tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201640352012-02-06T13:45:22.067-05:00Theological Reflections from a Confessional Presbyterian PastorM. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.comBlogger7441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-80280193414365364202012-02-06T13:45:00.000-05:002012-02-06T13:45:22.070-05:00

Here's the sermon audio from this past Sunday at Faith Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Austell, GA. Text: Eph. 3:1-13Title: "Digression of Progression"Thesis: The mystery revealed through the apostles and prophets in the NT is "that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-21439062442302722462012-01-30T21:40:00.001-05:002012-02-03T10:20:05.376-05:00

Here's the audio file for the eighteenth sermon in the Gospel of John series preached this Sunday at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church. Title: "The Authority of Jesus"Text: John 5:19-29Thesis: Jesus has authority to save and condemn.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-84414378150538487072012-01-15T21:56:00.001-05:002012-01-17T00:01:19.187-05:00

I enjoyed another wonderful Sabbath morning leading worship at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church. We continued in the Gospel of John. This was the seventeenth sermon in the series: Title: "The Third Sign: Jesus Heals on the Sabbath"Text: John 5:1-18Thesis: Jesus' works are God's works, works for which the Sabbath was commanded.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-67370908555222662612012-01-04T22:13:00.000-05:002012-01-04T22:13:17.494-05:00

From Sunday Jan. 1, 2012 at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church (OPC): Title: "The Second Sign: Jesus Heals an Official's Son"Text: John 4:43-54Thesis: Saving faith looks beyond the temporal to the eternal benefit Jesus came to give.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-41218983753387029222011-12-22T22:17:00.001-05:002011-12-22T22:21:27.213-05:00

This past Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church. Here's the sermon info: Title: "The Magnificat"Text: Luke 1:39-56Thesis: Mary's song was evidence of the redemptive work of the One in her womb.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-24520890880940943422011-12-06T21:00:00.002-05:002011-12-06T21:12:57.597-05:00

We enjoyed another wonderful Sabbath with Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church this week. I continued preaching through the Gospel of John. Here's this week's sermon: Title: "Food of Earth, Food of Heaven"Text: John 4:27-42Thesis: The Father gave the Son to gather the nations unto himself by the Spirit.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-34855839652552226022011-11-24T11:58:00.000-05:002011-11-24T11:58:38.125-05:00

This past Sunday I preached again at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY. Here's the sermon: Title: "Mountains of Earth, Mountain of Heaven"Text: John 4:16-26Thesis: The Father gave the Son to gather worshipers by the power of the Spirit.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-86073640253306674512011-11-08T20:00:00.005-05:002011-11-08T20:19:16.196-05:00

I was blessed to lead the service of worship this past Lord's Day at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY. We continued in the Gospel of John series. Title: "Waters of Earth, Water of Heaven"Text: John 4:1-15Thesis: Jesus is greater than Jacob, because He is the giver of eternal life.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-40683382307176156782011-11-01T19:33:00.003-04:002011-11-08T16:44:10.614-05:00

This week's sermon preached at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY: Title: "Words of Earth, Word of Heaven"Text: John 3:22-36Thesis: Jesus is the supreme revelation of God to man.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-73569621804819523582011-10-25T17:58:00.005-04:002011-10-25T19:54:02.972-04:00

For as he who marries a wife does not call and invite his friends to the marriage, in order to prostitute the bride to them, or, by giving up his own rights, to allow them to partake with him of the nuptial bed, but rather that the marriage, being honoured by them, may be rendered more sacred; so Christ does not call his ministers to the office of teaching, in order that, by conquering the Church

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-8789077390315466562011-10-23T20:53:00.005-04:002011-11-08T16:45:34.254-05:00

I had the privilege of leading the service of worship at Faith Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Austell, GA this morning. Here's the sermon info: Title: "Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve"Text: Joshua 24:14-31Thesis: The church is called to serve the God that first served it.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-24728882560643391932011-10-17T21:17:00.003-04:002011-11-08T16:46:13.214-05:00

I had the privilege of leading the service of public worship this past Lord's Day morning at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY. We continued in the Gospel of John series. Here's the sermon info and audio file: Title: "Love, Light, Life"Text: John 3:16-21Thesis: The love of the Father sent the light of the Son to give us life by the Spirit.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-83545475862432803502011-10-03T21:49:00.003-04:002011-11-30T09:27:54.082-05:00

This Lord's Day morning I led the service of public worship at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY. Here's the sermon: Title: "Born of Earth, Born of Heaven"Text: John 2:23-3:15Thesis: Saving faith comes by the new birth.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-25746511023615173252011-09-19T17:11:00.003-04:002011-11-30T09:34:46.229-05:00

We enjoyed another wonderful weekend and Lord's Day with the folks at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY. The Lord continues to bless his pilgrim people through the ministry of his Word and sacrament. What a gracious God we serve! I had the privilege of continuing the sermon series through the Gospel of John. Here is this week's sermon: Title: "Temple of Earth, Temple of Heaven"Text:

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-39176454841699530282011-09-07T21:02:00.002-04:002011-09-07T21:05:41.701-04:00

Here is a new sermon audio from this Sunday morning at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY. Title: "The First Sign: Jesus Turns Water into Wine"Text: John 2:1-11Thesis: Jesus' work is not by man's initiative but God's.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-2531078635107486552011-08-16T20:55:00.003-04:002011-09-20T07:24:58.082-04:00

Here are new sermon audios from this past Lord's Day at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church. Morning WorshipTitle: The End of the Faithful Witness (Part 1)Text: John 1:35-42Thesis: The end (or goal) of faithfully bearing witness to Jesus is that he might gather disciples unto himself who might also then go and bear witness of him to others. Evening WorshipTitle: The End of the Faithful Witness (

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-60192688261921290912011-08-09T07:08:00.003-04:002011-08-12T19:19:53.192-04:00

"Just because I believe drivers who pass me on the right are wrong does not mean that I have the power to pull those drivers over and lock them up in our basement."-D. G. Hart

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-30273966066859978532011-07-25T21:19:00.006-04:002011-09-20T07:25:58.121-04:00

This Sunday I again had the privilege of leading worship at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY. What a wonderful group of sinners these are! I feel right at home among them. The grace of God God in the gospel of Christ is thick in their midst. God is good. Here's the sermon info for morning and evening worship. You may click the titles to listen to the audio files. MorningText: John 1:

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-90477241578810458442011-07-13T16:59:00.006-04:002011-09-20T07:27:21.364-04:00

This Sunday evening I had the privilege of leading worship at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY. Here's the sermon info: Text: John 1:14-18 Thesis: Jesus became man so that man would see God.Title: The Glory of Jesus' Incarnation.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-57312104641392607002011-07-13T16:55:00.007-04:002011-09-20T07:28:23.286-04:00

This past Sunday morning I had the privilege of leading worship at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, KY. Here's the sermon info: Text: John 1:6-13 Thesis: Jesus was rejected by man so that man would be accepted by God.Title: The Glory of Jesus' First Coming.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-75196154340482284312011-05-16T23:05:00.005-04:002011-05-17T21:31:53.656-04:00

Tonight it was my pleasure to talk with Scott Oakland on the Reformedcast.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-8462838107789546342011-04-26T18:53:00.005-04:002011-04-30T13:16:27.035-04:00

John Calvin is a consummate pastor-theologian. Last year I purchased his commentaries on the Bible. Since then, he has become the first teacher I consult when preparing a sermon. Listen to what he writes about the prologue to the Gospel of John:By these words, therefore, the Evangelist assures us that we do not withdraw from the only and eternal God, when we believe in Christ, and likewise that

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-78246284058902995272011-04-17T17:36:00.004-04:002011-07-04T18:21:50.947-04:00

From an Address adopted by the first assembly of the Southern Presbyterian church (PCCSA) Dec. 4, 1861:The provinces of church and state are perfectly distinct, and one has no right to usurp the jurisdiction of the other. The state is a natural institute, founded in the constitution of man as moral and social, and designed to realize the idea of justice. It is the society of rights. The church is

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-14604831353512959282011-03-02T18:02:00.035-05:002011-03-27T03:24:33.593-04:00

If you've not been over to the PCA Historical Center website lately, I encourage you to check it out. Wayne Sparkman has gathered, organized, and made accessible a wealth of historical information. One way to keep up with some of his most recent work is through the historical center's four blogs:PCA History - will be concerned with items specific to the history of the PCA and its formation. The

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-8555651803312349042011-02-21T23:37:00.004-05:002011-02-21T23:41:34.483-05:00

Don't miss the latest episode of the ReformedCast with Dr. Carl Trueman on Christ, Culture, and Politics. Half way through 2K theology is taken up.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-7069955903899860192011-02-17T12:53:00.003-05:002011-02-17T12:57:30.452-05:00

Here is an excellent post from Dr. Hart critiquing a GC video that came out a few months ago. I remember watching the video then and having the exact same (though certainly not as articulate) reaction.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-82542541328353180052011-01-15T12:33:00.002-05:002011-01-15T12:45:10.690-05:00

In "Faith Formed by Love or Faith Alone" from Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry Dr. W. Robert Godfrey writes:Would anyone ever read the federal-vision writers or Norman Shepherd or the new perspective on Paul or Thomas Aquinas or the Council of Trent and come with the question to them: Should we sin that grace may abound? That question would never, could never, arise for anyone who

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-50502112786225319062011-01-05T22:11:00.003-05:002011-01-09T16:04:14.652-05:00

Don't miss the latest post by Dave Sarafoleon as he reviews Always Reformed: Essays in Honor of W. Robert Godfrey. Dave writes:Here is where I think we find the greatest deficiency in the PCA. We borrow from many traditions and neglect our own. Put differently, we embrace piety, but not the piety that arises from our confessions (HT to Scott Clark on this. See Recovering the Reformed

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-14145731493368593462010-12-30T08:29:00.003-05:002010-12-30T08:31:17.909-05:00

Don't miss Dr. Hart's latest post at Old Life. He concludes writing:And speaking of hell, I wonder if it has ever occurred to 2k critics like Mark Horne that Christ is Lord of both Heaven and Hell, and that his rule in those places is markedly different. If Christ is indeed Lord of the cursed and the blessed, then it may be possible to imagine that Christ’s rule in a Christian home will be

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-1803035395895533562010-12-15T00:13:00.001-05:002010-12-15T00:14:28.568-05:00

That's the name of the new Westminster Seminary California blog.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-72800210630831045802010-12-06T13:26:00.054-05:002011-12-21T23:05:46.860-05:00

An essential doctrine of Reformed Christian worship is a derivative of the Protestant tenet sola Scriptura called the Regulative Principle. Simply put, the Regulative Principle teaches that God alone has the right to institute the acceptable way of worship. We find this doctrine in the Westminster Confession of Faith 21.1 which reads, "The acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-80356274139599439802010-12-01T15:07:00.005-05:002010-12-01T15:31:38.727-05:00

Sunday Nov. 21, 2010 I had the privilege of delivering a Sunday School lecture at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Columbia, MO on the second part of Larger Catechism Q. 38. The question reads:Q. Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God?A. It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-22483923554519146932010-12-01T14:47:00.008-05:002010-12-14T12:20:13.006-05:00

Sunday morning Nov. 21, 2010 I had the privilege of preaching at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Columbia, MO. To listen click the title or the play button below. Here's the basic sermon info:Title: "Lazarus Has Died, and for Your Sake I Am Glad"Text: John 11:1-16Thesis: God's love does not always look the way we think it should.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-83824054605819411022010-11-23T17:12:00.003-05:002010-11-23T17:15:25.978-05:00

More great stuff from Dr. Trueman here: How churches lose the plot II. Here's an excerpt: Confessional Presbyterianism, the church system with which I am most familiar and for which I am most concerned, requires its office bearers to take vows to uphold the system of doctrine as taught in the Westminster Standards, to respect the church courts, and to maintain the peace and unity of the church.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-5136805433745255212010-11-23T15:23:00.006-05:002010-11-23T17:06:53.663-05:00

I recently purchased a new volume published by Westminster Seminary California, a festschrift entitled Always Reformed: Essays in Honor of W. Robert Godfrey, edited by R. Scott Clark and Joel E. Kim. It is excellent!The essays are arranged in three sections: (1) Historical, (2) Theological, and (3) Ecclesiastical. Contributors are:Sinclair B. FergusonD. G. HartRichard A. MullerR. Scott ClarkRyan

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-19583746387859978772010-11-05T22:40:00.002-04:002010-11-05T22:49:27.520-04:00

Here is an excellent post from Martin on the historic Christian dogma of the eternal generation of the Son contra Breshears and Driscoll.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-58788464558706722622010-10-15T11:04:00.041-04:002011-11-09T15:33:58.136-05:00

In a word: YES! Justin Taylor posted an excerpt from Dr. Tom Schreiner's forthcoming book 40 Questions about Christians and Biblical Law on whether keeping the fourth commandment (i.e. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," Ex. 20:8) is required for New Testament Christians. Dr. R. Scott Clark responded by pointing out the fundamental hermeneutical/confessional assumptions that have

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-36304631096909023252010-10-12T13:16:00.003-04:002010-10-12T17:02:24.046-04:00

Here is an excellent follow-up from Ryan Kelly regarding the topic of the video in my previous post.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-55178904511214179512010-10-06T00:57:00.002-04:002010-10-06T00:59:41.961-04:00

The Mission of the Church from Ben Peays on Vimeo.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-78849612597203062662010-10-04T23:16:00.002-04:002010-10-04T23:19:02.067-04:00

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-90849581167713219442010-09-28T09:56:00.005-04:002010-09-29T00:24:46.886-04:00

If you've not read Dr. Horton's book A Better Way: Rediscovering the Drama of Christ Centered Worship, what are you waiting for? Chapter 10 "Is Style Neutral?" is worth the price of the book. In that chapter Dr. Horton speaks to the role of tradition writing:Many of those in evangelical leadership today who have decried the ascendancy in Washington of the sixties radicals are themselves curiously

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-20843173438600161182010-09-10T12:48:00.002-04:002010-09-10T12:51:23.016-04:00

This is so good.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-86944129020716084502010-09-07T15:28:00.003-04:002010-09-07T15:31:23.800-04:00

This is so good.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-39727357738818800632010-09-04T12:28:00.027-04:002011-01-19T00:24:14.687-05:00

The doctrine known as semi-Pelagianism was first proposed by John Cassian (ca. 360-435). Cassian offered a via media (i.e. middle way) between Pelagianism and Augustinianism, doctrines which came to the fore during a debate between Pelagius and Augustine on the cause of salvation.Augustine (ca. 354-430) taught that a sinner is morally unable to be saved by his own work. God saves sinners who

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-11198494230385662362010-09-01T23:28:00.009-04:002010-09-05T14:16:17.602-04:00

Here is an interesting set of answers to an age-old question: What's the key to healthy Christian growth in godliness?I'm particularly impressed with Dr. Steve Nichols answer: "Self-determination is a myth." Dr. Nichols is clearly an Edwards scholar. Good stuff!I also like Dane's response: "Resolutely enjoying our full and free justification from God in Christ, in the shadow of which all the

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-77228788027135797082010-08-31T13:28:00.006-04:002010-09-28T10:23:17.615-04:00

"While [pagan philosophy] proceeded, on the subject of the soul, as far in the direction of supposed implications as the thinker pleased, we are not entitled to such license, namely, of affirming whatever we please. For we make Sacred Scripture the rule and the norm of every doctrine. Upon that we are obliged to fix our eyes, and we approve only whatever can be brought into harmony with the

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-49904545900122141242010-08-29T17:26:00.004-04:002010-08-29T19:33:07.495-04:00

Here's a great article from the Rev. Danny Hyde, Pastor of Oceanside URC. Rev. Hyde concludes writing:Are you in search of the Holy Spirit but can't seem to find what you are looking for? Search no longer. There is no need to continue trying to find the Spirit in direct experience upon the soul of the believer, as Pente-costalism, mysticism, and pietism teach. Instead, you can experience his

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-22978796656009756902010-08-24T00:25:00.006-04:002010-08-24T00:36:28.906-04:00

These interviews on the formal and material principles of the Protestant reformation are excellent.[ht:ref21]

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-45881059880291864502010-08-23T12:39:00.004-04:002010-08-23T12:50:56.109-04:00

Here's an excellent post from TE Stellman on the PCA strategic plan. If you think about it, what lies at the back of the disagreement on the part of the Old-School opponents of the Strategic Plan and its New-School supporters is the relationship of the church’s mission and marks. As the (original) Strategic Plan’s suggestion for the PCA to withdraw from NAPARC suggests, it is apparently not

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-49311087037218232582010-08-22T21:34:00.010-04:002010-08-22T22:09:22.989-04:00

There's nothing like genocide to provoke deeper affections for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dashing babies against rocks always has a way of inciting warm fuzzies, don't you think? Here's an excellent post from Jim Cassidy over at Historia Salutis on just this subject. His thoughts remind me of a sermon I preached a couple years ago at Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Norman, OK called "The

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-65082063399099870742010-08-15T19:33:00.002-04:002010-08-15T19:42:11.283-04:00

A new and more powerful proclamation of law is perhaps the most pressing need of the hour; men would have little difficulty with the gospel if they had only learned the lesson of the law. As it is, they are turning aside from the Christian pathway; they are turning to the village of Morality, and to the house of Mr. Legality, who is reported to be very skillful in relieving men of their burdens..

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-15714373124712644062010-08-12T12:27:00.018-04:002010-08-19T12:52:13.839-04:00

Since moving to St. Louis, I've been amazed at how often I've run into folks who pit law against relationship in their theology. I'm not talking about my seventh grade students. These are folks who should know better.Just last week I was talking with a finishing Covenant Seminary student preparing for pastoral ministry. (For those readers who think they might be able to guess the identity of

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-20271753573374748232010-08-09T17:14:00.013-04:002010-08-10T20:08:09.895-04:00

Heidelberg Catechism 30 reads:Q. Do those who look for their salvation and security in saints, in themselves, or elsewhere really believe in the only savior Jesus?A. No. Although they boast of being his, by their deeds they deny the only savior and deliverer, Jesus. Either Jesus is not a perfect savior, or those who in true faith accept this savior have in him all they need for their

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-57446206952442975972010-07-27T16:31:00.004-04:002010-08-01T22:50:38.075-04:00

Via media (i.e. middle way) arguments are bad because they are too accommodating. :-)

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-64394583859662239412010-07-08T18:38:00.003-04:002010-07-08T18:48:26.756-04:00

I recently learned about a new online bookstore called J. Michael Theological Books. JMTB specializes in antiquarian and hard-to-find theological works from the Protestant Reformed tradition. I encourage you to check it out.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-62825296555407215172010-07-06T17:45:00.004-04:002010-07-06T18:52:29.573-04:00

Here is an excellent and encouraging analysis of the 38th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America by the Rev. Dr. David Hall. Dr. Hall begins: The 38th General Assembly of the PCA will probably neither prove to be the disastrous abyss that some think nor the inauguration of the eschaton expected by others. When measured by a longer perspective, it may prove to have been a fairly

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-34012596088697296332010-07-04T15:11:00.008-04:002010-07-10T23:39:59.184-04:00

I am a patriotic American and very grateful to be a citizen of this great country, but after morning worship at an historic PCA church which included the stars and stripes and the statue of liberty on the cover of the printed order of worship, the singing of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "God Bless America," prayer for the revival of "our" (the church's?) nation, prayer for God to bless America,

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-50427524986559608162010-06-16T13:18:00.015-04:002010-08-03T22:18:36.191-04:00

I just read some remarks D.A. Carson wrote on self-justification over at Justin Taylor's blog. Carson writes, "It is difficult to think of any sin we commit that does not include a dollop of self-justification." This got me to thinking. Is self-justification inherently sinful? I don't think it is. Here's why:The material principle of the covenant of works (see section 2 here) is indeed

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-40445342863821622432010-06-16T12:06:00.005-04:002010-06-16T12:23:00.864-04:00

Wes White has provided a service to the PCA's GA commissioners in his latest blog post explaining the proposed strategic plan. If you'd like to know where the PCA is most likely headed if the proposed plan is adopted read this.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-50993381273962934112010-06-15T23:53:00.004-04:002010-06-16T00:01:17.494-04:00

This is so good. In one of Dr. Clark's latest posts he responds to one commenter regarding the forbidding of images of Christ in the Reformed confessions writing:We confess what we do because we believe that is what God teaches us to think. There’s no encouragement in the Hebrew and Aramaic Scriptures whatever to picture God. There is no encouragement in the Greek NT to picture God incarnate.This

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-34170996284555010102010-06-14T11:58:00.009-04:002010-06-14T12:13:09.331-04:00

Ever been called a pharisee for believing confessional standards are the basis of the health of Christian unity? Here is an excellent post from Dr. Hart on the problem of ecumenism based on confessional minimalism. And here's an excerpt:Ortlund’s post is standard fare among evangelicals who look for a lowest-common-denominator approach to Christian unity and so regard sticklers for doctrine and

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-30017453494637940342010-06-14T11:29:00.002-04:002010-06-14T11:34:01.505-04:00

I had the privilege of leading worship the first Sunday of June. Below are the words of institution I gave for the administration of the Lord's Supper.Brothers and sisters, our transcendent God has condescended to love us, his adopted children, by giving us visible and sensible signs and seals of his covenant of grace. One of those is now before us: The Lord’s Supper. The Supper is a sign in that

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-1737097856716546522010-06-07T21:15:00.010-04:002010-06-07T22:46:09.084-04:00

One of the books I'm reading now is Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry: Essays by the Faculty of Westminster Seminary California (Notice the commas!!!), ed. R. Scott Clark. This volume is focused on historic Reformed covenant theology, the doctrine of justification, the current challenges being mounted by the NPP and FV theologies to both, and the pastoral implications of it all. It

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-42726184835419961592010-06-01T00:51:00.013-04:002010-06-05T22:46:44.853-04:00

A week ago today Rev. Guy Davies interviewed Dr. Oliver Crisp, professor of philosophical theology at the University of Bristol and author of the recently published God Incarnate: Explorations in Christology. I haven't yet gotten my copy but plan to soon. Crisp's Jonathan Edwards and the Metaphysics of Sin was extremely helpful to me while writing my master's thesis on Jonathan Edwards's theodicy

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-62340225036708358872010-05-27T17:15:00.003-04:002010-05-28T15:24:30.506-04:00

Taylor interviews Tchividjian on these essential doctrines here. Here's an excerpt:Do you believe in the so-called “third use of the law”?Yes. I’m a staunch believer in the three uses of the law (pedagogical, civil, and didactic). The law sends us to Christ for justification (the first use—which is correct), but some would also say that Christ sends us back to law for sanctification (a

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-90578428877035311982010-05-27T11:37:00.002-04:002010-05-27T11:42:15.468-04:00

Answer:The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-90206026317300349142010-05-27T11:05:00.003-04:002010-05-27T11:11:08.113-04:00

Rev. Stellman has written an excellent post on the essential epistemological equality of Roman Catholic and Protestant apologetics. Here's his conclusion:So in conclusion, the Catholic’s point that his criterion is objective while ours is subjective is only true if you don’t start the clock until after he has finished doing all the subjective stuff in order to figure out what his criterion is in

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-51249021062771689182010-05-26T15:25:00.002-04:002010-05-26T15:28:56.764-04:00

Here. And an excerpt:The church’s mission is not social justice if, by such equity we mean the punishment of wickedness and the reward of virtue. . . . If by social justice, like the way that Peter Lillback used it on the Glenn Beck show, one means various ways to improve a person’s material circumstances, such as education for the ignorant, relief for orphans, welfare for the poor, food for the

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-60888339818845733152010-05-25T13:23:00.003-04:002010-05-25T13:28:52.346-04:00

Nick Batzig has posted a link to an excellent article on biblical church growth by Trinity PCA pastor Roland Barnes. Rev. Barnes writes:It is the conviction of this writer that all efforts to plant and grow the church must be founded upon these two fundamental ingredients of ministry: prayer and the ministry of the word.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-36206310851519146452010-05-24T23:39:00.004-04:002010-05-24T23:51:57.310-04:00

Dr. Waters's writes in the foreword to Rev. Danny Hyde's excellent book Welcome to a Reformed Church: You may be asking, "How do you reconcile your claim to 'catholicity' with the Roman Catholic Church's claim that she alone is the one true church?" Since the time of the Reformation, Reformed churches, in line with John Calvin, have argued that Rome is schismatic and that confessional Protestants

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-45629589395434892382010-05-24T15:39:00.004-04:002010-05-24T15:55:31.146-04:00

The Northwest Georgia Presbytery has overtured the General Assembly offering "An Alternative Plan for PCA Renewal." Rev. Dr. Jon Payne writes:Dear friends, the remedy to our denominational maladies is not the implementation of what some see as a fairly complex, mildly therapeutic, sociologically savvy strategic vision. Rather, what the PCA needs - in fact, what every NAPARC denomination always

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-83269610833457811002010-05-23T19:54:00.021-04:002010-05-24T14:58:03.758-04:00

One of the incipient characteristics of "legalism" is that it actually diminishes God's law. It is incipient for two reasons: (1) those who fall prey to "legalism" are usually unaware that they've actually diminished God's law and (2) those who fail to notice this fact react against "legalism" by adopting antinomianism and thus, practically speaking, come to the same end.Concerning 2 Corinthians

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-61010249430535860992010-05-23T00:03:00.001-04:002010-05-23T00:05:13.083-04:00

[See this disclaimer and explanation of my Attempted Axioms here]The church is the people of the gospel, not the gospel of the people.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-41444201126237220812010-05-22T00:28:00.003-04:002010-05-28T15:25:04.832-04:00

Here

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-28678497716623885082010-05-17T22:02:00.004-04:002010-05-17T22:06:44.220-04:00

From Justin Taylor's blog. Justin writes:Zac Smith is with Jesus. He fought the good fight of faith. He finished the race. He kept the faith. He’s entered into the joy of his Master. He didn’t waste his life, and he didn’t waste his cancer.The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-57278026081714683722010-05-17T11:24:00.003-04:002010-05-17T11:27:12.710-04:00

Here is an excellent post from Wes on the health of Christian unity (i.e. love) and its proper basis (i.e. truth). And here's an excerpt:Thus, often what people think is love is not love. If we are not seeking people's true good, then we are not really loving them. Conversely, it is very often the case that true love is not recognized for what it is. The child may not view it as love that he or

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-5821258174327891102010-05-17T10:21:00.006-04:002010-05-17T10:46:51.855-04:00

Yesterday, the Lord's Day, I read The Big Picture Story Bible to my five year old son (at HIS request!!!). I bought the book a couple years ago, and he's finally grown into it. If you have young children, I highly recommend it. As its title suggests, it is wonderfully illustrated. But the title has a double meaning. David Helm really did a masterful job of bringing forward and communicating the "

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-2847308331901156532010-05-15T17:31:00.019-04:002010-05-15T21:31:03.622-04:00

Francis Turretin's Institutes of Elenctic Theology was THE text used to train generations of Presbyterian and Reformed pastors from the late 17th through the mid-19th centuries. He is a prime example of what Richard Muller has categorized as the "high orthodoxy" period (ca. 1640-1685-1725) of Protestant scholasticism (see Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics vol. 1 Prolegomena to Theology). Last

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-5157484087448474052010-05-14T09:55:00.012-04:002010-05-28T15:25:31.455-04:00

Wes has posted an excellent article on monocovenantalism and the undermining of the law-gospel distinction in Federal Vision Theology. Here's an excerpt:What we are dealing with here, we shall call monocovenantalism, that is, one-covenantism. This does not mean that they believe that there are no differences between the pre-fall and post-fall covenants. Rather, the problem is that they believe

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-49048316640097167672010-05-11T11:39:00.013-04:002010-05-11T15:56:26.877-04:00

Yesterday I read Jon Payne's 2008 book In the Splendor of Holiness: Rediscovering the Beauty of Reformed Worship for the 21st Century. It is excellent! Of all the books I read last year on Reformed worship principles and practices, this is the book I will be giving to church officers and layman to introduce them to Reformed worship. Well written and deeply rooted in both the Bible and church

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-830603513946453592010-05-10T21:37:00.028-04:002010-05-23T20:53:44.556-04:00

Just before moving to St. Louis a little more than a year and a half ago to fulfill a ministerial call, I began a series of posts critiquing Dr. Stephen Wellum's critique of the Reformed view of baptism. It's been a while since my last post in this series. I'd like to pick up now where I left off. In part 1 we outlined Wellum's article. In part 2 we examined the introduction. In part 3 we looked

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-3980853731577934652010-05-10T11:46:00.002-04:002010-05-10T23:34:11.871-04:00

Here.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-89048074465324441192010-05-08T13:02:00.007-04:002010-05-10T23:33:47.553-04:00

Dr. Benjamin Shaw continues his multi-post summary and commentary on the proposed PCA strategic plan here. In this post he gets into a church and culture issue that I think is one of the most significant differences among constituencies within the PCA. It has been my experience in talking with students and observing former students that Covenant Theological Seminary (the PCA's seminary) approves

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-71511367206518567782010-05-07T22:08:00.005-04:002010-05-10T23:33:34.475-04:00

From his article "Catholicity Global and Historical: Constantinople, Westminster, and the Church in the Twenty-First Century" in the latest WTJ:There are those who claim that we are entering an entirely new era requiring a massive paradigm shift in the church's thought and action. In this case, historical theology is merely a curiosity. It may have a part in an ongoing conversation but the debate

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-23636721805586729142010-05-07T18:54:00.008-04:002010-05-16T21:14:14.470-04:00

At the end of the day ecclesiological traditionalism is the same as ecclesiological liberalism. Both deny the sufficiency of Scripture and affirm the sufficiency of human autonomy. Also, both reject the abiding value of the providence of God in the historical development of Christian dogma and doctrine. Neither is confessional. Here's an excellent post on these issues at The Confessional Outhouse

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-23269555103208993662010-05-02T14:16:00.002-04:002010-05-10T23:33:09.602-04:00

Bringing Reformation to Evangelical and Reformed Churches

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-4341411420520305042010-04-30T12:53:00.010-04:002010-05-10T23:32:35.265-04:00

Here is an excellent post from Wes on Norman Shepherd's doctrine of justification, which is one of the roots of the Federal Vision theology. Some who've accepted Shepherd's view, in order to counter criticisms that it falls outside the scope of Reformed orthodoxy, have made the claim that it is in line with the minority view held by those in the early Reformed camp, like Johannes Piscator, who

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-88263391375548117502010-04-29T20:35:00.001-04:002010-05-10T23:25:40.244-04:00

Here's a plan I could get behind.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-6917399376134600882010-04-29T11:49:00.005-04:002010-05-10T23:31:09.959-04:00

[See this disclaimer and explanation of my Attempted Axioms here]This is ironic . . . Rejecting the substance of the covenant of works necessarily leads to neonomianism.(By the way, antinomianism is also a form of neonomianism)

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-82887778304624884552010-04-23T17:06:00.006-04:002010-05-10T23:30:51.493-04:00

The Marrow Controversy of the 18th century Scottish Kirk had to do with the false teaching called neonomianism (i.e. new law). Neonomianism has existed historically in different forms. Pelagianism, Semi-Pelagianism, Arminianism, Amyraldianism, Roman Catholicism, New Perspective on Paul, and the Federal Vision theology judged out of bounds by NAPARC denominations are all expressions of

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-29587801902566110502010-04-22T00:39:00.002-04:002010-05-10T23:30:14.775-04:00

Here is an excellent and thought-provoking post by R. Scott Clark on Breaking the Law of Niceness. An excerpt reads:If I’ve said something that is truly stupid then it ought to be called that. It’s not loving to refuse to point out to me my stupidity.I know about the law to love my neighbor as myself. I understand that law, at least in some rudimentary way. There are concrete examples in

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-26899564800894467792010-04-21T15:21:00.009-04:002010-05-10T23:29:46.330-04:00

Monday evening I had the privilege of delivering a lecture on Genesis 45-46 to an interdenominational bible study group that meets in our church facilities. I chose to focus on Gen. 45:7-8a, "And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God." The title of the lecture is also it's thesis: "God

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-37610792334448372472010-04-20T00:08:00.004-04:002010-05-10T23:29:25.073-04:00

Don't miss the video of Martin Downes' lecture "Heresy Never Dies" delivered at the 2010 Twin Lakes Fellowship. It is excellent!

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-52442902600143300412010-04-19T23:01:00.002-04:002010-05-10T23:25:40.249-04:00

Here is an excellent post from Jim Cassidy regarding the proposed PCA strategic plan. Cassidy begins:In God’s providence, it is certainly no coincidence that the PCA Strategic Report with it accompanying videos by Bryan Chapell has come out publicly the same time as the Together For the Gospel conference videos. I’ve watched Thabiti Anyabwile’s and John MacArthur’s presentations today and then

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-51407951520656832582010-04-18T17:41:00.001-04:002010-05-10T23:29:03.474-04:00

[See this disclaimer and explanation of my Attempted Axioms here]Good news that must be done is bad news for sinners.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-43331726250279331512010-04-16T16:41:00.002-04:002010-05-10T23:28:47.045-04:00

From Jeremiah Burroughs An Exposition of the Prophecy of Hosea: It is the usual way of those idolaters who forsake the true worship of God, to give themselves up to the pleasures of the flesh. Sensuality and idolatry usually go together. When the people of Israel sacrificed to the calves, what did they? They ate and drank, and rose up to play; that was all their work, and good enough for the

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-11896316455864786892010-04-16T11:49:00.002-04:002010-05-10T23:28:23.893-04:00

(HT: Dead Theologians)

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-1091953785625049642010-04-15T23:50:00.001-04:002010-05-10T23:27:24.847-04:00

Here's an excellent post from Dr. Clark on the nature of true Christian piety and practice. Here's an excerpt:What is distinctive about Christianity is its history and doctrine of redemption. Euphoria and good deeds (which are the building blocks of what many people today consider to be Christianity) aren’t distinctively Christian.

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-23225924033210049062010-04-14T15:29:00.003-04:002010-05-10T23:26:30.587-04:00

Derek Thomas has been posting reflections on his experience at the T4G 2010 over at the Ref21 blog. I've got to get to this conference in 2012! His latest post is very encouraging. I love this report from Thabiti Anyabwile's talk:Thabiti Anyabwile called upon us to reform the church rather than attempt to reform the culture (a hopeless task) - it included the memorable line, "the church is

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20164035.post-1308254111041966612010-04-13T12:51:00.005-04:002010-05-10T23:24:43.525-04:00

In his his excellent book Justification: Understanding the Classic Reformed Doctrine Dr. John Fesko writes:Rejecting the covenant of works, and more generally the works principle, undermines the relationship between justification and obedience, whether the obedience of the first Adam or the obedience of the last Adam as the ground of the believer's justification. To reject the works principle, or

M. Jay Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com0