Calvin’s Theology: The Lord’s Supper
It is no exaggeration to suggest that the sacraments took a central role in Calvin’s theology of worship.
What we do at the Table is not only about what Jesus has done as our sacrificial Redeemer, but it is also about who he is as the Son of God and who we are in Him. And so it is that the Lord’s Supper is God’s gracious way of not only communicating this truth... Continue Reading
Remembering the Protestant Reformation Means Cleaning House
On the eve of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation there appears to be a defection from some of its teachings, especially with justification by faith (sola fide).
According to the witness of Scripture (spanning the two economies of redemption, the old and the new), the benefit of Christ’s atoning death…accrues to all regenerated saints (namely, the elect of God) as a forensic transaction. It is by means of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, received through the sole instrumentality of saving faith exercised... Continue Reading
Piper, “Final Salvation” and Reformed Baptists
If you believe you’re saved by the work of Christ alone plus anything else then you’re no longer saved by Christ alone.
The Apostle Paul once viewed salvation as God’s work plus his own work, but after coming face to face with the living God he realized that those things of his didn’t add to the sum total, they subtracted from it. Whatever he thought was credit he found to be debit. We can’t be saved by faith plus... Continue Reading
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