A Distraction from True Idolatry:
It has today become popular to condemn people for "making an idol" of their work, vocation, family, spouse, etc.
It's true in the abstract that these normally good things can become idols, but the Bible never speaks of them as such.
This is generally a red herring, a distraction from the real idols plaguing the church: social media, video games, pornography, partying, sportsball, news fearmongering etc.
It has today become popular to condemn people for "making an idol" of their work, vocation, family, spouse, etc.
It's true in the abstract that these normally good things can become idols, but the Bible never speaks of them as such.
This is generally a red herring, a distraction from the real idols plaguing the church: social media, video games, pornography, partying, sportsball, news fearmongering etc.
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Typology and symbolism are pervasive in Scripture. Jesus and the Apostles frequently employ these tools in their interpretation of Scripture, and so should we.
The answer to bad typology and symbolism is good typology and symbolism, just like the answer to bad didactical exegesis is good didactical exegesis. (Paraphrase of James Jordan in the lecture below)
https://youtu.be/IACY2BLIyzg?si=l2icTnkwk-VzTb2o
The answer to bad typology and symbolism is good typology and symbolism, just like the answer to bad didactical exegesis is good didactical exegesis. (Paraphrase of James Jordan in the lecture below)
https://youtu.be/IACY2BLIyzg?si=l2icTnkwk-VzTb2o
YouTube
James B. Jordan- Introduction to Symbolism and Typology
Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nC9RnjuU0lPHkdBjoDan_mQ1sxfLVb97/view?usp=sharing
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In this 10-minute conversation, James B. Jordan provides a fresh perspective on the Reformed confessional tradition.
https://youtu.be/gtrsA4t6C-g?si=DHQ_5IQbOMC1I-dZ
https://youtu.be/gtrsA4t6C-g?si=DHQ_5IQbOMC1I-dZ
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Which group of church leaders do you find to be the most profitable?
Anonymous Poll
34%
Early Church Fathers (ex. Athansius, Augustine)
2%
Medieval Theologians (ex. Anselm, Aquinas)
42%
The Reformers (ex. Calvin, Luther, Bucer)
5%
The Reformed Scholastics (ex. Turretin, a Brakel)
7%
The Puritans (ex. Rutherford, Owen, Boston)
1%
The Princeton Theologians (ex. Hodge, Warfield)
1%
Dutch Reformed (ex. Bavinck, Vos, Berkhof, Van Til)
4%
Southern Presbyterian (ex. Thornwell, Dabney)
3%
Other (please specify)
The object of this Commandment is that believers should exercise themselves in the worship of God; for we know how prone men are to fall into indifference, unless they have some props to lean on or some stimulants to arouse them in maintaining their care and zeal for religion. Under the Second Commandment we have already indeed made some remarks on the outward profession of piety, and under the First also brief mention has been made of some festivals, inasmuch as in the Passover and the offering of the first-fruits the people devoted themselves to God, as if by a solemn repetition of the covenant... that by their aid the people might be the more encouraged to maintain the unity of the faith and to preserve the harmony of the Church.
-- John Calvin, Commentary on Exodus [20:8]
-- John Calvin, Commentary on Exodus [20:8]
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I would rather someone be a good parent and a heretic than an orthodox bad parent.
Children are the most important thing.
Children are the most important thing.
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Faith is a gift of God, poured into man from heaven, whereby he is taught with an undoubted persuasion, to wholly lean on God and his word; in this word, God freely promises life and all good things in Christ, and in this word, all truth necessary to be believed is plainly declared.
-- Heinrich Bullinger, Decades
-- Heinrich Bullinger, Decades
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Bullinger: Justification by Faith and Works:
Although we say that the faithful are justified by faith alone, or by faith without works, we do not say, as many think we do, that faith is posted alone, or is utterly destitute of good works. For wherever there is faith, there it also shows itself by good works; because the righteous cannot help but work righteousness.... So then, as often as the godly read that our own works justify us, that our own works are called righteousness, that a reward and life everlasting are given for our own works — he does not by and by swell with pride, nor forget the merit of Christ. But setting a godly and apt interpretation on such places, he considers that all things are by the grace of God, and that such great things are attributed to the works of men, because they are received into grace, and have now become the sons of God for Christ's sake. So that, in the end, all things may be turned upon Christ himself, for whose sake the godly know that they and all theirs are in favour and accepted by God the Father.
Although we say that the faithful are justified by faith alone, or by faith without works, we do not say, as many think we do, that faith is posted alone, or is utterly destitute of good works. For wherever there is faith, there it also shows itself by good works; because the righteous cannot help but work righteousness.... So then, as often as the godly read that our own works justify us, that our own works are called righteousness, that a reward and life everlasting are given for our own works — he does not by and by swell with pride, nor forget the merit of Christ. But setting a godly and apt interpretation on such places, he considers that all things are by the grace of God, and that such great things are attributed to the works of men, because they are received into grace, and have now become the sons of God for Christ's sake. So that, in the end, all things may be turned upon Christ himself, for whose sake the godly know that they and all theirs are in favour and accepted by God the Father.
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Bullinger: The Threefold Division of the Law:
In the moral laws, He frames our manners and teaches us what to do, and what to leave undone. With the ceremonial laws, he helps forward the morals; and under types and figures, he lays before the eyes of our body and mind the mysteries of God and his heavenly kingdom. And lastly, by the judicial laws he compels us to keep the laws, and preserves their integrity. Now all these together tend to this end only: that man may be saved, that he may worship God aright, and live according to the will of the Lord.
In the moral laws, He frames our manners and teaches us what to do, and what to leave undone. With the ceremonial laws, he helps forward the morals; and under types and figures, he lays before the eyes of our body and mind the mysteries of God and his heavenly kingdom. And lastly, by the judicial laws he compels us to keep the laws, and preserves their integrity. Now all these together tend to this end only: that man may be saved, that he may worship God aright, and live according to the will of the Lord.
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Bullinger on the Judicial Law of God:
The judicial laws were set out by God with wonderful faith and diligence by the ministry of his servant Moses; and God is not in the habit of revealing anything to mankind with such precise and exquisite diligence, unless it directly tends to mankind's great commodity.
Although these judicial laws are very few in number, and not to be compared in multitude with the huge volumes of the laws and decrees of emperors, kings, and wisest sages — yet in their short breviary, they contain the chief points of judgment and justice, and in effect, almost as much as is contained in the books of the laws and constitutions of the emperors and civil lawyers....
Now, these judicial laws are the most ancient, and the very fountains of all other good laws which are to be found in almost the whole world. Moses was before all other lawgivers that were of name and authority.... [but] commended to us, not so much for their antiquity, as for the authority which they have of God.
The judicial laws were set out by God with wonderful faith and diligence by the ministry of his servant Moses; and God is not in the habit of revealing anything to mankind with such precise and exquisite diligence, unless it directly tends to mankind's great commodity.
Although these judicial laws are very few in number, and not to be compared in multitude with the huge volumes of the laws and decrees of emperors, kings, and wisest sages — yet in their short breviary, they contain the chief points of judgment and justice, and in effect, almost as much as is contained in the books of the laws and constitutions of the emperors and civil lawyers....
Now, these judicial laws are the most ancient, and the very fountains of all other good laws which are to be found in almost the whole world. Moses was before all other lawgivers that were of name and authority.... [but] commended to us, not so much for their antiquity, as for the authority which they have of God.
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To whom God is a Father, the Church must also be a Mother:
But as it is now our purpose to discourse of the visible Church, let us learn, from her single title of Mother, how useful, nay, how necessary the knowledge of her is, since there is no other means of entering into life unless she conceive us in the womb and give us birth, unless she nourish us at her breasts, and, in short, keep us under her charge and government, until, divested of mortal flesh, we become like the angels (Mt. 22:30). For our weakness does not permit us to leave the school until we have spent our whole lives as scholars. Moreover, beyond the pale of the Church no forgiveness of sins, no salvation, can be hoped for, as Isaiah and Joel testify (Isa. 37:32; Joel 2:32).
-- John Calvin, Institutes IV.I.iv
But as it is now our purpose to discourse of the visible Church, let us learn, from her single title of Mother, how useful, nay, how necessary the knowledge of her is, since there is no other means of entering into life unless she conceive us in the womb and give us birth, unless she nourish us at her breasts, and, in short, keep us under her charge and government, until, divested of mortal flesh, we become like the angels (Mt. 22:30). For our weakness does not permit us to leave the school until we have spent our whole lives as scholars. Moreover, beyond the pale of the Church no forgiveness of sins, no salvation, can be hoped for, as Isaiah and Joel testify (Isa. 37:32; Joel 2:32).
-- John Calvin, Institutes IV.I.iv
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If God should suffer the faithless to have their own will, it is certain that the world should not last three days, but that they would bear down all things before them. Therefore, it is necessary that he should restrain them with some secret bridle and not suffer their headiness to have full scope.
-- John Calvin, Sermon 155 on Deuteronomy
-- John Calvin, Sermon 155 on Deuteronomy
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So long as God takes the care upon him to save us, let us boldly trust that we stand in safety, yea albeit that the wicked conspire against us, and lie in wait and watch for us: yet shall we be as in an invincible fortress, so we can call upon the name of our God, and be thoroughly assured in ourselves that he avows us to be his people, whereof we have good warrant, so we break not our faith which on our part we have plighted unto him. But we just must feel the protection of God otherwise than the wicked do; that is to say, in hearing his word, we must embrace the grace which is presented unto us, and rest wholly upon it. After that manner must we be ascertained that the name of God is called upon over us.
-- John Calvin, Sermon 155 on Deuteronomy
-- John Calvin, Sermon 155 on Deuteronomy
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American 1789 vs. Original 1647 WCF:
Which do you prefer? On the section re civil government, the original is superior, but vice versa on the section re marriage and divorce.
https://opc.org/documents/WCF_orig.html
Which do you prefer? On the section re civil government, the original is superior, but vice versa on the section re marriage and divorce.
https://opc.org/documents/WCF_orig.html
opc.org
American Revisions to the Westminster Confession of Faith: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
We're the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Our purpose is simple: to bring glory to God through our churches and individual lives to make known to the world the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ
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What denomination / tradition best describes you?
Anonymous Poll
40%
Presbyterian / Reformed
18%
Reformed Baptist
8%
Baptist (other)
15%
Lutheran
7%
Anglican
2%
Methodist / Wesleyan
8%
Pentecostal / Charismatic
4%
Other (please comment)
John Calvin on 1 Corinthians 10:
The Apostle's object is to show, that the Israelites were no less the people of God than we are, that we may know, that we will not escape with impunity the hand of God, which punished them with so much severity. For the sum is this -- "If God spared not them, neither will he spare you, for your condition is similar." That similarity he proves from this -- that they had been honored with the same tokens of God's grace, for the sacraments are badges by which the Church of God is distinguished. He treats first of baptism, and teaches that the cloud, which protected the Israelites in the desert from the heat of the sun, and directed their course, and also their passage through the sea, was to them as a baptism; he says, also, that in the manna, and the water flowing from the rock, there was a sacrament which corresponded with the sacred Supper.
The Apostle's object is to show, that the Israelites were no less the people of God than we are, that we may know, that we will not escape with impunity the hand of God, which punished them with so much severity. For the sum is this -- "If God spared not them, neither will he spare you, for your condition is similar." That similarity he proves from this -- that they had been honored with the same tokens of God's grace, for the sacraments are badges by which the Church of God is distinguished. He treats first of baptism, and teaches that the cloud, which protected the Israelites in the desert from the heat of the sun, and directed their course, and also their passage through the sea, was to them as a baptism; he says, also, that in the manna, and the water flowing from the rock, there was a sacrament which corresponded with the sacred Supper.
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Heidelberg Catechism LD10 on Providence:
Q 27: What dost thou mean by the providence of God?
A: The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.
Q 28: What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things?
Answer: That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from His love; since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.
Q 27: What dost thou mean by the providence of God?
A: The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.
Q 28: What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things?
Answer: That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from His love; since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.
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