Os Cânones De Dort (2): A Crise Intensifica

by R. Scott Clark on June 5, 2019

Como os seguidores de Armínio foram (principalmente) eclesiasticamente separados das igrejas reformadas durante séculos, é fácil perder de vista o fato de que a crise arminiana ocorreu originalmente dentro das portas da igreja reformada. Apesar das graves reservas sobre sua teologia e ensino expressas por Plancius e outros ministros em seu Classis (presbitério), e por seus colegas Gomarus e Trelcatius Jr., Armínio foi e permaneceu como ministro em boa posição na igreja reformada (Hervormde Kerk) na Holanda. Continue reading →

On The Canons Of Dort (31): Doubts, Carelessness, and Godliness

by R. Scott Clark on June 4, 2019

The Remonstrants (Arminians) charged the orthodox Reformed, i.e., those who confessed the Belgic Confession (1561) and the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) sincerely (without crossed fingers) with being unconcerned about sanctification. The Remonstrants were convinced that the Reformed faith did not produce sufficient godliness. . . . Continue reading →

OS CÂNONES DE DORT (1): INTRODUÇíO E CONTEXTO

by R. Scott Clark on June 3, 2019

Poucos dos nossos documentos confessionais reformados são tão valiosos, porém ainda tão negligenciados quanto os Cânones de Dort. Hoje, a maioria das pessoas que os conhece pensa neles como os chamados “Cinco Pontos do Calvinismo” ou TULIP: Depravação Total, Eleição Incondicional, Expiação Limitada, Graça Irresistível e Perseverança dos Santos. Continue reading →

Office Hours: Jon Payne On The Gospel Reformation Network

by R. Scott Clark on June 3, 2019

The Protestant Reformation was a recovery of the biblical doctrine of salvation by God’s favor (grace) alone (sola gratia), through faith (trusting, resting, and receiving) alone (sola fide), in Christ alone and the Christian life governed by Scripture alone (sola Scriptura) as . . . Continue reading →

Romans Series (25): The Power Of God For Salvation (Rom 6:9–23)

by R. Scott Clark on May 31, 2019

Video: The Abraham Paradigm

by R. Scott Clark on May 26, 2019

Friday and Saturday of this past week I had the privilege of speaking to congregation of Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) and to their guests in Ft Worth, TX on “The Abraham Paradigm.” They were very gracious and patient with me. It is . . . Continue reading →

Has God Really Said? Discussing Female Pastors With Janet Mefferd

by R. Scott Clark on May 25, 2019

Americans are We live in a revolutionary age. We are in the midst of a third modern sexual revolution. In April I sketched this history briefly in another article. One aspect of that revolution is what is known as “Third Wave” Feminism. . . . Continue reading →

Romans Series (24): The Power Of God For Salvation (Rom 6:1–6:9)

by R. Scott Clark on May 24, 2019

Romans is one of the greatest resources available to the Christian faith and life. Written in the mid-to late AD 50s to the congregation in Rome, Paul sent this pastoral letter to make clear the gospel, that salvation is from the Lord, that it is and has always been by his free favor alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola fide), in Christ alone. Continue reading →

Does Romans 8:9–11 Require Believer’s Baptism?

by R. Scott Clark on May 21, 2019

A reader writes with a question about biblical interpretation and baptism: I was going through Colossians 2 when I read the footnote from the Reformation Study Bible… which sent me to page 41 for a more in-depth explanation. Infant baptism seems to make . . . Continue reading →

Too Close For Comfort

by R. Scott Clark on May 18, 2019

(HT: Presbycast)

With Presbycast: What Is The Gospel?

by R. Scott Clark on May 15, 2019

It is always fun and edifying to talk with the Presbycast Guys, whom some have called the voice of confessionalist dissent in America. Last night we were discussing the question: What is the gospel? The answer to this question might seem obvious . . . Continue reading →

The Late-Modern Oppression Olympics In Biblical Perspective

by R. Scott Clark on May 13, 2019

If you are, as I am, bewildered at the sight of biological males competing in female athletic events (e.g., track, wrestling, and weight lifting) or by the sight of wealthy, privileged Yale undergrads screaming at faculty members (for writing a memo asking for toleration for diversity in Halloween costumes), or by the prospect of a leading scholar and physician of gender dysphoria being banned from social media platforms for daring to suggest that minors should be required to wait until age 21 before undergoing permanent sex-reassignment surgery), or by rhetoric that implies that the social and economic conditions of ethnic minorities in the USA is virtually unchanged since the 1860s, there are two words that provide at least a partial explanation: subjectivism and oppression. Continue reading →

Canons Of Dort (30): God’s Gracious Assurance Of Perseverance

by R. Scott Clark on May 11, 2019

The single most frequent way to corrupt the doctrine of perseverance has been to turn it into a covenant of works. This happens regularly outside the Reformed churches. E.g., the Romanists teach that, in baptism, sins are graciously washed away, initial justification . . . Continue reading →

Romans Series (23): The Power Of God For Salvation (Rom 5:20–6:9)

by R. Scott Clark on May 10, 2019

Canons Of Dort (29): The Reality Of Sin And Grace In The Christian Life

by R. Scott Clark on May 7, 2019

One of the great and persisting differences between the Reformed and Remonstrant (Arminian) confessions is the difference between the Reformed realism about the Christian life as distinct from the latent Remonstrant perfectionism, i.e., the Pelagianizing doctrine of entire, sinless perfection short of . . . Continue reading →

Office Hours On The Canons Of Dort With Herman Selderhuis

by R. Scott Clark on May 6, 2019

2018–19 is the 400th anniversary of the Synod of Dort. We have been observing this anniversary this year, which is the 10th season of Office Hours. Many people know about the so-called Five Points of Calvinism but fewer people know that those . . . Continue reading →

Augustine: The Rule Of Faith Is The Apostles’ Creed

by R. Scott Clark on May 4, 2019

1. Receive, my children, the Rule of Faith, which is called the Symbol (or Creed). And when ye have received it, write it in your heart, and be daily saying it to yourselves; before ye sleep, before ye go forth, arm you . . . Continue reading →

Canons Of Dort (28): Our Sovereign God Administers His Gospel Freely And Humans Are Responsible For Free Choices

by R. Scott Clark on May 2, 2019

As the confessional Protestant churches understood the Scriptures, the only universal revelation to all persons in all times is the natural revelation of God and of his moral law. This natural law was insufficient to save anyone but it was sufficient to . . . Continue reading →

Canons Of Dort (27): The Reformed Distinguish Law And Gospel

by R. Scott Clark on April 29, 2019

When we think of the Synod of Dort and their rulings (canons) against the Remonstrants (Arminians) we tend to think about the doctrine of sin or the doctrines of unconditional grace, election, and the like but there were structural, subterranean issues at . . . Continue reading →

The Reformation Of Vocation

by R. Scott Clark on April 27, 2019

In the period between the early post-apostolic church (e.g., the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD) and the Reformation (beginning in the early 16th century AD) the church came to develop some unbiblical and therefore unhelpful and unhealthy ways of relating creation and . . . Continue reading →