What Is The Difference Between The “Active” And The “Passive” Obedience Of Christ?
Christ’s “passive obedience” and his “active obedience” both refer to the whole of Christ’s work.
Jesus’ so-called “passive” and “active” obedience were lifelong endeavors as he fulfilled the demands and suffered the penalties of God’s law, and both culminated in the cross. I would argue that the New Testament clearly teaches the lifelong passive obedience of Christ (his penalty-bearing work) and the lifelong active obedience of Christ (his will-of-God-obeying work), culminating in the... Continue Reading
The Moral of Moral Failings of Christian Leaders
The character of Christian leaders is in question. We need to ask why and work for change.
Pastors and leaders are just like anyone else—sinners in need of daily renewal of the Holy Spirit. It is true that pastors and leaders should hold to the highest level of integrity. But when they engage in behaviors and actions that are antithetical to who they say they are, they show us what we all... Continue Reading
Was Gnosticism Tolerant and Inclusive? Debunking Some Myths about “Alternative” Christianities
As F.F. Bruce famously quipped, “The Gnostic schools lost because they deserved to lose”
Popular perceptions are that the orthodox Christians oppressed women, but the Gnostics liberated them. But, again, the truth is not so simple. On the contrary, the historical evidence suggests that women flocked to traditional Christianity in droves. Indeed, they may have outnumbered the men almost two to one. Rodney Stark in his book The Triumph of... Continue Reading
Bleep! Why Christians Shouldn’t Cuss
We cherish the purpose for which God gave words.
Christians understand that an inability or unwillingness to take control of our language shows a lack of self-control or lack of graciousness toward others. Swearing shows that you are unconcerned about that which ought to concern Christians: edification, grace, humility, patience, self-control, evangelistic witness, being an example to children, integrity, and many other virtues that we... Continue Reading
Will the Lord Leave Him? (Bunyan)
Though we are prone to leave the God we love, he is not prone to leave the people he loves.
“Here is grace! So many time as the soul backslides, so many times God brings him again—I mean, the soul that must be saved by grace-he renews his pardons, and multiplies them. ‘Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the... Continue Reading
My Own Cool Girl
I help my husband when I’m more concerned with the boundary lines of Scripture than those of culture.
I narrowed my image of “helper” to secretarial housekeeper, not the Word. And the home-keepers—home “guarders”—Paul wrote to in Titus 2 came from all different types of backgrounds, from servants helping other women keep their homes to delegators giving those servants their marching orders. He spoke to homemakers and tentmakers (Acts 18:2–3). So many slender passages have... Continue Reading
The Doctrine Of The Covenant Of Works Comes From Scripture
There are many who have no idea how or why the Reformed reached their conclusion that God made with Adam a covenant of works, which was finally fulfilled by Christ the Last Adam
This is a systematic belief but the Reformed were driven to it by Scripture. Grace is for sinners, not for the righteous. Adam was righteous before the fall but God was gracious to him after the fall. We all fell in Adam and he is gracious to his elect to justify, to sanctify, and to... Continue Reading
A Question of Torment: Can You Lose Your Salvation?
Again and again, God makes it very clear that he will keep and preserve every true believer.
Because God was the one who started the work of salvation and God would be the one who would complete it. This gives me an incredible amount of peace. If my final salvation were up to me, I wouldn’t make it. I’m sure of that. I’m no spiritual Superman or hero (to paraphrase Dave Matthews). Without... Continue Reading
Renowned Christian Scholar Carl Trueman to Join Grove City College Faculty
Grove City College announced that Carl R. Trueman, one of America’s foremost Christian voices and an accomplished church historian, will join the faculty in the fall.
“Grove City College has enjoyed great success in its ability to attract leading Christian scholars like Dr. Trueman to its ranks, enhancing academic excellence and the Christ-centered learning and living environment we offer our students.” McNulty said. “Grove City College’s exclusive focus on undergraduate education is very appealing,” Trueman said. He is looking forward to... Continue Reading
How Should We Understand “Her Desire” in Genesis 3:16b?
Tracking the metanarrative reveals that Genesis 3:16b points to “frustration” as the foundational longing that underpins “desire” as used to describe Post-Fall marriages.
“Desire” in Genesis 3:16b is not just the “battle of the sexes” as presented in the NLT. Desire is not the crutch for unwise counsel that often has been dispensed by pastors and counselors to otherwise victimized wives. Rather “desire” in Genesis 3:16b results from the frustration felt by the victim of an abusive relationship,... Continue Reading