Orthodox trinitarianism typically refers to God in terms of three persons or subsistences (personas, subsistentia, or ὑποστάσιες) and one essence or substance (essentia, substantia, or οὐσία). But is there a sense in which God is one person? To put it another way, is God’s oneness personal? Here’s how three Princeton theologians addressed this topic. B. B. […]
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John Murray on Union with Christ
John Murray’s Redemption Accomplished and Applied is one of my all-time favorite books. I highly recommend it as a biblical and Reformed study on the atonement and the ordo salutis. I’m preparing to teach on union with Christ at my church in a couple of weeks, and I decided to reread Murray’s chapter on the subject. It was time […]
The Doctrine of the Trinity in Five Theses
Here’s how Geerhardus Vos articulates the core affirmations of the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity: There is only one divine being. Scripture expresses itself decisively against all polytheism (Deut 6:4; Isa 44:6; Jas 2:19). In this one God are three modes of existence, which we refer to by the word “person” and which are, each […]
One with Christ: An Evangelical Theology of Salvation
A reader pointed out a forthcoming book on union with Christ: One with Christ: An Evangelical Theology of Salvation. This 256–page book by Marcus Peter Johnson is supposed to be published by Crossway on August 31, 2013. Here’s the description from Amazon: Regeneration, justification, sanctification. These are the primary words that come to mind when talking about the theology […]
D. A. Carson on Assurance of Salvation
Yesterday Andy Naselli highlighted six resources by D. A. Carson on assurance of salvation. It reminded me of Carson’s article “Reflections on Christian Assurance,” which is one of my favorites on the subject. Carson skillfully holds together what many tear asunder. If you haven’t read it, I’d strongly encourage you to. The balance he strikes is exemplary. I can’t speak […]
Responding to Cancer
Professor and blogger Rod Decker posted on his blog this weekend about his cancer. It appears to be more widespread, more aggressive, and more serious than they originally thought. He’s begun treatment to control and reduce the cancer, and he’d appreciate your prayers—as we all would if we were in his shoes. As I read his post, […]
Does Matthew 5:48 Require Sinless Perfection?
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). This is often interpreted as a call to sinless perfection, something that Christians cannot attain prior to glorification. God is thus able to issue this injunction to his people: ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ […]
Piper on Calvinism, Arminianism, and Logic
I think John Piper is on target with this assessment of Calvinists, Arminians, and logic: It is a great irony to me that Calvinists are stereotyped as logic-driven. For forty years my experience has been the opposite. The Calvinists I have known (English Puritans, Edwards, Newton, Spurgeon, Packer, Sproul) are not logic driven, but Bible-driven. […]