Tag: Bible
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FROM THE ARCHIVES: “BAPTISMAL EFFICACY AND THE REFORMED TRADITION” (2002)
BAPTISMAL EFFICACY AND THE REFORMED TRADITION: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE By Rich Lusk OUR REFORMED HERITAGE When a Reformed Christian hears “baptismal regeneration,” what comes to mind? “Heresy,” most likely. Unfortunately, many in the Reformed community today have lost touch with some important aspects of their own heritage. If Reformed theology is going to continue…
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Charles Simeon on Baptismal Regeneration
This lengthy but insightful quotation on the historic meaning of “baptismal regeneration” and the problem with modern “refinements” is taken from Richard Whately’s 1857 tract on Baptism: “In the baptismal Service,” says the late Mr Simeon, “we thank God for having regenerated the baptized infant by his Holy Spirit. Now from hence it appears that, in the opinion…
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Circumcision, Baptism, and Colossians 2:11-12
What is the circumcision made without hands in Colossians 2? How does it relate to circumcision as the sign of the Abrahamic covenant? How does it relate to baptism? “[11] In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,…
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FV Summarized
An X post from 8/8/24: Since discussions of the so-called Federal Vision are heating back up, I figured I’d give a quick, short summary of the key emphases of FV: 1. Creation is gift. This means there is no nature/grace dualism in the Bible and no merit theology in the Bible. Everything is grace. Grace…
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1 Samuel 26 Sermon Follow-up: Sanctified Swagger
1 Samuel 26 is a story of sanctified swagger. Women often doubt such a thing exists, but most men know it does. What happens in 1 Samuel 26? David takes Abishai with him into the heart of Saul’s camp. They’re outnumbered 3000 to 2. David is a total underdog. But he knows God loves the…
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The Meaning of Old Covenant Circumcision
What was the meaning of circumcision in the Abrahamic covenant? Remember the context in which circumcision was instituted: right after Abraham tried to produce the promised seed in his own strength with Hagar. The sequence of Gen. 15-16-17 is critical. Abraham is given the promise of the seed (chapter 15). But then he tried to…
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Lessons from Judges 11
In Judges 11, Jephthah had been tasked with leading his people and defending them from the Ammonites. At first he seeks a diplomatic solution. But it quickly becomes apparent there will be no peaceful resolution to the conflict. The king of Ammon responds to Jepthah by making a false accusation about Israel’s history – he…
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Letters to Young Adults
A letter written to a young woman and a young man, as they enter into adulthood: — Letter to a young woman: Dear E, While we don’t live close by where we have the privilege of seeing you growing up, we know your family and we know what your parents’ hopes and expectations for you…
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Psalm 110 and Priestly Warfare
By time we reach the end of psalm Psalm 110, the dead bodies are piling up. In verse 1, Christ’s enemies are made into a footstool for his feet. In verse 2, he rules in the midst of his enemies — and has a scepter to smite them. In verse 5, he shatters kings in the…
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Inescapable Deaconesses
Deaconesses are inescapable. Every healthy church has deaconesses, whether they call them that or not, whether the recognize them or not, whether they organize them as such or not. Every healthy church has older women who teach and counsel younger women, per Titus 2 – a ministry of women to women. Every healthy church has…
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