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

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Federal Vision

Justification by Union with Christ Only Through Living Faith

A Brief Comparison of Calvin’s Institutes with the Westminster Confession and Catechisms regarding the shape of imputation This essay is a brief argument that the soteriology of John Calvin in his Institutes of the Christian Religion regarding union with Christ and the imputation of his righteousness is the same as…

by Mark HorneJune 5, 2003
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Baptism

Some Thoughts on the Means of Grace: A Few Proposals

The thoughts in this paper were largely prompted by a study of Walter E. Krebs, “The Word and the Sacraments,” Mercersburg Review (July, 1867), 366-383. The discussion in this paper presupposes my earlier studies of baptism, “Baptismal Efficacy and the Reformed Tradition: Past, Present, and Future” and “Calvin on Baptism,…

by Rich LuskJune 3, 2003
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Baptism

Faith, Baptism, & Justification

Sometimes our systematic theology creates an illusion of precision. For example, we distinguish the ground and instrument of justification. Justification is grounded in Christ’s work alone, and is instrumentally received by faith alone. That makes good sense and guards us from thinking that faith itself is somehow meritorious. All the…

by Rich LuskJune 1, 2003
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Covenant

DO THIS AS MY MEMORIAL: Understanding How the Lord’s Supper Reminds God to Keep Covenant

Whenever we participate in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we remember Christ and His Work for us. We remember. And in remembering, we imitate God, as His creatures made after His image. God remembers. This is mysterious to us because we usually think of remembering in the context of our…

by Mark HorneMay 30, 2003
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Baptism

Calvin & the Efficacy of Infant Baptism

It is standard in paedobaptist circles to argue for the baptism of infants out of the Old Covenant system. Because there is no explicit command in the New Testament, we are left to the broader principles and patterns of Scripture. In the Old Covenant, we continually find that the children…

by Rich LuskMay 30, 2003
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Biblical Theology

Why the Law/Gospel Paradigm is Flawed

Luther popularized the law/gospel hermeneutic. Luther argued that any demands God made upon us fell into the category of “law” and could only condemn. By contrast, anything God gave us was “gospel” and came with no strings attached. Calvin paid lip service to this law/gospel antithesis, even though it was…

by Rich LuskMay 29, 2003

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Solomon as Creator

1 Kings 7:46-47 inform us that the casting for the bronze furnishings and tools of the temple worship was done in the “plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan.” There are a few noteworthy details in these verses: 1) In verse 46 Solomon suddenly takes over as the craftsman…

September 22, 2004

Sermon Outline, September 26

Waterworks, 1 Kings 7:23-51 INTRODUCTION In the tabernacle courtyard, there was a laver that contained water for washing. We are not told its dimensions, and no particular emphasis is put on it (Exodus 30:17-21; cf. 38:8). Water is much more abundant in the temple. Not only is there a very…

September 22, 2004

Eucharistic Meditation, September 19

Song of Songs 7:10-13 Six times in the Song of Songs, Solomon refers to pomegranates in describing his beloved. ?Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate behind your veil,?Ehe says, and ?your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits.?E When he searches out his beloved, he…

September 19, 2004

Exhortation, September 19

The sermon text this morning includes a brief biography of the craftsman Hiram, son of an Israelite woman and a Tyrean man, whom Solomon brings to Jerusalem to cast bronze furnishings for the temple. The writer of Kings says that he is filled ?with wisdom and discernment and knowledge,?Erepeating several…

September 19, 2004

Solomon’s House

Walsh suggests a chiastic outline for 1 Kings 7:1-12: A. Solomon builds the house B. House of the forest of Lebanon (rows and beams of cedar) C. Portico of pillars D. Portico of judgment C. House for Solomon and Pharaoh?s daughter B. Stone work (rows and beams) A. Back to…

September 18, 2004

Solomon’s House

Walsh suggests a chiastic outline for 1 Kings 7:1-12: A. Solomon builds the house B. House of the forest of Lebanon (rows and beams of cedar) C. Portico of pillars D. Portico of judgment C. House for Solomon and Pharaoh?s daughter B. Stone work (rows and beams) A. Back to…

September 18, 2004

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