95 Lessons from Martin Luther
An amazing collection of articles, books, videos, and stories from the Life of Martin Luther, gathered from the archives of The Aquila Report, and recently rediscovered via the Internet.
The New York Times said: ‘Long before Twitter, Martin Luther was a media pioneer. The 500th anniversary of Luther’s 95 theses is being celebrated at institutions across the country [and around the world today], showing how deftly he used the media of his day.’ The Aquila Report joins the 500th anniversary celebration with a curated list of 95... Continue Reading
James, Justification and the Human Court
As we navigate through the pages of Scripture, we must be ever careful in our efforts to come to an understanding about the "less clear" portions of Scripture.
The word ‘justify’ (δικαιω) and it’s various forms is used several different ways in Scripture. Context always determines how it is used. It is true that the majority of Pauline uses of ‘justify’ have to do with the legal (forensic) standing that men have before God. Jesus, however, uses the word in Luke 7:35 to denote evidence, when he said... Continue Reading
When Zombies Roamed the Streets of Jerusalem
Those who are connected to Jesus find glorious, joyous, rock splitting, curtain-cleaving life for ever.
Since the fall, the world has been locked into the “life-death cycle”. But as the Son of God rises, death starts to work backwards. Life flows generously and abundantly from and through Jesus into the bodies of those who knew him (the “saints”). Suddenly the life-death cycle becomes the life-death-life cycle. It is a powerful... Continue Reading
The Troublesome Doctrine of Biblical Authority
The authority of Scriptures represented a radical change in direction for the community of faith, and the church has not been the same since.
The profound insight that Luther and the Reformers stumbled upon was the basic need to remove the wall of separation between the Word of God and the individual soul, to put the Scriptures’ clarity on display for all to see, through translation, yes, but also through preaching that explained the Biblical text on its own... Continue Reading
Watch Me Call Pastor N. T. Grayshon to Repentance
Are you not abandoning the protestant doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture?
No, not at all. The Reformation doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture was directed against the Roman Catholic claim of additional special revelation (see here), not against the existence of helpful and even necessary truth that God has made available outside of the Bible. Yesterday we met a pastor who claimed that he needed more than... Continue Reading
The Wonders of Being “In Christ”
Through the gift of faith, we are united to him in his life and death for us. Everything Christ did becomes ours.
Our union with our Savior is our very life and breath. So then, if we are not united to Christ, we are not saved, we have no forgiveness, and no redemption. If we are not united to Him, we will not be sanctified or transformed into His likeness. If we are not united to Christ,... Continue Reading
John Calvin and the Doctrine of Irresistible Grace
Irresistible grace involves several doctrinal issues, including effectual calling and regeneration
“Calvin’s most extended systematic treatment of the doctrine of irresistible grace is found in his 1559 edition of the Institutes. Here Calvin explains that God must begin the good work of salvation in us because our wills are evil and set against Him.” In 1610, the followers of the Dutch pastor and professor Jacob... Continue Reading
Sanctification — Belonging, Not Behaving
Sanctification is much bigger than simply becoming more like Jesus
“Belonging to another isn’t something that can be compartmentalised for certain times or certain people. Holiness is a radical, all-in call to submit our lives daily to God. It’s the call to live for our Possessor’s glory, not our own. To be holy means to surrender our lives to God and grant him free access... Continue Reading
Clinging To The Crutch
Some people say, derisively, that Christianity is a crutch.
“I haven’t written in this space for three weeks. In my ten years of blogging, that’s a record for me. And that’s because in these last weeks–months really, but mainly these last weeks–have been spent coming to grips with my dust-likeness. That I am not the master of my fate. That I am most certainly... Continue Reading
Four Suggestions for Reading the Minor Prophets
When you read the Minor Prophets, look for what they say about God’s character and glory
“If we read the Minor Prophets with our minds turned on and looking for them to teach us about God and the Christian life, then we can be confident that the Holy Spirit will give us insight so that his word will equip us to live fruitful lives for the glory of his name.” ... Continue Reading