House Cleaning [August 16th, 2009]

• James T. Dennison has recently put out a new book that looks very interesting: Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation: Volume I, 1523-1552.  Dr.  Dennison also did a lecture on these confessions available here.  The lecture is somewhat dry, but very informative. (HT: JHG)
• Dr. R. Scott Clark posted a series on True and False Education (Parts 1, 2, & 3).  I don’t always agree with Dr. Clark, but I thought this was helpful in thinking about what seminary I want to go to in a few years.
• Dr. Galyon has been posting a lot lately on the necessity of regeneration BEFORE one can come to saving faith: You Must Be Born Again, Theology on Thursday, Stirring the Fly’s Nest.
• Dan Phillips is giving us his opinion on the “Altar Call” system in Altering Altar Calls.  I agree with him.  The very idea that we would have need of an altar in our churches today is nigh on blasphemous and so is the idea of there being a place in the church where prayers are more effective and it being essential to come forward in a church and pray with a pastor to be saved.
• I read a couple of posts from Dr. Clark today, that I am just not sure about: Ministers All? and Does Acts 8 Provide a Warrant for Every Member Evangelism?  I am not sure what to say about these.  I would appreciate someone else reading them over and discussing them with me!
• Is Barack Obama the Anti-Christ?  Watch the following video: Did Jesus Reveal The Name Of The Anti Christ?
  
  After reading this post by Dan Wallace, Is Obama the Anti-Christ?, I have decided that while he still may be, the linguistics in that video sure don’t prove it!

The Doctrine of Justification

Today I watched a good video from Westminster Theological Seminary on the doctrine of justification.  Once you filter through the promotion for the seminary (nothing against Westminster), it is very informative on the basics of the doctrine.

If you cannot see the above video, you can take the following link the original source: Dr. Lane Tipton on Reformed Justification.

House Cleaning [August 8th, 2009]

• Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.
• I am a total fantasy geek.  As with any good fantasy geek, my two favorite authors (in that genre) are J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.  Both of these men were top notch linguistic scholars at Oxford University.  Apparently, at one point, these two (who were also great friends) were going to collaborate on a book on the subject of language.  How cool would that have been?!?!  (HT: JHG)
• Over the course of the next nine years, 9 Marks Ministries and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, are going to be partnering to do series of conferences on the 9 Marks of a healthy church.  This years theme is “God Exposed”, focusing on the centrality of expository preaching to the church. (HT: Founders)
• In the Southern Baptist Convention, there has been a lot of debate recently on the subject of Calvinism.  One issue, involved with that, is “Which comes first: faith or regeneration?”  James Galyon made a couple of posts on that subject this week: "Born Again" in the SBC, Whitefield and the New Birth.
• Dr. D. A. Carson is one of my heroes.  Apparently within the next year, or so, he is having six books published!  If I had the money, I would get all of them, as well as all the other books he’s ever had published (besides the ones I already own).  Andy Naselli, while guest blogging for JT, gives us a taste of two of those books, as well as related audio resources.
• This spring the Gospel Coalition posted a video from D. A. Carson explaining what Biblical inerrancy is and how essential it is. (HT: Andy Naselli)
  
  If you cannot see the above video, use the following link and go and watch it: D. A. Carson - What does inerrancy mean? Is it essential to Christian belief?
• This week, the best friend that I have had in recent years (besides my wife of course!!) moved away.  He is heading off to seminary at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.  He wrote a good bye post to his church on his blog earlier in the week: Why I am Filled with Joy and Sadness, Tears and Gladness .  Good bye Mike!  May you continue to shine with that borrowed light!

House Cleaning [August 1st, 2009]

Alright, I know that I said this was going to be a weekly series, but I slacked off in my blog reading and writing this past couple of weeks; so, here is three weeks worth of links.

 

• John MacArthur did series on how to determine which doctrines are essential (Parts 1, 2, & 3).  I haven’t read these yet, but I need to, and am sure that they are good.  Just from scanning the articles, the points are:
  1. All Fundamental Articles of Faith Must Be Drawn from the Scriptures
  2. The Fundamentals Are Clear in Scripture
  3. Everything Essential to Saving Faith Is Essential
  4. Every Doctrine We Are Forbidden to Deny Is Fundamental
  5. The Fundamental Doctrines Are All Summed up in the Person and Work of Christ
• Kevin DeYoung wrote on the New Calvinists and Complemetarianism.
• Andy Naselli posted on Tom Schreiner’s eschatological journey from amillenialism to premillenialism.
• Mike Leake, posted on something I have experience with, post-preaching depression.
• N. T. Wright’s new book, Justification: God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision, has been receiving a lot of press in the blogosphere, Kevin DeYoung weighs in with three posts reviewing the book and asking 4 questions in regards to Wright and the New Perspective: N.T. Wright, Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision, Good News: We Go to Heaven When We Die!, Flying Monkeys and the New Perspective.
• The new edition of Themelios is out, and it looks to be a good one (PDF – HTML).
• Kevin DeYoung lets us know Why [He] Baptizes Babies.  I disagree with his view, but it is very informative if you want to know more about the Reformed/Presbyterian paedobaptist position.
• At this year’s Southern Baptist Convention, Morris Chapman made some idiotic stupid uniformed comments about Calvinism, which he recently tried to clarify, only sounding less informed and more contentious.  Dr. James Galyon posts on both: Chapman’s Oversight and Chapman’s Clarification.
• What should be at the center of things when we come together on Sunday mornings?  Frank Turk gives his opinion, which is a novel one, it should be CHRIST!!!
• What is ‘the meaning of the righteousness of God,’ in passages such as Romans 1:16-17 or Romans 3:21-26?  Some, such as N. T. Wright, in his afore mentioned book, believe it to be God’s covenantal faithfulness. Paul Helm let’s us know Why Covenant Faithfulness is not Divine Righteousness (and cannot be).
• Finally, Dr. Carl Trueman gives a brief introduction to the Puritan, John Owen:

If you can’t see the above video click the following link: Dr. Carl Trueman on John Owen