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Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.

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Baptism

Jesus' Baptism: The Fount of Life

A Study in Biblical and Practical Theology Sunday School Notes / Epiphany 2004 Introductory Note: January 6 is Epiphany in the traditional church calendar. Though Epiphany is often treated as a single day, with the Sundays following counted as “Sundays after Epiphany,” we will treat Epiphany as an extended season.…

by Rich LuskJune 1, 2004
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Baptism

Baptism, Symbols, and Faith

Imagine someone from another world trying to learn to live in our society according to our customs. What if someone gave him a check for a hundred dollars for his birthday–the first check he had ever seen in his life? Would he immediately understand how a check was used? Perhaps…

by Mark HorneMay 29, 2004
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Baptism

Admission into the Church: Biblical Theology & Baptism

According to Presbyterian doctrine, as articulated in the Westminster Confession of Faith, baptism is a baptized person’s “admission… into the visible church.” By referring to the “visible church,” the document makes clear it is referring to the present institutional Church with all her imperfections, as opposed to the future Church…

by Mark HorneMay 29, 2004
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Covenant

Some thoughts on NT Wright, Righteousness & Covenant Status

N. T. Wright claims that in the Apostle Paul’s writings “righteousness,” as it predicated of humans, denotes “covenant membership.” When he wrote this in the New Bible Dictionary edited by Sinclair Ferguson, J. I. Packer, and David Wright, no one thought this was too big a deal. However, when he…

by Mark HorneMay 29, 2004
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Theologia

The God of Grace

It seems almost human nature to think that we can find something to do for God that will make Him do us favors. If we live more virtuously, or cut down on a vice or two, then God will have to reward us. But the problem with this notion is…

by Mark HorneMay 24, 2004
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Justification

The Moral Law Commands Faith in Christ Alone

The First Commandment teaches us to trust in Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. The First Commandment reads (I’m using NASB throughout): “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Obviously, trusting in someone or something else (even one’s own good works) for justification, sanctification, and eternal life”…

by Mark HorneMay 22, 2004

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Numbering Solomon’s Wisdom, 1 Kings 4:29-34

The hymn in praise of Solomon’s wisdom at the end of 1 Kings 4 makes a number of points. First, Solomon?s wisdom is rooted in his ?heart?E(v. 29), which has the discernment that the Lord had promised him. Second, Solomon?s wisdom matches the breadth of his kingdom. He had asked…

September 4, 2004

Numbering Solomon’s Wisdom, 1 Kings 4:29-34

The hymn in praise of Solomon’s wisdom at the end of 1 Kings 4 makes a number of points. First, Solomon?s wisdom is rooted in his ?heart?E(v. 29), which has the discernment that the Lord had promised him. Second, Solomon?s wisdom matches the breadth of his kingdom. He had asked…

September 4, 2004

Temple and Land

At a number of points, the names of the deputies or the place names listed in 1 Ki 4:7-19 are linked with terms that are used in the temple narratives in 1 Kings 6-8. Elonbeth-hanan, or Elon Beth-hanan, uses a form of EYL, one form of which means ?gatepost?E(1 Ki…

September 4, 2004

Barth on Sacraments

I started this article some time ago, and will never be able to finish it off. It may be of some use in its present form, however. Justification and sacramental theology were the chief doctrinal issues in the division between Roman Catholicism and the Reformers at the time of the…

September 4, 2004

Abrahamic Prostitute

The real mother in 1 Kings 3 displays a sort of Abrahamic quality: She is willing to give up her son, her only son, the son she loves, in hopes of saving him. And she gets back more than she hoped: She not only saves his life, but heads home…

September 2, 2004

Israel in James 3:12?

James condemns those who use tongues for blessing and cursing ?Eblessing God, and cursing men made in the image of God. Among the images he uses to express this is the image of the tree and fruit. Fig trees cannot product olives, nor vines produce figs (3:12). In many passages,…

September 2, 2004

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