It is natural that those who have experienced the agitations which frequently attend upon conversion, and have felt the peace which flows from a hope of acceptance with God, to imagine that the conflict is over, the victory won, and the work . . . Continue reading →
vivification
Office Hours Season 5—New Life In The Shadow Of Death: Defining Sanctification
In season 5 of Office Hours we’re focusing on the biblical, Christian, confessional doctrine and practice of sanctification, the process of being made holy, of being brought into gradual conformity to Christ by the grace of the Spirit through dying to sin . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Sanctification, Perfectionism, And Romans 7
There are many ways to err in the doctrine and practice of sanctification. One of the most egregious errors the church has faced, which continues to afflict believers, is the teaching that believers can and should reach “entire sanctification” in this life. . . . Continue reading →
The Principal Acts Lead To Others
By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein; and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 88: The Two Parts of the Christian Life
The doctrine of the Christian life is remarkably simple. There are two parts: death and life. The practice of the Christian life, however, is quite another thing. The practice of the Christian life, the living out of our life in Christ, by . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 90: The Making Alive Of The New Man
n what is a corpse interested? In nothing. Corpses do what they do: nothing. They just decay. They have nothing to do with the living world. They are literally inanimate. Spiritually, before God made us alive, we were spiritually inanimate. We were dead. We had no interest in Christ nor had we interest in his moral will. Now, by his grace, having been made alive we do. That’s a miracle. We have a new stance, a new disposition toward Christ and his moral will for us because we have new life. It’s imperative that we not reverse that order. We are not sanctified and we are certainly not justified or saved because we have a new disposition. That is Romanism. We have a new disposition and we are developing new habits of godliness because we are alive, because we are no longer spiritual corpses dead to Christ, his gospel, and his law. Continue reading →
Both/And: Free Justification And Gracious Sanctification
Reformation season is drawing to a close for 2017. Quite naturally, there has been a great deal of emphasis on justification by grace alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola fide). What might have been a time of remembrance and celebration has . . . Continue reading →
AGR: The Christian’s Continual Struggle with Sin (Part 1)
It was my pleasure to fill-in for Chris Gordon on Abounding Grace Radio this week. On Monday we broadcast a sermon on Romans 13. In that message I tried to help the congregation read Romans 13 against the social-political background of the . . . Continue reading →
AGR: The Christian’s Continual Struggle with Sin (Part 2)
It was my pleasure to fill-in for Chris Gordon on Abounding Grace Radio last week. Tuesday–Friday we broadcast a 4-part series on Romans 7: “The Christian’s Continual Struggle Against Sin.” Here is part 2 of the series. You can also find the series . . . Continue reading →
AGR: The Christian’s Continual Struggle with Sin (Part 3)
It was my pleasure to fill-in for Chris Gordon on Abounding Grace Radio last week. Tuesday–Friday we broadcast a 4-part series on Romans 7: “The Christian’s Continual Struggle Against Sin.” Here is part 3 of the series. You can also find the series . . . Continue reading →
AGR: The Christian’s Continual Struggle with Sin (Part 4)
It was my pleasure to fill-in for Chris Gordon on Abounding Grace Radio last week. Tuesday–Friday we broadcast a 4-part series on Romans 7: “The Christian’s Continual Struggle Against Sin.” Here is part 4 of the series. You can also find the . . . Continue reading →
Jesus: Baptism Is Death
In Luke 12:50, as part of a wide-ranging discourse with strong eschatological overtones, our Lord Jesus characterizes his coming death in a striking way. He said, “But I have a baptism with which to be baptized and how I constrained until it . . . Continue reading →
Romans Series: The Power of God For Salvation (28)
Romans is one of the greatest resources available to the Christian faith and life. Written in the mid-to late AD 50s to the congregation in Rome, Paul sent this pastoral letter to make clear the gospel, that salvation is from the Lord, . . . Continue reading →
Asking For A Friend: How To Love A Jerk
Who Says That Calvin Was Not Practical?
…But how do we do that with someone we might think to be unworthy of our love and good deeds? How do you love a jerk? You might say take a look in the mirror. Humbly realizing that we’re all unworthy jerks . . . Continue reading →
The Need Of The Hour: Repentance
Dear Christians, the great need of the hour is collective humility and repentance for our sins, for our selfishness, for our idolatries, and our attempts to make our home in this world in denial of our heavenly citizenship. And we shouldn’t miss the silver lining in all of this. We are still able to publish the best news ever, a lamp is still shining in Babylon, and a voice is still sounding out, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Continue reading →
Hodge On Nourishing New Life In Christ
It is natural that those who have experienced the agitations which frequently attend upon conversion, and have felt the peace which flows from a hope of acceptance with God, to imagine that the conflict is over, the victory won, and the work . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Suffering And Temptation (James 1:12–15)
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (ESV). Continue reading →
Hodge Vs. Reader Reception On Confessional Subscription
The candidate has no right to put his own sense upon the words propounded to him. He has no right to select from all possible meanings which the words may bear, that particular sense which suits his purpose, or which, he thinks, . . . Continue reading →
Hodge: The Same Gracious God Who Wills The End Also Wills The Free Offer Of The Gospel
Paul considered it as involved in what he had already said, and especially in the predictions of the ancient prophets, that it was the will of God that all men should call upon him. This being the case, he argues to prove . . . Continue reading →