Because it is our natural tendency to do so. It is our natural tendency to add works to grace as part of the way we are accepted by God because grace, being utterly free and unconditional to us sinners, seem so unlikely, . . . Continue reading →
law and gospel
Federal Vision Error #8: Denying An Essential Protestant Distinction
Wes White continues his analysis of the Joint Federal Vision Statement from 2007 (content no longer available). The latest post is on their denial of the Protestant distinction between law and gospel. It is a good indicator of the prevailing theological, hermeneutical, . . . Continue reading →
More on the Law-Gospel Distinction
At Jason’s new blog. Lane Keister reviewed Michael Williams’ volume on covenant theology and offers this related criticism:
Just Say NO to "Golawspel"
Brian Cochran has a helpful post on this. Thanks to Kim for the term “Golawspel.” There’s a lot of that going around these days.
Another Area Where a Two-Kingdoms/Spheres Ethic Would Help
Rome still doesn’t seem to understand how grave the problem of pedophile priests is. NPR (HT: RNS) reports on the new measures adopted by the Vatican, including revisions to canon law, to address the crisis.
Is the Gospel Preached or Lived?
Re-published from February 17, 2008. Colin raised this question a while back on Unashamed Workman. He asked for comments and, as Mike had just touched on this during the WSC “Missional and Reformed” Conference, I piped up:
Legal and Gospel Mortification
Ralph Erskine (1685-1752) was the brother of Ebeneezer Erskine and a defender of the Reformation doctrines of justification and sanctification against the neonomians and legalists of his day. Mortification is the old-fashioned way of saying, “dying to self.” In the Heidelberg Catechism . . . Continue reading →
Is "Desiring God" A New Law?
Darryl Hart writes, I have nothing personal against John Piper. I believe him to be basically sound theologically, though I wish he were a confessional Reformed Protestant. And his earnestness is truly impressive. I do not sense that he is faking what . . . Continue reading →
Ursinus on What Is the Sum and Substance of Scripture
In the prolegomena (prefatory remarks) to his published lectures on the Heidelberg Catechism, Zacharias Ursinus (1534–83), the primary author of the catechism and the one authorized by Frederick III to explain the catechism wrote: “The doctrine of the church consists of two . . . Continue reading →
Classical Covenant Theology
Edited by and some translations by R. Scott Clark On Law and Gospel On the Covenant of Redemption (pactum salutis) On the Covenant of Works (foedus operum) On the Covenant of Grace (foedus gratiae) On Justification On Union with Christ On the . . . Continue reading →
Herman Witsius on Preaching Law and Gospel
Herman Witsius (1636–1708) was a significant figure in the period of High Reformed Orthodoxy (c. 1640–1700). He attempted to build a bridge between the Cocceians and the Voetians, traditionally understood as two competing camps within Dutch Reformed orthodoxy. The debate between the . . . Continue reading →
Perkins on “The Law is Not of Faith”
Thanks to Particular Voices for posting a page from William Perkins’ commentary on Galatians 3:12. Thanks to Rich Barcellos for pointing me to it. I took the liberty of transcribing the text and updating the spelling to make it more accessible. Perkins . . . Continue reading →
Peter Martyr Vermigli on Law and Gospel
In the history of Christian theology there have been two ways of speaking about the relation between law and gospel: 1. historically and 2. theologically or hermeneutically. These two ways of relating law and gospel are complementary. The first way of relating . . . Continue reading →
Do You See How He Makes This Distinction Between Law And Gospel?
Do you see how he makes this the distinction between law and gospel: that the former attributes righteousness to works, the latter bestows free righteousness apart from the help of works? This is an important passage, and one that can extricate us . . . Continue reading →
Ursinus On The First Two Proofs Of The Christian Religion
IV. what are the evidences by which the truth of the christian religion or the doctrine of the church is confirmed? . . . 1. The purity and perfection of the Law. It is impossible that that religion should be true and . . . Continue reading →
Is the Gospel Preached or Lived?
An HB Classic
Colin raised this question a while back on Unashamed Workman. He asked for comments and, as Mike had just touched on this during the WSC Missional and Reformed Conference, I piped up: Hi Colin, This business of “living the gospel” is one . . . Continue reading →
Why the Reformation Cannot Be Avoided
Joel writes in response to the post, “Is the Gospel Preached or Lived?” to ask for a response to his post responding to criticisms of the expression “living the gospel.” The substance of the post is to observe that the NT uses . . . Continue reading →
Calvin’s Law-Gospel Hermeneutic In Hebrews 6
He calls it a tasting of the good word of God; by which he means, that the will of God is therein revealed, not in any sort of way, but in such a way as sweetly to delight us; in short, by . . . Continue reading →
Is Faith a Work?
The question comes (paraphrasing): Since Scripture says, “believe,” (e.g. Acts 16:31) it seems that we are commanded to believe. If the command to believe is an imperative and an imperative is “law,” and if the answer to the command “believe” is faith, . . . Continue reading →
Law, Gospel, And The Three Uses of the Law
By “law and gospel” I refer to the debate between those of us who hold to the historic and confessional distinction between those places in Scripture where God commands and those places where he promises. Historically, Protestants have described these two ways . . . Continue reading →