The Old Perspective on the Works of the Law
The Reformers understanding of Paul's argument radically impacted later Protestant formulations on the doctrine of justification.
According to proponents of the New Perspective(s) on Paul, justification does not–as the Reformed have always maintained–involve the imputation of Christ’s righteousness by faith alone. The crux of the argument has to do with how one defines the phrase “works of the Law” (and its various related forms in Pauline literature). Biblical studies have... Continue Reading
In By Grace, Stay In By Faithfulness?
Everyone must say with David: “Lord, do not enter into judgment with your servants, for before you no living person shall be justified.”
“Men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for... Continue Reading
Laughing with Luther
Who are we to tell God who and what He must be?
Humor, of course, has numerous functions. It is in part a survival mechanism. Mocking danger and laughing in the face of tragedy are proven ways of coping with hard and difficult situations. Undoubtedly, this played a significant role in Luther’s own penchant for poking fun. Yet I think there is probably a theological reason for... Continue Reading
We Are Equally Sinful. We Are Not All Equally Broken or Toxic.
There is a tendency to assume that biblical principles like those found in I Corinthians 10:13 mean that all our struggles carry the same weight.
As I am using these terms, “broken” would refer to things for which we do not bear moral responsibility but create unique challenges for us, and “toxic” would refer to persistent patterns of sin that not only harm others but we punish others if/when they bring them to our attention. From the opening paragraph, the... Continue Reading
What Do Manuscripts Tell Us About the Origins of the NT Canon? A Response to John Meade
Just because the quantity of manuscripts doesn’t tell us everything about the canon, does not mean it tells us nothing about the canon.
At the end of Meade’s piece, he sums up his main complaint: “But my critique is that [Kruger] and others should describe what early Christians actually thought about these books according to their clearest statements on the subject before turning to material evidence, which is not self-interpreting.” In other words, I should have covered patristic... Continue Reading
The Freedom Of The Christian Man
The sole, unique authority of the Bible, God’s inerrant, infallible Word is provides and guards our liberty against the tyranny of human opinion
As recipients of such rich and richly undeserved favor freely given we are free. Because it was freely given it was not earned. Because it was not earned it cannot be kept. We do not “keep” it. Grace keeps us. In that case, we are free from the tyranny of human expectations at least when... Continue Reading
Protestantism Is Over and the Radicals Won
Many today who claim the Reformation as their heritage are more likely heirs of the Radical Anabaptists.
I’m not talking about Amish communities in rural Pennsylvania. In fact, I don’t have in mind specific offshoots, like Arminian Baptists, as such. I’m thinking more of the Radical Anabaptists, especially the early ones, who were more an eruption of late medieval revolutionary mysticism than an offshoot of the Reformation. I have in mind a utopian,... Continue Reading
Rachel Miller Contra Mundum? The 5 Solas and John Piper, Part 2: “Salvation”
Faith is the instrumental cause of not only our Justification, but our complete and final Salvation.
This is what is truly precious about the doctrine of Justification: it is not just the first step from which one moves on into the rest of the benefits of saving Union with Christ. It is the declaration at the beginning of what will be at the end. Justification is the definitive, present, juridical, and... Continue Reading
Faith Doesn’t Save Anyone
By itself, faith is a meaningless word. Faith means to believe in…something
“What becomes a problem is when we believe that faith is what saves us. If we take just a second to examine ourselves, some questions come up. How much faith do I need? What do I believe in, then? Am I having faith in faith? But that seems a bit odd. How do I believe... Continue Reading
Weapons in the Fight Against Anxiety and Fear
We serve a God who reigns over all. He can be trusted; He can be relied upon.
“The desire to know why things are happening in our life and even more so to control things in our life is one of the greatest killers of contentment. It also proves to be one of the greatest engines of anxiety.” A two-year-old will never obsess about world economies. A three-year-old will never ask... Continue Reading