Systematic Theology
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Following its treatment of the Law (2LCF 19), the 1689 Baptist Confession, following the Savoy, devotes an entire chapter to the Gospel (2LCF 20). However, chapter twenty doesn’t provide us with a definition or description of the gospel. Rather, it addresses the necessity and accessibility of the gospel. In particular, it seeks to answer perennial…
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Some have compared the Confession to the US Constitution and have advocated a form of subscription analogous to “Strict Constructionism.” In this case, a creed or confession must always be interpreted and applied in accordance with the intent of its framers. Failure to do so calls into question one’s integrity and signifies that one is…
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In Genesis 28 Jacob dreams of a stairway linking heaven and earth—a vision that reveals a profound biblical principle: true religion does not arise from humanity’s attempt to ascend to God but from God’s gracious decision to descend and reveal himself. In this lecture commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, I explore how Jacob’s…
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Like as a father pitieth his children,so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.—Psalm 103:13. In the former part of this psalm the Psalmist sang of God’s deeds of love, his gifts, his benefits, and his acts of kindness; but here he goes deeper into the divine motive, and hence he finds sweeter incentives to devout…
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The content explores the concept of degrees of sin, referencing biblical teachings that support the idea that some sins are more serious than others. It contrasts Roman Catholic notions of mortal and venial sins with the argument that all sins are inherently serious and deserving of punishment. The discussion culminates in the notion of the…
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The biblical teaching on “the law” and “the gospel” is massive. And contrary to what some may think, these concepts are complex. They can’t be reduced to a plaque on the wall with the Ten Commandments or a paper tract with Four Easy Steps on how to become a Christian. Instead, law and gospel each have…