Pastor Chris Gordon and Pastor Dan Borvan discuss the importance of preaching from the perspective that the Bible progressively reveals more and more about the salvation of Christ. They talk about how accurately to apply that knowledge to the Christian life. The conversation extends to concern over the artificial presentationContinue Reading
Covenant theology is important for many reasons. Although covenant theology has been around for millennia, it finds its more refined and systematic formulation in the Protestant Reformation. Its importance has been heightened in our day because of its relationship to a theology that is relatively new. In the late nineteenthContinue Reading
The parable of the Good Samaritan is generally understood to be an ethical teaching of Jesus that challenges us to love our neighbour better. Most teachings on the parable are moralistic, leaving the impression that the imperative to “go and do likewise” is the sole aim of what Jesus isContinue Reading
John Piper has complained that the historic Reformed understanding of the Christian faith and life produces what he calls a “debtor’s ethic”. The assumption is that a “debtor’s ethic” is something that we are supposed to reject out of hand. I have previously criticized his rejection of Reformation theology, pietyContinue Reading
Mike Abendroth In part 2 of this series, we considered the case of the rich young ruler. In this final instalment, let us consider one of the most important passages in this debate: Romans 2:13. Advantage #4 – Giving assurance to believers Lordship Salvation (LS) regularly calls into question a person’sContinue Reading
Mike Abendroth In part 1 of this series, we considered the definition of Lordship Salvation (LS) and the Reformation distinction between Law and Gospel. If you read the “rich young ruler” passage in Matthew 19:16-30, as the LS folks frequently do, you will see Jesus calling people to surrender, submission and discipleship.Continue Reading
Mike Abendroth Although the Lordship Salvation doctrine (hereafter LS) has many distinguishing characteristics, the one I want to address is its view of the gospel and the unbeliever’s response to it. What is the “Lordship Salvation” doctrine? In brief, LS regularly teaches that unbelievers must submit to Jesus the Lord. They call sinners toContinue Reading
Like the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Romans is in three parts: guilt, grace and gratitude. We may consider Romans 1:1–17 the prologue to the epistle. The guilt section runs from 1:18–3:20. Here Paul is preaching the law in its first use: to convict the world of sin and its need for a Saviour. Failure toContinue Reading
For many evangelicals and for some ostensibly Reformed folk, it has been fashionable for the past several years to teach that we are justified now by grace alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola fide), on the basis of Christ’s righteousness imputed but that because salvation includes sanctification and sanctificationContinue Reading
As Reformed Christians, we confess that infants of believing parents (or of at least one believing parent) should be baptised. Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 74 asks, “Should infants, too, be baptised?” Answer: Yes. Infants as well as adults belong to God’s covenant and congregation.[1] Through Christ’s blood, the redemption fromContinue Reading