There was a time when I would not have posted this. There was a time when I would have assumed that people can easily search the Heidelblog to find out what I’ve actually written. Now, however, I have the impression that, for . . . Continue reading →
Facts Are Stubborn Things
You Might Not Know What You Think You Know
Historians are meant to deal in facts. Yes, facts are not brute and yes, they must be interpreted but that interpretation does not render them something other than facts. If there are no facts, there is no history but only politics and . . . Continue reading →
Reality, Holiness, and the OMG Culture
Penelope Soto is doing 30 days in a county jail because she needed to learn a hard lesson. The odd thing is that many are shocked by that reality. The reaction her case says something about where we are as a culture. . . . Continue reading →
Of Hotels and 2 Kingdoms
An HB Classic
In view of the Oregon case in which a baker faces prosecution for refusing to make a wedding cake for a homosexual couple, it seemed like a good idea to re-post this. The original context was the challenge that there’s no good . . . Continue reading →
Joel’s Not So Bad After All?
Mark Driscoll on Joel Osteen
UPDATED 14:02 5 Feb 2013 So says YRR (Young, Restless, and Reformed) leader Mark Driscoll in an interview (regarding his forthcoming book) published by the TGC: Q: You observe that “appreciated people” exchange grumbling for praying, competing for celebrating, bitterness for thankfulness, . . . Continue reading →
He Was To Repeat That Covenant Of Works With Israel
The covenant of works, which may also be called a legal or natural covenant, is founded in nature, which by creation was pure and holy, and in the law of God, which in the first creation was engraven in man’s heart. For . . . Continue reading →
If Charles Finney Were Alive
He would sound a lot like this cat (HT: Rich Barcellos)
Another Servant of the Word
Trey Jasso Ordination Service
Originally posted 3 Feb 2013 15:53 UPDATE: New photos added
Just a quick notice to say that I’m looking forward to participating in ordination service for Trey Jasso at 6:00 PM this evening at New Life PCA in La Mesa. Trey is a graduate of WSC and military veteran about to enter into another sort of service. Ordination services are a bit like weddings. It’s hard for the ordinand to focus on everything but I hope that the service is edifying and serves Trey as well as my ordination service has served me over the years.
Pray for Trey as he begins his ministry of Word and sacrament.
Slouching Toward New Orleans
Word came yesterday that a presbyterian church, in a NAPARC denomination, cancelled its Sabbath day service yesterday in order to allow its members to go out and spend time with sinners on and, only incidentally, watch the Super Bowl. We might call . . . Continue reading →
Hebrews on Melchizedek, Abraham, and the New Covenant
Dennis Johnson brings his expertise in the book of Hebrews back to Office Hours this week as we work through Hebrews 6:13–7:10. What did God promise Abraham? What does it mean that the pastor to this Christian congregation turned to Abraham to help . . . Continue reading →
Legacy of the Reformation Tour
11-19 July 2013
Joel Beeke contacted me to ask me to let you know about an upcoming Reformation tour of the Netherlands and Germany. They have space for you. Here’s what the flyer says: Come with us on a journey through the heritage of the . . . Continue reading →
What To Do With the Joy That Wells Up Within?
Responding to the Gospel with God's Word
Aimee Byrd at Housewife Theologian asks a great question about what to do with ourselves after a baptism. How do you celebrate this moment? Let me ask you readers, do you clap in your church after a baptism? Our church congregation doesn’t. . . . Continue reading →
A Proof Of The Faith: Confessing Our Sins
The candor and honesty which those whom the Holy Spirit employed in committing this doctrine to writing, in speaking of and condemning their own faults, as well as those of others, may be urged as an argument in favor of the truth . . . Continue reading →
Amandus Polanus On Republication
“God repeated the same covenant (of works) with the people of Israel through Moses . . . it is called the covenant of Moses, the covenant of law, and commonly the old covenant.” [“Idem fedus [sic] repetivit Deus cum populo Israelitico per . . . Continue reading →
The Context of the Republication Debate
Why is Such An Old Doctrine So Controversial Now?
A few correspondents have contacted me to ask about the continuing controversy over the doctrine of republication. It seems as if it might be useful to try to put this discussion in some context. In its most basic form, the doctrine of . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 8: The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (1)
An HB Classic
The single most pressing question I hear is: “How can I know God’s will?” Prospective seminary students want to know whether they should attend seminary. Couples want to know whether they should get married. Ministers want to know whether to take a . . . Continue reading →
Of Catholicity and Confusion
One of the most confusing aspects of Protestant-Romanist dialogue is trying to determine “who speaks for Rome?” and trying to answer the question, “What does Rome believe?” One reason it can be difficult to answer these questions is that Rome likes it . . . Continue reading →
William Perkins On Baptismal Regeneration
Paul, Rom. 4. stands much upon this to prove that justification by faith is not conferred by the sacraments. And from the circumstance of time he gathers that Abraham was first justified and afterward received circumcision, the sign and the seal of . . . Continue reading →
Renée of France
A Study in the Difficulty of Reformation
UPDATE January 30, 2013: This volume is now available at Amazon. It is tempting sometimes to think of the Reformation as a magical event. Luther re-discovered glorious truths and all of Europe swooned. Of course that’s not what happened. There was resistance . . . Continue reading →
Understanding the Authentic Experience Economy
What the Church Can Learn From Interpreting Culture Carefully
James H. Gilmore has been on campus this week teaching the course, “Understanding Commerce, Culture, and Congregations.” Monday was commerce, Tuesday: culture, and this afternoon, congregations. Jim is co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP, a business consulting firm. It’s not what you might . . . Continue reading →