Category Archives: The Hinge

Forensic Friday: The cor cordis of the Gospel

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 21, 2010

It is, nevertheless, the very cor cordisof the Gospel that is here brought under fire. The one antithesis of all the ages is that between the rival formulae: Do this and Live, and, Live and do this; Do and be saved, and Be saved and do. And the one thing that determines whether we trust… Read More→

Posted in The Hinge | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Forensic Friday: Calvin on Conscience

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 14, 2010

We must take our definition from the etymology of the word. When men grasp the conception of things with the mind and the understanding they are said “to know,” from which the word “knowledge” is derived. In like manner, when men have an awareness of divine judgment adjoined to them as a witness which does… Read More→

Posted in The Hinge | Tagged , , , , , | 56 Comments

Forensic Friday: You Say Klinean, I Say Repristination

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 7, 2010

In the current issue of the Westminster Theological Journal, William Evans from Esrkine College, has an article offering a taxonomy of the current debates over the doctrine of union. In the repristinationist wing he puts Westminster California. He even specifies that the revisionism of Shepherd and Federal Vision provoked the repristinationist effort. The other group… Read More→

Also posted in Application of Redemption, Confessionalism | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Forensic Friday: What Am I Missing?

By D. G. Hart | Published: April 30, 2010

I have made this point in the comments on various posts but do not believe I have done so in a post itself. The point is obviously related to the priority of justification to sanctification specifically with regard to the righteousness we possess by faith in Christ. The doctrine of justification teaches that God accepts… Read More→

Posted in The Hinge | Tagged , , , | 109 Comments

Forensic Friday: How Sinful Women become Righteous

By D. G. Hart | Published: April 23, 2010

Briefly put, then, one key problem with denying a priority of justification to sanctification is that it makes sanctification something other than what it is. The very character and identity of the Christian life are at stake. As Calvin has stated, when discussing the importance of justification, “For unless you first of all grasp what… Read More→

Posted in The Hinge | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Forensic Friday: Anathema

By D. G. Hart | Published: April 16, 2010

CANON XI.-If any one saith, that men are justified, either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ, or by the sole remission of sins, to the exclusion of the grace and the charity which is poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and is inherent in them; or even that the… Read More→

Posted in The Hinge | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Forensic Friday: Murray on the Gospel

By D. G. Hart | Published: April 9, 2010

“Him who knew no sin he made to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor 5:21). This clearly points us to the vicarious sin bearing of Christ as that which brought the reconciliation into being. This forensic character of the reconciliation is also borne out in… Read More→

Posted in The Hinge | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Where’s Waldo Wednesday

By D. G. Hart | Published: April 7, 2010

Chapter 13 – Of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, of the Promises, and of the Spirit and Letter The Ancients Had Evangelical Promises. The Gospel, is indeed, opposed to the law. For the law works wrath and announces a curse, whereas the Gospel preaches grace and blessing. John says: “For the law was given through… Read More→

Also posted in Application of Redemption | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Forensic Friday: Calvin on Faith and Repentance

By D. G. Hart | Published: April 2, 2010

Even though we have taught in part how faith possesses Christ, and how through it we enjoy his benefits, this would still remain obscure if we did not add an explanation of the effects we feel. With good reason, the sum of the gospel is held to consist in repentance and forgiveness of sins [Luke… Read More→

Posted in The Hinge | Tagged , , , | 123 Comments

Forensic Friday: Antinomianism, False and True

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 26, 2010

One of the more arresting claims in recent theological discussions is that an emphasis on the forensic nature of justification can nurture antinomianism. This claim looks amazingly unreal given the traction that various forms of transformationalism have among conservative Reformed Protestants – from Doug Wilson’s defense of Constantinianism, the Baylys’ war with Reformed “pacifists” in… Read More→

Posted in The Hinge | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments