Reformation 500: Sola Fide and The Roman Catholic Church

(This article was originally published here)

As the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation marches nearer, it behooves us to examine anew the differences between the Roman Catholic and Protestant doctrine. What differences were so important that both sides felt that they could not compromise on them? What were (and are) the core disagreements between the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches? The doctrine of Justification is one that forms the core disagreement between the Roman Catholics and Protestants.[1]

Did New Testament Authors See Their Writings as Inspired?

(post originally published here)

There has been much work done on the New Testament’s view and use of the Old Testament, with good reason. Many of the historical claims of the Old Testament have been contested (e.g. a historical Adam, the Noahic flood, the Exodus) and so theologians have turned to the New Testament to show that Christ and His apostles viewed these Old Testament events as historical. In addition, many Christians are unsure about the relevance of the Old Testament for today, either it seems too far removed in time, location, and cultural setting to be of any application today; or a radical division is drawn between Israel and the Church, such that the Old Covenant has nothing to do with the New Covenant. To combat these tendencies, theologians have gone to great lengths to show how Christ and His apostles viewed the Old Testament as the authoritative Word of God and used it in their preaching and teaching both in terms of doctrine and application. There has even been work done on the Old Testament’s view of the Old Testament, how later authors utilized and developed the writings of earlier authors. What I want to focus on in this article is the New Testament’s view of the New Testament. Did the church expect new revelation? How did the New Testament authors understand their writings? Did they know themselves to be writing the very Word of God?

“Not wishing that any should perish” in 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:8-9 ESV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Response to Todd White

This is a brief response, given in bullet form, to the error in Todd White’s teaching entitled, “The Revelation Of Your Value”

Meaningful Song and Singing with Meaning

In a previous essay, we looked at some Colossians 3:16 and some of its implications. One of those implications is that Christians in corporate worship should mean what they sing, and therefore, need to sing songs with meaning. This implication arises out from two aspects of the text, first, that we are to teach and admonish one another, and second, that we are to sing in our hearts.

Does God Care What Kind of Music I Like?

This question was posed to Ken Myers at the Edwards Institute 2011 Conference on Apologetics and the Arts. It is the subject of his fourth and last lecture, all of which can be listened to and downloaded here. Myers poses 16 further questions that need to be asked in order to answer the original question. I encourage any who listen to music to go through and ask themselves these questions (it will be helpful to listen to his lectures given at the conference first):

Who is the Thief in John 10:10?

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:7-10

These few verses appear in the midst of Jesus’ good shepherd teaching. This section is very rich and touches on topics that could fill entire books, so I will limit my comments on these few verses and try to answer just one question: who is the thief in verse 10?