Obj. 4. Christ is not the lawgiver. Therefore his ministers should not teach and enforce the law. Ans. Christ is not the lawgiver, as it respects the principal office of the mediator; but he was and is lawgiver: 1. In as far . . . Continue reading →
Second Council Of Orange On Prayer And Seeking God
CANON 3. If anyone says that the grace of God can be conferred as a result of human prayer, but that it is not grace itself which makes us pray to God, he contradicts the prophet Isaiah, or the Apostle who says . . . Continue reading →
Synod Of Dort On Missions
Dort was a missionary assembly, discussing how to evangelize unreached people groups. Continue reading →
A Primer on the Incarnation (Part One)
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’ (Mark 1:14, 15) If the ministry of our . . . Continue reading →
Acts 2:39: What Is The Promise And To Whom Is It Made?
For the promise is to you and to your children and to all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God shall call. 1 This passage is an important text in the Reformed understanding of the continuity of . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Belgic Confession Art. 24—Progressive Sanctification Follows From Justification
The Belgic Confession was written by a Reformed pastor, Guy de Bres (1522–1567), who adopted the Reformed faith as a young man and studied with several Reformed luminaries, including John Calvin, before serving as a pastor, church planter, and chaplain France and . . . Continue reading →
Engaging Confessional Baptists on Covenant Theology (Part 2): Unity of Salvation in the Old and New Testaments
This two-part series engages recent confessional Baptist publications on the nature of covenant theology in order to help Reformed readers understand the Baptistic view better and to have some starting points for responding to it. Part one looked at new developments in . . . Continue reading →
Godfrey Recaps His Christendom Series
Dr. W Robert Godfrey recaps his Sunday school series on “Christendom & the Struggles with Sex, Race, Politics, & Power” with Pastor Chris Gordon on Abounding Grace Radio, addressing the disorientation Americans feel about the state of society and culture and the . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Belgic Confession Art. 23—Sinners Are Justified By Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone
The Belgic Confession was written by a Reformed pastor, Guy de Bres (1522–1567), who adopted the Reformed faith as a young man and studied with several Reformed luminaries, including John Calvin, before serving as a pastor, church planter, and chaplain France and . . . Continue reading →
Ursinus Against The Antinomians, Libertines, And Similar Fanatics Who Deny That The Decalogue Is For Teaching in the Christian Church (Objection 3)
Obj. 3. We ought not to desire that which God does not desire to give us in this life, and which we cannot obtain. But God does not desire to give us perfect obedience to the law in this life. Therefore it . . . Continue reading →
The Commander Of Yahweh’s Army: The Son And The Covenant Of Grace Present In The Types And Shadows
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the LORD‘S army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so (Joshua 5:13–15; ESV). Continue reading →
Heidelcast For September 18, 2022: Every Tribe, Tongue, And Nation (17): Third/Fourth Heads Of Doctrine (3)
In this episode Dr Clark continues his series on the Canons of Dort where we are looking at the Third and Fourth Heads of Doctrine of the Canons of Dort on the application of redemption to the elect by the Holy Spirit. . . . Continue reading →
Hodge On Nourishing New Life In Christ
It is natural that those who have experienced the agitations which frequently attend upon conversion, and have felt the peace which flows from a hope of acceptance with God, to imagine that the conflict is over, the victory won, and the work . . . Continue reading →
Peace And Purity Provided By Authority: John Thomson’s Defense Of Presbyterian Church Polity (Part 9): The Peace Of The Church In Submission
The Apology, in addition to questioning the extent and nature of the authority exercised by church judicatories, also questioned the authority of Synod over presbyteries. The disagreement that precipitated their objection was whether Synod had the jurisdiction to regulate the examination of . . . Continue reading →
The Canons Of Dork #3 For September 17, 2022
NOTE At the risk of spoiling things, a bit of explanation. Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was an English classicist, scientist, and political philosopher. He was a contemporary of many of the early Reformed orthodox writers and he capitalized on and corrupted the Reformed . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Belgic Confession Art. 22—The Reformed Church Confess Justification Through Faith Alone
The Belgic Confession was written by a Reformed pastor, Guy de Bres (1522–1567), who adopted the Reformed faith as a young man and studied with several Reformed luminaries, including John Calvin, before serving as a pastor, church planter, and chaplain France and . . . Continue reading →
Berkhof: Objections To Postmillennialism
Objections to Postmillennialism. There are some very serious objections to the Postmillennial theory. a. The fundamental idea of the doctrine, that the whole world will gradually be won for Christ, that the life of all nations will in course of time be . . . Continue reading →
1689 Vs. The Westminster Confession (9): Of Free Will
Our comparison and contrast of the WCF with the 2LC continues through chapter 9, “Of Free Will.” A word of explanation about this language is in order. In 2022, when we hear or read the phrase “free will,” we might be tempted to . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Belgic Confession Art. 21—The Reformed Churches Confess That Christ Is Our ONLY Satisfaction
The Belgic Confession was written by a Reformed pastor, Guy de Bres (1522–1567), who adopted the Reformed faith as a young man and studied with several Reformed luminaries, including John Calvin, before serving as a pastor, church planter, and chaplain France and . . . Continue reading →
Incorrect Item Delivered: A Review of Paul’s “Works of the Law” in the Perspective of Second-Century Reception by Matthew J. Thomas
When I was a student at Westminster Seminary California, I once ordered a used volume of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers series online. When the package arrived, I was surprised to discover that in its place I had been shipped a commentary . . . Continue reading →