R. Scott Clark, “Baptism and the Benefits of Christ” —— ed. Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry ——Baptism, Election, and the Covenant of Grace. ——Caspar Olevian and the Substance of the Covenant. Michael Horton, Introducing Covenant Theology ——Covenant and Eschatology. ——Lord and Servant . . . Continue reading →
Search results for “federal vision”
Theses on Covenant Theology
1. Prolegomena Covenant theology structures all of Biblical revelation. The form of the covenants revealed in Scripture was borrowed from and is accommodated to the ancient near eastern world and must be understood in that context. Covenant is the most coherent explanation . . . Continue reading →
What Happens When You Don’t Have a Category for Wisdom or Nature
Introduction: Losing Our Religion When Andy Kaufman wrestled women in the late 70s and early 80s it was a gag, it was outrageous because, until he did it, it was unthinkable. Why? Because there is such a thing as nature (i.e.., the . . . Continue reading →
Maybe They Really Don’t Get It
Over the years of battling the moralists (Federal Visionists, Norman Shepherd et al) I’ve not always been certain whether the moralists understand the orthodox doctrine of justification and reject it or if they think they are really teaching it. Here’s a post . . . Continue reading →
Leithart: Apostasy Happens
Dr Peter Leithart is a minister, a teaching elder in the PCA, who labors “out of bounds” (with permission of his presbytery) in a CREC congregation in the Moscow, ID area. He’s an explicit advocate of the Federal Vision doctrines and has . . . Continue reading →
Resources on the Law/Gospel Distinction
The distinction between law and gospel is one of the most fundamental aspects of the Protestant Reformation. It was essential to the Reformation and it was a basic part of both early Reformed theology and Reformed orthodoxy. For a variety of reasons . . . Continue reading →
FV News
Wes White has an update on the Missouri Presbytery investigation of Jeffrey Meyers. One of the leading Federal Visionists thinks it’s a good thing.
Mounce Is Not Nice
For several years I’ve been concerned about a particular confusion of Christ and culture, i.e., that confusion common among American evangelicals, that passes for piety but that has little to do with actual, biblical piety as Scripture is understood and confessed by . . . Continue reading →
The Social Crisis is Too Great to Be Arguing About… (Updated)
The various social crises facing the West are great but the Roman empire was already in crisis when God the Holy Spirit empowered Christ’s apostles to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Rome fell. The gospel and Christ’s church continued. Another empire, Christendom, replaced the old Roman Empire but it fell too. The kingdom of God, as manifested chiefly in this world in the visible, institutional church, continued. Social crises are important but they aren’t more important than the gospel. Seeing that is a key difference between actually being Reformed and being just another social conservative with a passing interest in the Reformation (as it suits whatever social agenda is in view). Continue reading →
When the Salesman Gets His Foot in the Door
It’s probably a dated image but I remember door-to-door salesmen. Today salesmen are more likely to come round via phone, email, or pop-up ads. I guess they still come round but things have changed enough that it’s just a little unnerving to . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: But Through Faith Alone-Guy Waters on the NPP and the FV
The latest episode of Office Hours is up and it is a discussion with Prof. Guy Waters about the nature of the New Perspectives on Paul and the nature of the self-described “Federal Vision,” movement. We talk about what Paul really said . . . Continue reading →
The URCNA Justification Report Stands
More good news from the floor of the synod of the URCNA. Despite the pre-synod opposition from a few sources (e.g., Nampa, ID) the justification report was not only strengthened by synod but it also passed without audible dissent. Apparently the body . . . Continue reading →
Jeremy is Strangely Attracted to "Recovering" (Updated)
He finds the tone abrasive and high-handed at times, he accuses me of making arguments I don’t recall making (e.g., excluding congregationalists from the definition of Reformed. I’ve been accused of doing that but so far as I recall I didn’t discuss . . . Continue reading →
The Nine Points Stand!
Thanks to our reporter at synod in London, Ontario we learn that the Nine Points of Pastoral Advice, adopted by Synod 2007, will remain in force. The appeal brought by the consistory of Hills URCNA (on procedural grounds) was rejected. Synod 2007 . . . Continue reading →
By the Power of His Deity
Heidelberg Catechism Q. 17: 17. Why must he also be true God? That by the power of His Godhead He might bear in His manhood the burden of God’s wrath,1 and so obtain for 2 and restore to us righteousness and life.3 . . . Continue reading →
It's Not Misunderstanding, It's Disagreement
It is a common refrain of Federal Visionists that the orthodox, confessional Reformed ministers and churches who’ve read the FV books, articles, web pages, and blogs, just don’t understand the FV. Once more Wes White shows that just isn’t the case.
Keister: Doug Wilson Denies Sola Fide
A good lot of so-called “conservative” (what are they conserving?) Reformed types have told me, “Yes, Wilson has some weird views but he’s different from the other Federal Visionists.” Really? Rhetorically perhaps, but substantially? Lane Keister, who has been sitting in with . . . Continue reading →
It Takes One to Know One
Wes White is a penitent ex-federal visionary. He’s engaged in a serious struggle in his PCA presbytery with Federal Visionists and they’ve pulled out all the stops to try to shut him up by complaining in the courts of the church against . . . Continue reading →
PCA SJC Overturns PNW Presbytery: Indict Leithart
Jason Stellman wrote late last night that the Standing Judicial Commission of the PCA has upheld the minority in the Pacific NW Presbytery and has ruled that the Pacific NW Presbytery erred in not finding a “strong presumption of guilt” that the . . . Continue reading →
A Ruling Elder Pleads on Behalf of the Flock
One of the many excellent points that Lane Keister made in our recent Heidelcast interview is that at the heart of the FV controversy is the well-being and safety of the sheep. Hitherto it has too often seemed as if the under-shepherds . . . Continue reading →