“Bound to the Past” and to a Living Confession

An HB Classic

In reaction to Rick Phillips’ critique of a response by a Federal Visionist to his (then) presbytery, one of the proponents of the Federal Vision made the following argument: … Surely, we all know there’s a difference between how we use terms . . . Continue reading →

When Is a Church Not a Church?

An HB Classic

I was searching for something the other day and ran across chapter 18 of the Scots Confession (1560) which speaks to the “Notes” (from the Latin, nota or “mark” or “indicator”) of the True Kirk (church). I’ll return to the Scots Confession . . . Continue reading →

The Moralists Will Be Back

An HB Classic

It is an historical fact that moralism (the confusion of justification with sanctification) never dies, it just goes dormant periodically. The Reformation defeated 1000 years of moralism only to see forms of it re-emerge in the Protestant churches even before Luther died. . . . Continue reading →

The Leithart Verdict Is In: The News is Not Good for Orthodoxy

Peter Leithart is a teaching elder (TE) in the Presbyterian Church in America. Until recently he was a minister, laboring outside the bounds of his presbytery, in a Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) congregation in Moscow, ID. The CREC is the . . . Continue reading →

Media Resources

Audio Interviews Abounding Grace Radio Cross Talk Conference Talks Lectures Sermons and Chapel Talks Video The Abraham Paradigm (video series) AUDIO   INTERVIEWS Guilt, Grace, Gratitude Podcast | The Covenant of Redemption | June 23, 2023 Presbygirls Podcast | “On Abuse in . . . Continue reading →

Lamenting Decline or Questioning Premises and Methods

It started with John Frame’s “Warrior Children” piece in 2003. In June, 2012 Anthony Bradley wondered about the decline of popular presbyterians. More recently Bill Evans has elaborated on the theme of the decline of conservative presbyterianism. This morning I wake to . . . Continue reading →

Once More: Reformed and Charismatic?

A Response to Pastor Koleoso and DGM

Our friends at DGM have done it again. This time it’s a lecture by Tope Koleoso that has folks discussing the question of the relations between the charismatic movement(s) and Reformed theology, piety, and practice. This topic was covered on the HB . . . Continue reading →

To Split or Stay?

When Is It Right to Leave?

Almost from the moment I came into contact with the PCA, in 1984, people were talking about whether the PCA should split. So it’s not entirely surprising that informal talk of splitting the PCA should still exist. Nevertheless, it was a little . . . Continue reading →

What Henk Navis Means to Me

Unlike Father Neuhaus, I guess few readers of this space will know who Henk Navis was, but he died today. Henk did not participate in any famous negotiations with anyone. He did not leave one communion for another. He wasn’t celebrated or . . . Continue reading →

HB Classic: Three Ways of Relating to the One Covenant of Grace

[This post was first published in 2007 on the HB and is republished in response to some recent comments here] Sometime back the question was raised: We know that there are at least two categories of people within Scripture, the elect, and . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 3a: A Gentle Rebuke to Brother John (UPDATED)

UPDATE: added to the two Heidelcast episodes audio clips from the video linked below. § These episodes grew out of the decision Desiring God Ministries to invite the de facto leader of the self-described Federal Vision movement to speak at the 2009 DGM . . . Continue reading →

The Heidelcast

Episode #1: BBQ and the KOG (2009). Episode #2: A Gentle Rebuke to Brother John (Part 1) Episode #3: A Gentle Rebuke to Brother John (Part 2) Episode #4: What is Comfort? (2009) Episode #5: What Does “World” Mean in John 3:16? . . . Continue reading →

New: Riddlebarger on 1Corinthians

Kim Riddlebarger has a new commentary on 1Corinthians forthcoming in the Lectio Continua series. He’s got the information on the RB. The Lectio Continua series is a new exegetical, Reformed commentary, on Scripture, edited by Jon Payne, pastor of Grace PCA in . . . Continue reading →

Resources on Understanding the Differences Between the Lutheran and Reformed Traditions

A friend posted something on Twitter this AM that reminded me how little the two traditions understand each other today. In the 16th and 17th centuries our traditions were involved in intense, frequent discussions and interaction and we understood each other more . . . Continue reading →

In By Grace, Stay in By Faithfulness? (2)

In the first part we quickly introduced the basic doctrine of covenant nomism, namely that God has established a system whereby sinners are admitted to the covenant by grace and they stay in or they retain that status or they retain the . . . Continue reading →

PCA Commission: There Should Be A Presumption of Guilt

The Standing Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian Church in America ruled that the Missouri Presbytery erred when it failed to find a strong presumption of guilt that [Teaching Elder] Jeffrey Meyers holds views contrary to the Westminster Standards (BCO 34-5) when it . . . Continue reading →

How Should We View the Warning Passages?

The Background to the Current Discussion There is concern by some in the Reformed community that there is too much emphasis on grace, in the doctrine of sanctification, and not enough emphasis on obedience and even godly fear. The question has arisen how . . . Continue reading →