Seminary, Obedience, and Spiritual Maturity
I recently came across a portion of a John Piper sermon that I thought would be helpful for seminary students (like myself) to ponder. The excerpt is taken from a sermon entitled, By This Time You Ought to be Teachers based on Hebrews 5:11-14. According to this text, spiritual maturity does not take place by [...]
Recommendation: ‘Toward a Theology of Human Embodiment’ by Gregg R. Allison
How should Christians view and treat the body? Is it a mere shell to be sloughed off at death and something to which we need only give limited attention? Should the body be built, refined and strengthened by a severe exercise regimen? Should Christians exercise at all? Should we guard our bodies at all costs [...]
The Theologian’s Character: More Wisdom From John Frame
I just completed John Frame’s The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God. The book is a wealth of theological and spiritual insight and I highly recommend it. It now resides on my desk, ready for its most valuable contents to be recorded onto my laptop. The following quote, I believe, places all theological labor in [...]
What is Biblical Theology? Thoughts from Graham Goldsworthy and Edmund Clowney
What is biblical theology? Prior to coming to seminary, the phrase ‘biblical theology’ was unfamiliar to me–unfamiliar, not in the sense that I had never heard the phrase before, but because I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. “Of course we want our theology to be biblical,” I thought, “That seems like an obvious point [...]
Spiritual Maturity and Doctrinal Debate
I am currently working my way through John Frame’s excellent book on theological method, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God. It has been helpful in many ways. In particular is Frame’s section on “cognitive rest” and how genuine growth in our knowledge of God comes by way of spiritual maturity and growth in sanctification. [...]
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (5)
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (1) Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (2) Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (3) Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (4) Problems with the Doctrine of Conditional Election Not only is unconditional election well-supported Biblically and theologically, conditional election suffers [...]
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (4)
That God’s election of sinners was executed apart from any righteousness or merit—including faith—on man’s part is made even more clear by considering this issue under two theological headings. First, the impact of sin on the human will and second, how the doctrine of unconditional election coheres with other aspects of salvation. The Impact of [...]
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional (3)
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional (1) Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional (2) Romans 8:29 and God’s “Foreknowledge” First, although the etymology of the word “foreknow” in both Greek and English suggests that it can mean “know beforehand,” the New Testament usage of the word and its cognates does not [...]
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (2)
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (1) Election in the Old and New Testaments The idea of unconditional election is not exclusive to the New Testament; it is found both implicitly and explicitly through much of the Old Testament. Although the words “elect” or “chosen” are not used in God’s interactions with Abram [...]
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (1)
In the discussion of the doctrine of divine election, two primary positions arise to the forefront of the conversation. Historically, these two positions have been stated and defended by those who would classify themselves as classical Arminians and moderate Calvinists, respectively. Classical Arminians maintain that God’s election of men and women to salvation before the [...]
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