Righteousness

The Master Idol

Ben Ciavolella
Jul 18, 2019
"I f anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). This is a painful process, and at times can discourage even mature Christians. The sins of self-interest reach deep into the heart, and they are difficult to root out. Sa muel Rutherford...

Grace Worth Fighting For Podcast

Jonathan Master
Jun 3, 2019
Grace Worth Fighting For To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Canons of Dort, Daniel Hyde has written Grace Worth Fighting For: Recapturing the Vision of God’s Grace in the Canons of Dort. Hyde’s work is a reminder for us to protect and proclaim the Gospel of grace. Danny is the pastor of...

Seven Letters Seven Dangers: Pride

Michael Matossian
May 10, 2019
Dear Theophilus, Greetings in Jesus’ name! May his grace abound to you through his Spirit to the glory of the Father. As requested, I write to warn of a grave danger facing the church, namely, ungodly pride that leads to an arrogance dishonoring to Christ, detrimental to the unity of his body, and...

Deconstructing Destruction in the Church: Interpersonal Conflict

Jeffrey Stivason
Apr 16, 2019
I could tell the young man standing in front of me was deeply concerned. It didn’t take long to find out why. A friend of his from another church was having a difficult time with the church’s leadership. He felt his friend had experienced an injustice. He wanted to help but didn’t know how and he...

Union with Christ: The Westminster Confession

Stephen Unthank
Feb 22, 2019
For English Reformed Orthodoxy, the doctrine of a believer’s union with Christ was paramount. John Owen, enunciating the centrality of a believer’s union, exclaimed that our union with Christ is the “principle and measure of all spiritual enjoyments and expectations.” [1] Likewise Thomas Goodwin...

Union with Christ: Imputation: Calvin & Wright

Jeffrey Stivason
Feb 21, 2019
According to N. T. Wright, it is now generally agreed that an overall theme in II Corinthians is “Paul’s defense, not of his apostolic ministry in itself, but of the particular style or character of that ministry.” [1] For Wright, these arguments concerning the nature of Paul’s ministry form the...

Media Motives Matter

Jason Helopoulos
Nov 14, 2018
In this social media age, the Christian would do well to remember Christ's warning, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 6:1). "Sound no trumpet," Jesus says, when you give (...

The Statement on SJ&G Explained: Article 3, Justice

Phil Johnson
Oct 2, 2018
[Editorial Note: This is the third post in a series of posts in which we have invited the authors of "The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel" to expound upon the statement's affirmations and denials. We encourage our readers to take the time to read through our prefatory editorial note at...

Still Protesting: the Donum Superadditum

Jeffrey Stivason
Sep 27, 2018
“Why can’t you get past the objections of Luther and his progeny?” That was the question that came plaintively from the man who sat opposite the pastor in the coffee house. The Pastor, whose name was Peter, looked at him as if to say, “Haven’t I already explained?” I could see his frustration as I...

How Can I Forgive that Man?

Dan Doriani
Aug 16, 2018
"I know what the Bible says, but how can I forgive that man, after everything he has done? And he isn't even sorry." It is a familiar question or comment, and perhaps the second most common and difficult that pastors hear (trailing only "How could God let this happen?") Both ask for help explaining...