Why Do Some Reformed People Corrupt the Gospel of Grace?

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 →

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 →

Why Evangelicals Cannot Be Trusted with the Bible

Carolyn Arends wants to give an argument for the benefits of God’s moral law but she lacks the categories by which to do it. Her argument has only two categories good/bad and relationships. The title and subtitle of her essay should alarm . . . Continue reading →

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 →

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 →