British-born Canadian theologian J.I. Packer addresses a common question asked of those who are Calvinists – “Why evangelism if God predestines?” He points out that it is our job to proclaim the Gospel, it is God’s job to save. It is our job to be faithful in sharing Christ, it is God’s job to be […]
J.I. Packer: No True Freedom Accept As A Servant to Christ
J.I. Packer, British-born Canadian theologian writes in his book Truth and Power: The Place of Scripture in the Christian Life: Any degree of skepticism about the portrait of Christ, the promises of God, the principles of godliness, and the power of the Holy Spirit, as biblically presented, has the effect of enslaving us to our […]
Where Christian Liberty is Concerned in Parenting
Now that I am an adult, I see clearly the wisdom my parents had with both my sister and I when we were teens. We made mistakes, and sinned of course, but I do believe that because of their choices as parents, we are who we are today. When I was a teen, I despised […]
N.T. Wright on the Ordination of Homosexuals
N.T. Wright is the Anglican Bishop of Durham (UK) and today he wrote an op/ed for the London-based Times on the subject of The Episcopal Church voting to allow the appointment of active homosexuals to all forms of ministry. He says that “support by US Episcopalians for homosexual clergy is contrary to Anglican faith and […]
Latte Links (5/23)
1. Dr. J.I. Packer – “Sola Fide: The Reformed Doctrine of Justification.” "The confession of divine justification touches man’s life at its heart, at the point of its relationship to God. It defines the preaching of the Church, the existence and progress of the life of faith, the root of human security, and man’s perspective […]
A Theologian’s Job
J.I. Pakcer in A Quest for Godliness: Theologians are called to be the church’s water engineers and sewage officers; it is their job to see that God’s pure truth flows abundantly where it is needed, and to filter out any intrusive pollution that might damage health. HT: Dashhouse Very true. Sort of like keeping in […]
God Saves Sinners
J.I. Packer in his “Introductory Essay” to John Owen’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (London: Banner of Truth, 1959) boiled the five points of Calvinism (Total Depravity of Man, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints) to the main ideal that really is the foundation to all […]
John Owen: The Invitation of Christ
British Puritan writer and theologian, John Owen (1616-1683) described the invitation of Jesus to respond in personal faith: This is somewhat of the word which he now speaks unto you: Why will ye die? why will ye perish? why will ye not have compassion on your own souls? Can your hearts endure, or can your […]
Twenty Items of Interest (v.25)
1. Chris at Homeward Bound makes a great case for how faithful followers of Jesus can be in favor of capital punishment. Something that “progressive” evangelicals and other liberals say isn’t possible. If we want to be faithful followers of Jesus, we have to let our faith inform every aspect of our lives – not […]