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 →
Sola Fide
Heidelcast For July 3, 2022: A Mailbag Episode
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 →
Regarding Piper’s Notion Of Justification And Love
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 →
Second Council Of Orange On The Nature And Gift Of Faith
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 →
Second Council Of Orange: Mercy Unto Salvation Comes From God Alone
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 →
Dr. Clark With NoCo Radio On The Federal Vision (Part 2)
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 →
Federal Vision Qualifies Salvation By Faith Alone
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 →
Friday, October 28, 2022 At 10:00 AM Pacific: Why The Reformation Matters For Ministry
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 →
Reformation Day Lecture 2022: Why The Reformation Matters For Ministry
©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 →
Calvin On Justification Without The Aid Of Love Or Works
John Calvin insists on the importance of adhering to the exclusive particle. Continue reading →
Faith: The Cause Of Love
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 →
Getting The Gospel Right: The Heidelcast, The Pactum Podcast, NoCo Radio, And Theocast
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 →
Beza: Justification Through Faith Alone Is Shared By All The Lutherans And All The Reformed
If there is any head of Christian doctrine about which it is absolutely necessary to agree to obtain eternal life, it is that in which it is taught not only concerning the righteousness which is required of us before the judgment-seat of . . . Continue reading →
Beza: Sanctification Flows From Christ Whom We Apprehend By Faith
But although sanctification flows forth from the same Christ seized by faith, and leads us to the same place, namely the attainment of eternal life, it would nevertheless be mere madness to add something to the most perfect righteousness of Christ to . . . Continue reading →
Perkins: Salvation, All Of It, Is By Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone
As part of my response to the claim that some Reformed orthodox theologians taught that salvation was not only in two stages but also, in some way, through works, I appealed to a quotation from William Perkins. I could have written much . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Beza Defended Justification Through Faith Alone
Beza was a staunch defender of justification through faith alone. Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: For Turretin Justification Was Not A Cold, Academic Matter
For Turretin, justification was not a matter of cold, academic speculation. Continue reading →
Video: Luther Under The Gospel
Video courtesy Lynden United Reformed Church (Lynden, WA) where Bob Godfrey and I spoke for their Reformation Conference: Luther Nailed It. Note: This was originally published on the Heidelblog in 2017. RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources . . . Continue reading →
When Old Testament Scholars Do Historical Theology
It comes out about as accurate as Historical Theologians doing serious Old Testament work. I say this because I recently asked whence folk (Federal Visionists among them) get the idea that Martin Bucer’s soteriology marked a substantial break from Martin Luther’s. I . . . Continue reading →
Simul Iustus et Peccator: The Role of Justification in Pastoral Counseling
As shepherds of Jesus’s flock, pastors wrestle with the wounds and waywardness of the human heart. They counsel the guilty, who are consumed by self-condemnation. They counsel the defensive, who try to deflect God’s heart-piercing word through self-justification and blame-shifting. Continue reading →