Seventeen82

  ​ I recently finished the classical work on the Puritan’s view of the law, entitle d  The Grace of Law, by Ernest F. Kevan. As with so many theological treatments, one must always keep in mind the historical setting in which  such issues are  discussed and debated. This holds especially true for the Puritans’ theological exposition of the law, as they were addressing concerns and errors of their day. Specifically, they were in a theological sparring match with an opposing group known as the  A ntinomians.  ​ Now I am not presently prepared to delve into the whole controversy nor am I ready to provide an extended treatment of the Antinomian position. Let it be stated from the beginning I am not a Puritan scholar. Abler men than I are better equipped to provide a more thorough presentation of this very interesting and important subject. So, for this blog, I will confine myself with my impressions for popular consumption (and refutation). One strong impressi...

In the 1980s, CBS decided to revive the classic TV show  The Twilight Zone . It only lasted  three  seasons, but since I was a teenager at the time, I instantly became a fan of the series. The quality of the episodes was uneven, but it did  feature  of lot of up-and-coming actors  and actresses  ( for example , Morgan Freeman  starred in one early episode).  But there were  definitely some  interesting episodes  that I still remember even to this day. One of my favorite episodes during the first season of the  new series  was entitled “Need to Know.” It starred a young William Peterson (who would go on to play Gil Grissom in the TV series  CSI ) and a young Francis McDormand (who would  later  win an Oscar for playing the   sheriff in the movie  Fargo ).  The episode was a bout a government agent , Edward Sayers,  who  had been sent to a small town to investigate an unusual occu...

It is a common occurrence when a friend or acquaintance will mention to me that he or she believes in Jesus as their personal Savior, but thinks that there are multiple paths to salvation and other paths are just as viable as theirs is through Jesus. Around Easter of 2021 even two so-called Gospel preachers on the national stage made essentially this statement from their respective pulpits. I suspect that most say this either out of ignorance or because they don’t want to be characterized as non-loving.  This type of statement from someone who claims “I have my means to salvation and you can have yours” fits within the mantra of a post-truth culture where everyone is allowed to have his or her own truth and should be careful not to tread on other’s versions of truth.  But the question that has been rattling in my brain is, does this raise issues for that specific person’s salvation and true belief in Jesus Christ as his or her own Lord and Savior? In John’s Gospel the disciple...

  It's January 9, 2023! It's a new year. I've always liked the transition from one year to another. It brings a sense of change. The old is gone -- 2022 -- and the new has come -- 2023. It's a time for fresh starts, new routines, a new set of goals to accomplish. And, for an optimist like me, it's a welcomed relief.  Now, we all know that the past doesn't go away. Most, if not all of the challenges we faced in the previous year stick with us. They follow us into the new year. Our health scares are still with us. Our tense family relationships are still here. Our vices still pull on us. And, the consequences of our sin must still be dealt with. However, 2023 brings an opportunity to us -- an opportunity for change, for growth, for forgiveness, for repentance, for maturity, for disciplined lives. We don't have to be trapped by our pasts, whether they are good or bad. We can change. First, by the grace of God. Second, by faith and repentance. Third, by choices...

                                   As I write this, it is Friday, January 6th - and it is a beautiful afternoon here in the midlands of South Carolina! I am able to sit outside, have a nice little fire going in the outside fireplace, and work on this blog post for the new year - not a bad setup!  As I thought about what to write, my mind kept on coming back to this time of the year and our ritual/tradition of making new years resolutions. Maybe you made one or two or twenty! Go on a diet … get more exercise … read your Bible more … read more biographies … spend more time with your family.  I have a sneaking suspicion that behind our motivation to make these resolutions is to make our lives better, or, maybe, more “normal”. By “normal”, I mean that which is closer to what something should be - the norm. We could better to have a more normal life … we could exercise more to have a more norm...

  Last month, we considered  how  having submitted itself to the Scriptures , the WCF  began where the Scriptures begin: God Himself .   Now, WCF 3 takes place at the same time as WCF 2.  That is to say that it takes place outside of time. The reason time exists, the reason that anything exists,  the reason that anything happens is because God has wisely, righteously, and freely decided that it will. This decision takes place in God Himself.   “ God from all eternity , did by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will … ”   Because men wish to be in control, this truth offends them. But it is utterly inescapable.  From all eternity, there is only God; if now there is something else, it is because He willed it. If He is such a God as we have confessed from His own Scripture that He is, then He is  perfectly powerful over it, and perfectly wise and holy in ordaining it.   “ …freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to...

My  congregation  followed its study of Judges by going right into Ruth, which continues with the same difficult times and people. The book of Ruth is likely set near the beginning of the time of the Judges, so it is safe to say that the story of Naomi and Ruth took place in a harsh context. Yet, as we moved through Ruth, we saw a clear picture of the gospel, represented not only by the redemption of Ruth through her marriage to Boaz, but also in the sanctification of Naomi. Naomi’s story picks up in the midst of the famine in the land, which caused Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, to move his family to Moab in search of relief. What started as a temporary fix ended with two Moabite daughters-in-law, two dead sons, and the death of Elimelech himself. In convincing her daughters-in-law to leave, she proclaimed, “It is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” To add to this, when she and Ruth returned to Bethlehem, she told her story ...