Heidelcast 101: Presbytopia

Heidelcast

on April 5, 2016 | 2 Comments

What’s the big deal about being Presbyterian or Reformed? After all, isn’t it enough to love Jesus? Honestly, no. Of course you should love Jesus but then what? If someone else personally paid for all your legal offenses out of his own . . . Continue reading →

Calvin: Jesus Preached The Law To Teach Us Our Need For A Savior

R. Scott Clark

on April 5, 2016 | 5 Comments

Now it is certain that in the Law there is prescribed to men a rule by which they ought to regulate their life, so as to obtain salvation in the sight of God. That the Law can do nothing else than condemn, . . . Continue reading →

Office Hours: The Holy Spirit In Paul’s Epistles

R. Scott Clark

on April 4, 2016

When Reformed and Presbyterian Christians think of Paul we might think first of Paul as the New Testament theologian of grace, of salvation, of unconditional election but he might just easily be called the theologian of the Holy Spirit. Where we might . . . Continue reading →

Dort 5.1–3: Reformed Realism On Sanctification

R. Scott Clark

on April 4, 2016 | 1 Comment

One of the lesser known aspects of the battle with the Remonstrants (Arminians), was that they, the Remonstrants, were not satisfied with the Reformed doctrine of sanctification. That continues to be a problem today. In the 18th and 19th centuries powerful voices within what we today call “evangelicalism” were also dissatisfied with the older doctrine. They wanted more. Some of them, deeply influenced by the Remonstrants, articulated a doctrine of Christian perfection, a doctrine that believers can, if they will, attain “entire perfection” (sinless sanctification) in this life. In our day, even among some who think of themselves as Reformed (principally because they identify with the Reformed doctrines of election and the atonement) teach a version of perfectionism. Since no one in this life ever actually achieves sinless perfection, such an approach to the Christian life is bound to create a crisis of assurance. Continue reading →

Strangers And Aliens (16b): Defending The Faith (1 Peter 3:13–17)

R. Scott Clark

on April 3, 2016

Thus, “and in your hearts sanctify Christ the Lord prepared always unto a defense to everyone seeking a word (or reason) for the hope in you….” The scenario that Peter has in mind was not theoretical. About the very same time he was dictating these words (to his secretary) for the churches in Asia Minor (W. Turkey) Christians in Rome were undergoing a violent, horrible persecution at the hands of a madman, Caesar Nero. Peter and the other Christians knew that before the soldiers laid hands upon a Christian and hauled him before the authorities, one must have resolved some truly basic questions. Who am I? What is my only comfort in life and in death? Am I prepared to suffer and, if necessary, to die for Christ, who gave himself for me? Continue reading →

Charles Hodge: The Covenant With Adam Before The Fall Was A Covenant Of Works

R. Scott Clark

on April 2, 2016 | 1 Comment

This statement does not rest upon any express declaration of the Scriptures. It is, however, a concise and correct mode of asserting a plain Scriptural fact, namely, that God made to Adam a promise suspended upon a condition, and attached to disobedience . . . Continue reading →

Ten Steps To A Constructive Conversation

R. Scott Clark

on March 31, 2016 | 5 Comments

Recently I published a post on infant baptism (is it a Roman Catholic leftover) answering a question fielded many times at the HB. I answered in the negative and gave reasons why. Several days later a series of comments were written in . . . Continue reading →

Calvin On Acts 2:39: Against The [Ana] Baptists

R. Scott Clark

on March 31, 2016 | 3 Comments

And we must note these three degrees, that the promise was first made to the Jews, and then to their children, and last of all, that it is also to be imparted to the Gentiles. We know the reason why the Jews . . . Continue reading →

Bavinck: Antithesis And Common Grace

R. Scott Clark

on March 30, 2016

In the Middle Ages Thomas not only asserted that as rational beings human beings can—without supernatural grace—know natural truths but also testifies that it is impossible for there to be “some knowledge which is totally false without any admixture of some truth” . . . Continue reading →

Pictet: The Covenant Of Nature Was A Covenant Of Works

R. Scott Clark

on March 30, 2016

With regard to the covenant itself, we must observe, what was the duty required by God; what was the promise made to the performance of that duty; what was the threat denounced against the neglect of it. Now the duty consisted in . . . Continue reading →

Presbytopia: What It Means To Be Presbyterian

R. Scott Clark

on March 29, 2016 | 7 Comments

A confessional Presbyterian congregation is a place, it’s like a city. Ken Golden calls it Presbytopia. If it is a city, it’s unlike that town from which many visitors come. Guests and new members need a map to their new home. Golden . . . Continue reading →

The Islamist Agenda For America

R. Scott Clark

on March 28, 2016 | 1 Comment

The process of settlement is a “Civilization-Jihadist Proecess” with all the word means. The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and “sabotaging” its miserable house . . . Continue reading →

Strangers And Aliens (16a): Defending The Faith (1 Peter 3:13–17)

R. Scott Clark

on March 28, 2016

13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts honor Christ . . . Continue reading →

The Stone Had Been Rolled Back

R. Scott Clark

on March 27, 2016 | 1 Comment

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to . . . Continue reading →

Stabat Populus

R. Scott Clark

on March 25, 2016

And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One (Luke 23:35; NASB) On Good Friday when we see . . . Continue reading →

Strangers And Aliens (15c): Turning The Other Cheek (1 Peter 3:8–12)

R. Scott Clark

on March 25, 2016 | 1 Comment

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that . . . Continue reading →

Calvin On Acts 20:28

R. Scott Clark

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

R. Scott Clark

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 →

A. A. Hodge: Adam Was Clearly In A Covenant Of Works

R. Scott Clark

on March 24, 2016

As to his legal relations, the Scriptures clearly teach that, at his creation, he was put under the equitable Covenant of Works for a certain probationary period. This just constitution provided (a) everlasting well-being on condition of perfect obedience, and (b) everlasting . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 100: Recovering The Covenant Of Works (1)

Heidelcast

on March 23, 2016

In contemporary Reformed Christianity, even in confessional churches, i.e., those churches where they not only formally hold the historic confessions but where they still profess to believe and seek to practice what we confess, two of the most disposable doctrines seem to . . . Continue reading →