Zrim explains.
true faith
What is True Faith?
Brannan is studying HC 21. This is part 1 of 3. Part 2. Part 3
Rome, Pentecostals, and Credulity
One of the creepier aspects of both Romanist and Pentecostalist piety is their virtually indistinguishable credulity about alleged “miracles.” I use the pejorative adjective intentionally because, at bottom, despite the formal differences between them, both are peddling magic and superstition and that’s . . . Continue reading →
How Do You Know? Ursinus On Assurance
5. Objection: “But what if you fall from the grace of Christ? For you may sin and become weak, because it is a long and difficult road to heaven.” Answer: “Christ has not only merited and conferred his benefits on me but . . . Continue reading →
What Is True Faith? (pt 1) We Must Know What We Must Know
One of our favorite television shows is set in NYC and revolves around an Irish Roman-Catholic family in law enforcement. It’s a kind of book end to the Duck Dynasty. Like the latter, it features a strong family with a strong religious . . . Continue reading →
What Is True Faith? (2) Assent Is Not Ascent
In part 1 I began to sketch the outline of Heidelberg Catechism Q. 21 on true faith by looking at the three aspects of true faith: knowledge, assent, and trust. In this post I want to consider the second aspect of true . . . Continue reading →
What Is True Faith? (4) Against Rome, QIRC, And Blind Faith
In part 3, we compared the Romanist (Tridentine) definitions of faith and justification to the Reformed definitions of faith and justification. According to Rome, in the Council of Trent, anyone who teaches that sinners are declared righteous before God only (sola) on . . . Continue reading →
What Is True Faith? (5) A Gift
In the first four parts of this series we looked at what Heidelberg Catechism Q/A 21 says about the three aspects of faith (knowledge, assent, and trust). Faith, however, has an object. It always does. A mere historical faith looks to the . . . Continue reading →
What Is True Faith? (8) Its Source
In part 7 we considered the object of true faith. Ironically, for a culture that is said to be awash in a sea of secularism, faith seems to be pretty popular. George Michael recorded a forgettable song about it in the late . . . Continue reading →
What Is True Faith? (9) Its Gospel Agency
In part 8 we saw that the source of true faith is the sovereign, powerful, re-creating work of the Holy Spirit. Ordinarily, however, he works through what the classic Reformed writers, including Calvin, and the Reformed churches call “the means of grace” . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 91: What Are Good Works? (1)
he objectively, clearly revealed moral law as the baseline for Christian ethics is essential to Christian living and Christian liberty. James calls it “the law of liberty” (James 1:25) because it frees us from the tyranny of human opinion. It does not answer every question (it does not intend or claim to answer every question) but it is an essential starting place. What must a Christian do in response to God’s grace and in union with Christ? Love God with all his faculties and his neighbor as himself. Continue reading →
Heidelberg 91: What Are Good Works? (2)
The source, fountain of good works is true faith. By using this expression, the catechism deliberately takes us back to Heidelberg 21, where true faith is defined and to Heidelberg 60 which are among the several places where true faith is said to be the sole instrument (sola fide) of justification and salvation. True faith is also the instrument of union and communion with Christ and it is the headwaters of the believer’s new, Spirit-wrought life in Christ. In other words, true faith is essential to good works. Continue reading →
Strangers And Aliens (6): Like Newborn Infants (1 Peter 2:1–3)
The word “therefore” is more important in Scripture than we probably realize. It signals a relationship between what is being said now to what was just said. Remember, the chapter divisions we have in Scripture are not original. They were introduced into . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast Minute: What Do We Mean By “Comfort”?
Here are all the episodes of the Heidelcast. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe directly via RSS Call the Heidelphone anytime at (760) 618-1563. Leave a message and we may use it in a future broadcast. If you benefit from the Heidelcast please . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 204—What Must A Christian Believe? (20): The Forgiveness Of Sins (2)
This is episode 20 in the series, What Must A Christian Believe? In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the tenth article, “the forgiveness of sins.” The truth of our righteousness with God is essential . . . Continue reading →
Ursinus: True Faith, In The Act Of Justification, Is Not Formed By Affections Or Love
Ursinus Was Not Edwards
Justifying faith is properly that which is defined in the catechism; according to which definition, the general nature of saving faith consists in knowledge and an assured confidence; for there can be no faith in a doctrine that is wholly unknown. It . . . Continue reading →
Witsius On Aspects Of True Faith
A True faith in God through Jesus Christ is the principal act of that spiritual life, which is begun in the elect by regeneration, as well as the fountain head, from whence, all those living works which follow after regeneration, proceed: the . . . Continue reading →
Witsius Sharply Distinguished Between The Covenants of Works and Grace
For here I observe, that men of learning in other respects have stumbled, who, when explaining the nature of those Sacraments, too incautiously blend things belonging to a quite different covenant. Nothing is here to be brought in which does not belong . . . Continue reading →