiments or elements, A, B, C. And the law is “a schoolmaster to Christ,” for two causes. One, because it points out and shadows forth unto us Christ by . . . Continue reading →
Luther: Why Weak And Beggarly Elements?
But why does Paul say that the Galatians are “turning back to the weak and beggarly elements,” that is, to the Law, when they never had the Law, since they were Gentiles (even though, as we shall say later, he writes this . . . Continue reading →
Audio: A Problem, a Plot, and a Puzzle | Mark 15:1–5
A sermon by R. Scott Clark on Mark 15:1–5. Continue reading →
Riddlebarger: Christ Is At The Center Of Old Testament Eschatology
The first thing we should note about Old Testament eschatology is that from the moment the human race fell into sin and came under God’s curse, there was an expectation that God would send his promised Redeemer. He also promised to put . . . Continue reading →
Luther On Crying Abba
In form this crying and sighing is that amid your trial you do not call God a tyrant, an angry judge, or a tormentor, but a Father—even though the sighing may be so faint that it can hardly be felt. By contrast . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Devotion on Mark 8:31–9:1
A devotion by R. Scott Clark on Mark 8:31–9:1. Editor’s Note: This audio was originally published by Westminster Seminary California in 2007. RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The Heidelberg Catechism . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger On The Difference Between Moses And Abraham
Unlike with the covenant of promise that God made with Abram, in this covenant of law, God did not swear the oath of ratification. Rather, the people of Israel did so. By swearing their obedience on oath, they would receive the promised . . . Continue reading →
Luther Vs Papal Wickedness
With this wicked doctrine, by which he commands men to doubt the favor of God toward them, the pope has removed God and all His promises from the church, has undermined the blessings of Christ, and has abolished the entire Gospel. Then . . . Continue reading →
Kline: The First Resurrection In Revelation 20:6
One of the critical points in the exegesis of Revelation 20 is the interpretation of prōtos in the phrase, “the first resurrection” (v. 5). Premillennarians understand it in the purely sequential sense of first in a series of items of the same kind. They . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Paul Defends His Ministry | 1 Thessalonians 2:1–6
A devotion by R. Scott Clark on 1 Thessalonians 2:1–6. Editor’s Note: This audio was originally published by Westminster Seminary California in 2005. RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The Heidelberg . . . Continue reading →
Luther On The Chief Point Of Scripture
Moreover, the chief point of all Scripture is that we should not doubt but hope, trust, and believe for a certainty that God is merciful, kind, and patient, that He does not lie and deceive but is faithful and true. He keeps . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger On The Analogy Of Faith
A third critical factor [for the historic Protestant hermeneutic] is the analogia fidei or the “analogy of faith.” This refers to the importance of interpreting an unclear biblical text in light of clear passages that speak to the same subject rather than . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger: The Prophets Cast Messianic Glory In Mosaic Terms
The Old Testament prophets and writers spoke of the glories of the coming messianic age in terms of their own premessianic age. They referred to the nation of Israel, the temple, the Davidic throne, and so on. These all reflect the language, . . . Continue reading →
Luther: Not Our Merit But Christ’s
But by what merit have we received this righteousness, sonship, and inheritance of eternal life? By none. For what could be merited by men confined under sin, subjected to the curse of the Law, and condemned to eternal death? Therefore we have . . . Continue reading →
Kline: The Abrahamic Covenant Is An Administration Of The Covenant Of Grace
By its identification with the gospel of Jesus Christ the Abrahamic Covenant is seen to be a promissory anticipation of the new covenant. It is a subadministration of the overarching Covenant of Grace, which as a whole is mediated by the Son . . . Continue reading →