Canons Of Dort (14): Only We Sinned But Only God Saves
Believer, you have been saved by the blood of the lamb and not because Christ made salvation possible for those who do their part.
The doctrine that, in the atonement, God intended to save his elect, is not a Reformed peculiarity.1 It is a mainstream doctrine which has been held by some of the greatest teachers in the Christian tradition, among them Augustine, Prosper of Aquitaine, Gottschalk, Peter the Lombard, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Bradwardine, Gregory of Rimini as well as... Continue Reading
When Our Waiting Will Be Over
"You’ll gather us together in Your arms of endless grace, as Your Bride forever when we see Your face."
My soul very much needs this song’s reminder, especially as another year passes and I am another year older, still fighting against the relentless darkness, still waiting, still desiring something that has never actually appeared in my experience. Not yet. It remains a desire for a promised appearing — an appearing I’m growing to increasingly... Continue Reading
The Theologian
Of all of the thinkers of the sixteenth century, Calvin was most noted for his ability to provide a systematic theological understanding of Christian truth.
It was left to one who knew Calvin and his work more extensively, namely, Philip Melanchthon, Luther’s assistant and an impressive scholar in his own right, to give Calvin the sobriquet “the Theologian.” Thus, if one mentions “the Philosopher,” we understand that to mean a reference to Aristotle. On the other hand, if one mentions... Continue Reading
For Instruction, Doctrine, and Morals: Not the God of the Dead
There is significant biblical precedent for deducing good and necessary consequences from Scripture.
Sound doctrine also requires that we reckon with what is taught implicitly. That is, what may be deduced from Scripture by good and necessary consequence is equally authoritative with what is stated in black and white and so is therefore equally binding. Deduction of good and necessary consequence involves getting at the background of a... Continue Reading
The Second Christmas
God promised the first Christmas and he promised the second Christmas too.
Jesus’ first coming was promised to God’s people thousands of years before Jesus was born. In the same way, though it’s been 2,000 years since Jesus and the apostles affirmed Jesus’ second coming: he will return. God will fulfill his promise, but he is patient toward us, not wishing that any of us should perish,... Continue Reading
Why Apologetics?
The Bible commands it, the culture demands it, the Church needs it, and the results confirm it.
We are presenting an absolute truth to a relativistic culture, an exclusivist message to a pluralistic culture, and a supernatural view to a naturalistic culture. It is no surprise that Christians are confronted with questions like, How can Jesus be the only way? Has science proven that miracles are impossible? and Who are you to force your morality on me? These questions grow out of the... Continue Reading
David’s Son
We are talking, of course, about the final Son of David, Christ Jesus our Lord.
This King will be perfectly righteous and able to maintain David’s throne. But this King will also bear God’s punishment for sin, going into exile for sin and returning to God’s blessing of life. And as a consequence of this, those whom He represents are counted as having suffered exile and will return to life... Continue Reading
Canons Of Dort (13): Predestination Is A Mystery
The decrees of God are better adored than investigated.
WE cannot raise our fists to God without raising our fists to the sinless, righteous Son of God, who obeyed and suffered on behalf of sinners. The doctrines of election and reprobation are not the product of natural reason. They are revealed truths. For us to speak of election is to speak of God’s undeserved favor... Continue Reading
God’s Word, an Instrument of Death
When I think of a sword, I think of a kid’s toy, but it is actually the past’s version of our gun: the feared weapon for much of history.
The sword comes up plenty in our Bibles. I stumbled across it when reading Romans 8 recently. Paul exclaims “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Rom 8:35) Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! But what do our... Continue Reading
Love or Hype?
A church is supposed to be a living body.
I was stunned. It was the first time that I saw death without it first having been made up by the undertaker. Yes, I had been to a number of funerals. And I have heard people say things like, “He looks so good, so natural.” Once someone whispered to me, “She looks so beautiful. She... Continue Reading