The reformers did not hold back in their assault on the physical and sensory elements of traditional worship: all sacred objects such as crucifixes, statues of saints, and holy relics were removed from the temples.1 Most were systematically destroyed; a few were . . . Continue reading →
reformation
Scott Manetsch On Calvin In His Context And Ours
Scott Manetsch is on campus this week through the kind offices of the Westminster Seminary California student association. He gave a convocation lecture this morning on Reforming ministry in Geneva and will conclude tomorrow. He also sat for an Office Hours interview . . . Continue reading →
Progress Or Regress?
So, since our 1973 founding, the PCA has “progressed” from “committed without reservation” to our Standards, to a “good faith subscription” approach that has opened the PCA’s door to paedocommunion, intinction, female pseudo-officers, Federal Vision, theistic evolution (e.g., Biologos), et al, all . . . Continue reading →
Reformation Worship Conference: Psalms For Preaching & Living
Pastor David Hall and the folks at Midway PCA are hosting their annual Reformation Worship Conference October 23–26, 2014. This year’s conference will present addresses by W. Robert Godfrey, T. David Gordon, Terry Johnson, Steven Lawson, Jon Payne, Richard Phillips, and Mark Ross. As the . . . Continue reading →
1920s Arguments Over Absolution In The CRC
The criticism of Classis Illinois was levelled especially against that part of our proposed Order of Worship which we called “The Service of Reconciliation,” more particularly against the elements of Confession of Sin and Absolution which we sought to combine organically with . . . Continue reading →
Turretin: Justification Is The Saving Doctrine And Ground Of Secession From Rome
As in the chain of salvation justification follows calling (Romans 8:30) and is everywhere set forth as the primary effect of faith, the topic concerning calling and faith begets the topic concerning justification. This must be handled with the greater care and . . . Continue reading →
What’s Wrong With Reformation Day? (UPDATED)
Each year on this date confessing Protestants remember Martin Luther’s protest against the abuse of indulgences. He followed the academic custom of the day by compiling a list of theses, short statements or claims. Sometimes one would follow from the other but . . . Continue reading →
Rick Warren And Catholics Together
Darryl Hart has a thought-provoking post today on Rick Warren’s recent comments about what Rome and Protestants have in common. Warren’s comments are a sterling reminder of the importance of knowing our church history. Yes, Christians of all the major traditions receive . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 60: Only By True Faith (4)
“Yet God without any merit of mine, of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never committed nor had any sin, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me…” Continue reading →
W. Stanford Reid: Shepherd Teaches Justification Through Faith And Works
While he speaks in a number of places of faith alone (unhyphenated) as the instrument by which we appropriate justification, he also insists that works must go with it, so closely related that justifying faith and works are almost identical…. This apparently . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 95: Reformation Happens
As you read this the churches, the theology, piety, and practice represented by confessionally Reformed and Presbyterian Churches is almost statistically invisible. Of the 60 million evangelicals in North America only a tiny fraction actually identify with the confessional Reformed and Presbyterian churches . . . Continue reading →
Audio: With Rick Wiles On Reformation And The Creeds
I talked with Rick Wiles on Monday. The show is Trunews and it is heard on radio stations all over America, across the globe, and on the web at TruNews.com. We discussed the problem of the fracture of the church, how to . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 96: Reformation Then And Now
Confessional Reformed theology, piety, and practice does not seem to be sweeping the field in North America but it is prospering in other parts of the globe. In this episode Dan Borvan joins us to get us up to speed about the . . . Continue reading →
On This Date: Tyndale Martyred For The Gospel
William Tyndale (c.1494–1536) was one of the most important figures in the English Reformation. He not only helped to transmit to the English-speaking world Luther’s rediscovery of the gospel of free acceptance with God for the sake of the imputed righteousness of . . . Continue reading →
Fall Conference Season 2015: Identity, Eschatology, And Authority
It is the fall conference season. Here are three gatherings about which you might want to to know. One confronts the problem of identity: do we define ourselves the way the culture would have us do it or is there a better way? The second gathers a stellar group of Reformed teachers to help us through “end times” and the third focuses on the Biblical and Reformation doctrine of “Scripture alone.” Continue reading →
Who Are The True Catholics?
Introduction There are truly important works that have simply been forgotten or unjustly ignored. One of those is William Ames’ Fresh Suit Against Human Ceremonies in defense of the Reformed theology and practice of worship. Another is William Perkins’ 1597 treatise, A . . . Continue reading →
Video: Who Are The Reformers? John Calvin
Is The Reformation Over? Register For 2017 Annual Conference And Find Out
For many Christians around the globe the Reformation may never have seemed quite as remote as it might seem today but never has it been more needed and relevant. At the moment the Reformation was inaugurated, the Scripture had been displaced by . . . Continue reading →
Audio: With The Sinners League On The Reformation
Lex Lutheran and Calvinist Coulson (it’s a Twitter thing) were gracious to invite me to talk about the Reformation. Continue reading →
Luther On The Propriety Of Using “Only” In Romans 3:28
Second you may say that I translated the New Testament conscientiously and to the best of my ability. I have compelled no one to read it, but have left that open, doing the work only as a service to those who could . . . Continue reading →