Christology

Calvin On Acts 20:28

by on March 24, 2016 | 2 Comments

…to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. But because the speech which Paul uses seems to be somewhat hard, we must see in what sense he says that God purchased the Church with his blood. For . . . Continue reading →

The Reformed Churches: We Distinguish But Do Not Separate The Two Natures Of Christ

by on March 24, 2016 | 5 Comments

Question 17. Why must he in one person be also very God? That he might, by the power of his Godhead, sustain, in his human nature, the burden of God’s wrath; and might obtain for and restore to us, righteousness and life. . . . Continue reading →

Strangers And Aliens (12c): Servants Imitating The Suffering Savior (1 Peter 2:18–25)

by on December 24, 2015 | 1 Comment

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 57: The Comfort Of Resurrection And Glorification

by on February 5, 2015

The European Enlightenment(s) posed as world-expanding, mind-expanding movements. They promised to free us from the shackles of a benighted, narrow view of the world. Ironically, however, the Enlightenments did just the opposite. Whether through rationalism (what the human intellect cannot comprehend cannot . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 51: The Glory Of A King Distant And Near

by on December 26, 2014 | 1 Comment

Difficult as it may be for those who live within “the Beltway” (as if there is only one city in the world with a beltway) to imagine, many Americans have never visited the American capitol. For many Americans the capitol is distant . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 50: Christ Reigns Now (2)

by on December 21, 2014

Last time we looked briefly at some of the reasons some evangelicals (Dispensationalists) have had difficulty with the biblical and historic Christian doctrine that Jesus is presently reigning over all things and particularly his church. That view is in contrast to the . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 50: Christ Reigns Now (1)

by on December 16, 2014 | 3 Comments

It is basic to historic Christian teaching and confession that Jesus is reigning and ruling now. In the sixth article of the Apostles’ Creed all Christians confess, “He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” . . . Continue reading →

Glory Unveiled

by on December 16, 2014

XIX. The glory of his Person may be considered, partly in reference to the divine nature; partly, to the human. The former is nothing else than a most illustrious assertion, vindication, and display of the Divine majesty of Christ, reflected from the . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 49: The Benefits of Christ Ascension (2)

by on December 13, 2014

Last time we considered the benefit of having a representative before a distant court. Now we want to consider the second benefit of Christ’s ascension: In Heidelberg Catechism 49 we confess: 49. What benefit do we receive from Christ’s ascension into heaven? First, . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 49: The Benefits Of Christ’s Ascension (1)

by on December 12, 2014

Our sense of distance in the late-modern, ultra-high-tech world has changed dramatically. It was not that long ago that a long-distance telephone call was a major event. The pastor with whom I served, Norman Hoeflinger, served a congregation in a town where . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 48: Two Natures Inconfusedly, Indivisibly, United In One Person

by on December 11, 2014

Early in post-apostolic Christian history confused believers and heretics alike sought either to conflate the two natures of Christ, with the result that Christ was made, as it were, to have only one nature (the monophysite heresy) or to separate the two . . . Continue reading →

Creeds Are Unavoidable

by on December 9, 2014 | 2 Comments

Christianity is a creedal religion. You cannot separate Christianity from its ancient creeds. In fact, every true Christian adheres to the ancient creeds of the church, whether he knows it or not. We all have creeds. Whether formal or informal—whether written or . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 46: A Painful, Profitable, Necessary Separation

by on December 5, 2014 | 1 Comment

It is never easy to be separated a family member, dear friend, a mentor, or even a coach. Whether through death or relocation or for some other reason when we suffer such a loss the grief is genuine. Today, because of social media, that . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 45: Three Benefits Of Christ’s Resurrection (4)

by on December 4, 2014

Be4 I sign off learned a new word in church today: Eschatology. Anyone? — Katie Couric (@katiecouric) December 1, 2014 Couric, a television host took a lot of heat for admitting that she did not know what “eschatology” means. That’s unfortunate because . . . Continue reading →