Who Should Teach Your Kids – Harvey or Hildebrand?
If any good has come from the crimes of Weinstein, it is in the fact that the champions of sex as recreation are being forced to contradict the philosophy of their own artworks.
Hildebrand’s book sets before us a beautiful vision of how true sex is pure sex and can only be understood as such when set within the broader framework of life as a whole. The alternative? Outsourcing sex education to whoever succeeds Harvey Weinstein, I guess. Which, in a sane world, would result in a report... Continue Reading
Random Thoughts on Sola Fide
If my sanctification depended on me, I would either be in continual despair, or become an expert in self-deception.
Those in despair seek out gurus to tell them how to live, how to act, how to use their money. They will give all that they have to assure themselves that they will be OK come the judgment day. But they will always know that it isn’t enough. They will never desire God enough. They... Continue Reading
3 Things to Know about Union with Christ
Our Christian life from beginning to end has been won by the captain of our salvation.
Our life is now flowing from the life of Christ. We are like the tree planted by the rivers of living water (Ps. 1:3). Previously, we tried to attain meaning, happiness, and purpose through our conquests at work or at home or in living for pleasure—but never actually obtaining it. Those things in themselves could never fill... Continue Reading
Here’s What Christians Should Be Busy Protesting
We cannot forgot our original protestor heritage. That original protest was best captured in the five “solas” that came out of the Reformation.
Sola Scriptura: We protest against any authority that sets itself up as higher than the word of God revealed in the Bible. Sola Fide: We protest against the idea that there is any other instrument apart from faith by which we are declared righteous before God. Sola Gratia: We protest against the idea that our own good works are the meritorious basis for... Continue Reading
Where Does Ultimate Authority Lie?
Is it in the Scriptures alone or is it in the Scriptures and tradition?
When Martin Luther was brought into disputes with the princes of the church, they reminded him that his understanding of justification was not the traditional understanding, that the church long had explained justification in different categories. But Luther simply said: “Here is what the Bible says. My conscience is held captive by the Word of... Continue Reading
Salvation Sola Gratia, Sola Fide: On Distinguishing Is, With, And Through
Notice what faith does in justification. It rests and receives. The nomists hate this.
As I noted in Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry (2007), almost as soon as the Reformation achieved clarity on salvation it came under attack from two sides: the antinomians, who would not tolerate the abiding validity of the moral law as the norm of the Christian life and the nomists, who would not abide free salvation earned... Continue Reading
#Metoo, But God
While many victims of sexual abuse feel shame, the God who sees us is not silent.
The great tragedy of “Me too” is not just that the world can say it. It’s not just that sin is so pervasive. It’s not just that it might wake us up to the reality that evil men and women are everywhere. “Me too”, while it may offer a temporary comfort of not feeling alone,... Continue Reading
Jesus Is Our Righteousness
Christ's life of perfect obedience is just as necessary for our salvation as His perfect atonement on the cross
We’ve seen that in the work of redemption God didn’t send Jesus to earth on Good Friday and say, “Die for the sins of your people and that will take care of it.” No. Jesus not only had to die for our sins, but He had to live for our righteousness. If all Jesus did... Continue Reading
The True Treasure of the Church
The gospel is God’s revelation of grace, not law; acceptation with God, not condemnation from God.
Why is Jesus the gospel and therefore the true treasure of the church? Because he’s done everything I cannot do to save me! He’s God; I’m not. He was a perfectly obedient man to God’s commands; I’m not. He died an unjust death that I might be justly acquitted by God; I’d hardly die for... Continue Reading
Back to the Reformed Confessions and Catechisms
No matter how much we may like Calvin, Twisse, Edwards, Horton, or Piper, ultimately we don't confess them. We confess the standards of our denominations.
Everything, no matter who said it, must be weighed against Scripture. And for confessional Christians, a good place to start is with our confessional standards. Confessional Christians, especially ordained leaders, believe and affirm that the confessional standards of their denomination contain “the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures” (PCA and OPC ordination questions).... Continue Reading