Introduction Having previously considered the sinfulness of the state in which man fell, we now consider the misery of that state. The Baptist Catechism, Question #22 Q. 22. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell? A. 22. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God,¹ are under his wrath and curse,² […]
Historically, various opinions and debates surrounding the doctrine of Christ’s descent has led to it being a neglected topic. Many Evangelical churches have given little attention to this important doctrine. While the descent is a credal line confessed in the Apostle’s and Athanasian Creeds, many believe it to be unbiblical; consequently, the line is removed.[1] However, […]
*For other installments from this series, see here. Introduction In previous installments, we considered the relationship God had with Adam in the garden, Adam’s breaking of the covenant, the fact that Adam represented his natural seed, and the state in which Adam’s sin brought man into. The next question focuses on the sinfulness of that […]
Note: Part 1 and Part 2 of this series. Passage of Focus: Galatians 4:4-5 (cf. Psalm 22:22-24) It has been well said that one of the central themes in Scripture could be summarized as follows: “God is redeeming a people by His Son, for His Son, to His own glory.”[1] When contemplating the totality of […]
*Note: Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this series can be accessed here (insert links to articles). During the first half of the twentieth century, few Christian figures were more active in contending for the faith than J. Gresham Machen (Jude 1:3).[1] When confronted with the face of theological liberalism in the Presbyterian Church […]
Not: Part 1 of this series. Passage of Focus: Luke 1:26-38 (cf. Isaiah 9:6-7) Cur Deus Homo. Translation: “Why God Became Man.” Such a phrase encapsulates one of the greatest mysteries that has ever been pondered by mankind, and it serves as the title for one of the most significant theological works to ever be […]
Note: Parts 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this series. Barring anything unforeseen, the United States of America was forever changed on June 26, 2015. In the wake of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court formally legislated every state to license marriages between same-sex couples, and to recognize all marriages that were lawfully performed out of state.[1] […]
Introduction Last time we left off talking about sin. Namely, whether our first parents sinned, the definition of sin, and the nature of that sin our first parents committed. Now we begin to look into the effects of the preliminary sin committed by our first parents. This will take up a few articles, including this […]
Passage of Focus: Matthew 1:18-25 (cf. Isaiah 7:14) Are you content with being regarded as a fool for Jesus Christ? This question gets to the heart of what it means to be a Bible-believing Christian while dwelling in the midst of an unbelieving world. From the earliest days of the church age, followers of Jesus […]
*Note: Parts 1 and Part 2 of this series What is truth? For the human race, few questions are more recurring—and few pursuits are more elusive—than identifying absolute truth in reality. Even the most intellectually astute philosophers seem no closer to satisfying this inquiry in the twenty-first century than during the era of the Pre-Socratics. […]
Introduction In the last article, we considered the covenant made with Adam. In the next few articles, we will consider how Adam broke that covenant, in addition to reflecting on the effects it had upon the world and his natural offspring. Body Question 16 Q. 16. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein […]
*Note: Part 1 of this series can be accessed here. Christians have a history of being misunderstood in the public square. Within just three decades after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, a paradigm would be concretized for how the majority of believers in the West would experience life over the next two millennia. […]
Introduction Generally speaking, God providentially preserves and governs all that He has made. In a particular way, however, God has providentially condescended and entered into covenantal relationships with human beings to establish and regulate kingdoms. The first covenantal arrangement between God and man is the subject we will consider in this installment. Question Q. 15. […]
Religion is an indispensable component of the public square.[1] Since the public square is encapsulated by the ideas of human beings, and since religion is an idea at the forefront of man’s mind,[2] any suggestion to the contrary would necessarily entail the public square ceasing to be the public square. Stated differently, you can’t have […]
Introduction God has decreed all things that come to pass, and He carries out His decrees in two distinct, yet related ways. The first is creation, God’s external work of initiation. The second is providence, God’s work of continuation. In this session, we will cover divine providence in general, and next time we will look […]
Q. 13. How did God create man?
A. 13. God created man as male and female in His image, in knowledge, righteousness, holiness, and with dominion over the creatures. (Genesis 1:26-28; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24).
Introduction In this article, we move from God’s internal act of decree to His first external act of creation. Specifically, we will consider creation in general, and next time, we will look at the creation of man. Question Q. 12. What is the work of creation? A. The work of creation is God making all […]
“Living out a distinctively Christian ethic is not contingent upon the government implementing Old Covenant civil law, nor does the furthering of God’s kingdom entail infringing on the religious liberty of unbelievers.”
Just over two years ago, I began the Dismantling Dispensationalism series with the intent of highlighting problematic distinctives of Dispensationalism. In the opening article, I forecasted the series to be divided into the following nine installments- Part 1- “Dismantling Dispensationalism: My Journey Out of Dispensationalism” Part 2- “Dismantling Dispensationalism: Examining the Historical Origins of Dispensationalism” Part 3- […]
This series is titled: Praise God for Christianity: No Intellectual Progress Without It! Part 1 can be found here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here, and Part 4 here. If there ever was a time in human history to believe in the existence of an unchanging and absolute standard of human morality (“moral absolutes”), the twenty first century is […]
This series is titled: Praise God for Christianity: No Intellectual Progress Without It! Part 1 can be found here and Part 2 here. What is the most compelling evidence that could be presented for validating the Christian worldview? Throughout church history, apologists have done their best to earnestly and persuasively contend for the faith which was once […]
This series is titled: Praise God for Christianity: No Intellectual Progress Without It! Part 1 can be found here. Intelligible experience in reality presupposes, and is contingent upon, the existence of laws of logic. While it is likely that the overwhelming majority of people have spent little to no time studying the intricacies of the laws […]
This series is titled: Praise God for Christianity: No Intellectual Progress Without It! Did Christianity slow Western intellectual progress by replacing rational thought with mystery and authority? In post-Enlightenment generations, this question has received ample attention in academic and popular level contexts. As encapsulated in his seminal work, The Closing of the Western Mind: The […]
This article will analyze the New Covenant, as understood within Dispensational and Particular Baptist theological frameworks. In keeping with the pattern of this section of the Dismantling Dispensationalism series, each of the three main classifications of Dispensationalism will be categorized with the primary source that corresponds thereto. Moreover, relevant citations from a Particular Baptist (1689 […]
Introduction Now that we have considered God’s existence, attributes, and trinity, we may begin to contemplate His acts. We start not with the external acts of God. We start with the internal acts, namely His decrees or sometimes referred to in the singular as His decree. Body Question 10 A. Question and Answer Q. 10. […]
Introduction Now that we have considered God’s existence, attributes, and trinity, we may begin to contemplate His acts. We start not with the external acts of God. We start with the internal acts, namely His decrees or sometimes referred to in the singular as His decree. Body Question 10 A. Question and Answer Q. 10. […]
This article will examine the Davidic Covenant, as understood within Dispensational and Particular Baptist theological frameworks. In keeping with the pattern of this section of the Dismantling Dispensationalism series, each of the three main classifications of Dispensationalism will be categorized with the primary source that corresponds thereto. Moreover, relevant citations from a Particular Baptist (1689 […]
This article will canvass the Mosaic Covenant, as understood within Dispensational and Particular Baptist theological frameworks. In keeping with the pattern of this section of the Dismantling Dispensationalism series, each of the three main classifications of Dispensationalism will be categorized with the primary source that corresponds thereto. Moreover, germane citations from a Particular Baptist (1689 […]
*Note: This is the third installment in a three-part series. You can access part one (link to article) and part two (link to article) on the Covenant Confessions blog. Premises 3 and 4: Moreover, God has transcribed His moral law upon the hearts of every human being, leaving man without excuse to abide by the […]
Introduction Last time we contemplated how God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Now we come to contemplate the fact that this God is one and there is no other and how this one God is one in essence and three in persons. We […]
