Getting The Gospel Right: The Heidelcast, The Pactum Podcast, NoCo Radio, And Theocast

by Heidelcast on January 17, 2023 | 4 Comments

This is a special episode of the Heidelcast recorded together with my friends Mike Abendroth, from No Compromise Radio, Pat Abendroth and Mike Grimes from the Pactum Podcast, and Jon Moffit and Justin Perdue of Theocast podcast. We gathered last Friday evening . . . Continue reading →

Faith: The Cause Of Love

by Heidelcast on November 10, 2022

The third conclusion is that true faith works by love. Hence the papists gather that love is the form and life of faith, not because it makes faith to be faith but because it makes it to be a true faith., a . . . Continue reading →

Calvin On Justification Without The Aid Of Love Or Works

by Heidelblog on November 5, 2022

John Calvin insists on the importance of adhering to the exclusive particle. Continue reading →

Reformation Day Lecture 2022: Why The Reformation Matters For Ministry

by Heidelblog on October 30, 2022

©R. Scott Clark. All Rights Reserved. RESOURCES How To Subscribe To Heidelmedia The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The Heidelberg Catechism Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008) Why I Am A Christian Support Heidelmedia: . . . Continue reading →

Friday, October 28, 2022 At 10:00 AM Pacific: Why The Reformation Matters For Ministry

by Heidelblog on October 24, 2022 | 1 Comment

In confessional Protestant churches October 31 is Reformation Day and Dr Clark will be starting his Reformation Day celebration early, this Friday, 10:00 AM, in the chapel at Westminster Seminary California. He will be speaking on the topic, “Why the Reformation Matters . . . Continue reading →

Federal Vision Qualifies Salvation By Faith Alone

by Heidelblog on October 20, 2022 | 5 Comments

Because the FV generally denies the existence of merit, many fail to understand whether there is any real concern with the FV’s formulation. But the formulation is elusive. Wilson writes, “Obedient faith is the only kind that God ever gives, and when . . . Continue reading →

Dr. Clark With NoCo Radio On The Federal Vision (Part 2)

by Heidelblog on October 17, 2022 | 4 Comments

Fun, frivolity, and even serious discussions about important issues ensue when our own Dr. Clark sits down to talk with HB contributor Mike Abendroth, on his radio show, No Compromise Radio. You can subscribe to NoCo Radio and listen to the episode in . . . Continue reading →

Second Council Of Orange: Mercy Unto Salvation Comes From God Alone

by Heidelblog on October 12, 2022

CANON 6. If anyone says that God has mercy upon us when, apart from his grace, we believe, will, desire, strive, labor, pray, watch, study, seek, ask, or knock, but does not confess that it is by the infusion and inspiration of . . . Continue reading →

Second Council Of Orange On The Nature And Gift Of Faith

by Heidelblog on October 5, 2022 | 1 Comment

CANON 5. If anyone says that not only the increase of faith but also its beginning and the very desire for faith, by which we believe in Him who justifies the ungodly and comes to the regeneration of holy baptism — if . . . Continue reading →

Regarding Piper’s Notion Of Justification And Love

by Heidelblog on August 8, 2022 | 4 Comments

But surely that is a progressive response of sanctification. It is not definitive, but justification is a once-for-all act of divine declaration “Righteous!” I am certainly more satisfied with Christ today than I was sixty years ago when I first believed, but . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast For July 3, 2022: A Mailbag Episode

by Heidelcast on July 2, 2022 | 4 Comments

During Dr Clark’s summer trip to Nebraska the mailbag (and Heideltext inbox) filled up so what was supposed to be an episode on the Canons of Dort became a Q&A episode. Never fear. The episode for next week returns to the Canons. . . . Continue reading →

Perkins: The Doctrine Of A Two-Stage Justification Is A “Popish Device”

by Heidelblog on June 23, 2022 | 5 Comments

That popish device of a second justification is a satanical delusion for the Word of God does acknowledge no more but one justification at all, and that absolute and complete of itself. There is but one justice, but one satisfaction of God . . . Continue reading →

Faith, Love, and Piper: Distinguishing Reformed Categories

by William Edison on June 21, 2022 | 4 Comments

What’s love got to do with it? According to John Piper’s recent book What is Saving Faith?, affectional elements, including one’s love, satisfaction in and treasuring of God, are included in the definition of justifying faith itself. Though, this may not come . . . Continue reading →

Godfrey: Edwards Rejected The Reformed Definition Of Faith In The Act Of Justification

by Heidelblog on June 8, 2022

In one area, however, the treatise is problematic, namely his understanding of the nature of justifying faith. Gerstner acknowledged that Edwards did express the doctrine of justifying faith somewhat differently from his Calvinistic forbears, “…there can be little doubt that Calvinistic theologians . . . Continue reading →

If James 2:24 Is Teaching Justification Through Good Works, Get Cracking

by Heidelblog on May 30, 2022 | 3 Comments

Good works proceed from saving faith; faith that does not bear fruit is not saving faith (see James 2:19). James 2:24 is talking about works as fruit and evidence of saving faith, not meritorious works that save us. In fact, James reminds . . . Continue reading →

What A Confessional Presbyterian Learned from Luther

by Tony Phelps on May 24, 2022 | 15 Comments

“What is a nice OPC minister like you doing constantly quoting Martin Luther on Twitter?” is the familiar refrain after people take a gander at my feed. Normally, I admit when I am guilty as charged, but there is no great guilt . . . Continue reading →

Paul Contra Final Salvation Through Works (Romans 5:9–10)

by R. Scott Clark on May 23, 2022 | 6 Comments

For many evangelicals and for some ostensibly Reformed folk it has been fashionable for the last several years to teach that we are justified now by grace alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola fide), based on Christ’s righteousness imputed, but that . . . Continue reading →

Old and Bald: Responding to Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates

by Tom Wenger on May 19, 2022 | 3 Comments

Reading though Matthew Bates’ recent work, Salvation by Allegiance Alone: Rethinking Faith, Works, and the Gospel of Jesus the King, took me back 20 years to my seminary days.1 Back then the New Perspective on Paul was tearing up the scene in . . . Continue reading →

“Edwards Injects Into Faith” In The Act Of Justification The Virtues Of The Christian Life

by Heidelblog on May 18, 2022 | 7 Comments

Edwards is very clear that faith does not justify a believer as a virtue or as forming any part of the righteousness which is the basis or ground of God’s judicial verdict. In this, he clearly stands with the Reformed tradition over . . . Continue reading →

Vos: All Our Works Are Excluded From Justification

by Heidelblog on May 11, 2022

Not only the works that we do in our own strength, or that we do before regeneration, or that we do without the merits of Christ, but all works, of whatever sort, are excluded from justification. This is so repetitively certain in . . . Continue reading →