Category Archives: Application of Redemption

The Grandaddy of Reformed Anti-Lutheranism

grandad

Not that reviews of books at Amazon.com are ever adequate or trustworthy, the one for Ian Hewitson’s book on the Shepherd Controversy is revealing and adds context to the current polemics among militant critiques of Lutheranism from biblical theologians. The initial hostility in Presbyterian circles to Lutheran notions of justification came from Norman Shepherd. The… Read More→

Also posted in Adventures in Church History | Tagged , , , , , | 58 Comments

Where’s Waldo Wednesday: Can You Handle Calvin on Union?

where's waldo

The Frenchman’s discussion of union at the beginning of book three of the Institutes is slight compared to his treatment of union when explaining the Lord’s Supper. I have often wondered why the unionists who give so much weight to Calvin in discussing the doctrine are not leading a program of liturgical renewal that would… Read More→

Posted in Application of Redemption | Tagged , , , | 50 Comments

Where’s Waldo Wednesday: What’s At Stake?

where's waldo

The recent show at Reformed Forum on union with Christ has generated a lively exchange (some of which spilled over to Old Life). As he did at Old Life, David has produced a number of quotations from Reformed theologians on the ordo salutis that suggest the unionists have their work cut out for them if… Read More→

Posted in Application of Redemption | Tagged , , , , , , | 184 Comments

In Christ on Paxil

paxil

Christian (or biblical) counseling is a topic that deserves more attention at places like Old Life that are lean sap and well-stocked seeking discernment. It strikes me that biblical counseling is another example of worldview, pietistic thinking that requires a biblical answer for each and every human problem. It also appears to suffer from a… Read More→

Also posted in Featured, Wilderness Wanderings | Tagged , , , | 182 Comments

Where’s Waldo Wednesday: Precision Puh-leeze

So why is it that justification prioritists (JPs) regularly receive the charge of making justification the CAUSE of sanctification when in fact they don’t? But to the unionists’ ear, to assert the logical priority of justification to sanctification (and no cheating by sneaking in definitive sanctification) is to say that justification CAUSES sanctification (often, anyway).… Read More→

Posted in Application of Redemption | Tagged , , , , | 52 Comments

Where’s Waldo Wednesday: The Power to Confuse

Nick Batzig has a useful post on union with Christ that I believe illustrates what some people find confusing about the doctrine — at least I do. I interact with this post not to single out or pick on Nick, who is a friend and whose ministry I respect, but because it is an example… Read More→

Posted in Application of Redemption | Tagged , | 510 Comments

Forensic Friday: Who’s Lutheran Now?

From Luther’s sermon for the seventh Sunday after Trinity (1534): Thus St. Paul says: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey: whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” and this means, as you now through grace are bound to… Read More→

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Where’s Waldo Wednesday: Dazed and Confused

Why is it that discussions of the law and sanctification invariably circle back to union with Christ? My own hunch, expressed several times, is that union becomes the way to cement sanctification to justification, especially if neither is prior to the other but union precedes both. This way, supposedly, Protestants can look Roman Catholics straight… Read More→

Also posted in The Hinge | Tagged , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Kingdom Sloppy: A Big Bowl of Wrong

Readers of Oldlife may think I am too hard on Kuyper and neo-Calvinism. I know of one reader and commenter who regularly replies that I am just pointing out errors but that neo-Calvinism in its purity is — well — pure. Another respondent has admitted to some flaws along the way but nothing inherently erroneous… Read More→

Also posted in Christ and culture, spirituality of the church | Tagged , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

Where’s Waldo (A Day After) Wednesday: Someone Needs to Call A Union Summit

Over at Justin Taylor’s blog comes word that Dane Ortlund has published an article on the relationship between justification and sanctification in the writings of Bavinck and Berkouwer. The summary point is as follows: . . . these two Dutch Reformed thinkers are united in their understanding of justification as the self-conscious means of sanctification.… Read More→

Posted in Application of Redemption | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments