Reformation21

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to work through the first volume of Geerhardus Vos's Reformed Dogmatics , which is devoted to theology proper (i.e., God's being, attributes, and triunity; God's decrees; and God's "natural works" [ naturae opera ] of creation and providence). I confess to...

WCF 11.1 ... nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness ... Part 1: Justification by Precision Alone? Part 2: Act and Habit of Faith Part 3: Justification is an act that cannot be revoked Part 4: Arminian vs. Reformed on...

It is a good practice for Christians to plan ahead for some rich reading experiences during the leisure time that summer often affords. To this end, I would like to recommend some wonderful books that have the especially high virtue of bringing rich biblical reflections on the person and work of...

Can justification ever be revoked if someone is justified? There are many reasons why this is impossible. I want to offer two (and perhaps some others in a future post). First, because we are justified by faith alone . Second, because of the nature of Christ's intercession. That sinners are...

Like many, I have appreciated both letters from my friends, Bryan Chapell and Rick Phillips , about our common denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America. The wisdom that both have shared from their particular locations makes me thankful to belong to a "conservative mainline Presbyterian...

You're in a faithful church, but someone complains about this, that, and the other, and so wants to leave. What do you say? #1 I agree this church isn't perfect... #2 This is a perfect church, why would you leave a perfect church? #1 and #2 are possibilities, but my sympathies are with #2. Why?...

Peter Enns blogged this , where he essentially states that church history is not relevant on human origins. Naturally, his views are. Besides the Apostles and Jesus, theologians and pastors over the course of church history have gotten things wrong, according to Enns. That the history of the church...

In previous entries in what is becoming an impromptu antiphonal blog series on the Trinity, Fred Sanders and I have focused on the nature and relevance of the doctrine of inseparable operations (see here , here , and here ). To this point, we have considered ways in which the unity of God's being...

This week a letter titled The State of the PCA was published by Bryan Chapell in By Faith , the denominational magazine of the PCA. This public letter is another of the many takes in recent years on our denomination from the perspective of a senior statesman with progressive leanings. Few readers...

The question of how diverse the Reformed tradition is is an important topic of consideration. I have co-edited a volume on Reformed diversity in the seventeenth century, and later this year I have another co-edited volume coming out on Reformed diversity in the eighteenth century. Professor Oliver...