Some Christian doctrines are weightier than others. When discussing Christian theology, many of us have heard the helpful quote attributed to Augustine, "In the essentials, unity, in the non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity." There is much to be learned from this quote, but did you know that many Bible teachers identify four different … Continue reading 4 Categories of Doctrinal Weight in Christian Theology
It seems everyone has a view of Scripture. Some think it is verbatim God's Word to us. Others believe it is not the words themselves that are important; it is the experience we have while reading it. In other words, the true Word of God lies behind the text. Others believe it is a book … Continue reading 10 Truths Jesus Holds About Scripture
What does it mean that God created us in his image? The Imago Dei is a topic that has been debated throughout church history. I do not expect this post to answer all the questions or be the final thought on the matter, but perhaps it may be helpful to prime the pump. In reading … Continue reading 4 Aspects of Being Made in God’s Image
The following is a post by Pastor Rob Golding of First Artesia Christian Reformed Church. He also writes for the Westminster Theological Seminary Magazine. Penal substitutionary atonement is difficult to understand, in part because we fail to conceive of the parties involved properly. Matters are complicated when the likes of N.T. Wright hyperbolically refer to “justification” in … Continue reading Defending Penal Substitution
Right now, you and I are experiencing the effects of sin, even if we are not conscious of it. When Adam fell and sin entered this world, it wreaked all kinds of havoc. One of sin’s most detrimental effects is that it causes separation, specifically, four types of separation. Francis Schaeffer once laid these out in his book, Genesis … Continue reading The Four Separations of Sin
Verbal inspiration is the doctrine that the Bible is precisely word-for-word what God wanted to say. It is not merely the thoughts and truths of scripture that are inspired but the very words themselves. Upon first hearing the term, many people confuse the word “verbal” with “audible.” The verbal inspiration of scripture is not the … Continue reading How Can Scripture Be Verbally Inspired?
What makes a good systematic theology? In speaking primarily of Evangelical systematic theology, there are at least four important aspects in addition to it being derived from scripture. 1. It is comprehensive, 2. it involves coherent organization, 3. it should apply to issues of the day, and 4. it should all be done for the … Continue reading What Makes a Good Systematic Theology?
Revelation 20 is one of the most debated passages in Scripture. When reading commentaries on this passage, it seems that there are about as many interpretations as there are writers. What causes this to be such a unique passage of Scripture is that according to Eerdmans’ Handbook on the Bible, this is the Scripture "which … Continue reading The Millennium: A Look at Revelation 20
The Fight of Faith 