In 2006, I had been attending a non-denominational evangelical church largely influenced by John MacArthur and the Master’s Seminary. The church placed a heavy emphasis on the inerrancy of the Scriptures through expository preaching and taught a Calvinistic soteriology. Yet…
Living as Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 5:1–3 begins the Sermon on the Mount. The Bible does not use that title. Augustine (354–430 ad) seems to have given Matthew 5–7 this name. Jesus went up on the mountain and taught his disciples these things. The message…
The Ordo Salutis and the Westminster Standards
Each presbytery meeting, we usually have the opportunity to examine candidates for licensure and ordination.As you’d expect, these exams cover important topics pertaining to the doctrine of Scripture, theology proper, anthropology, Christology, soteriology, and ecclesiology. I enjoy these exams. It’s…
Navigating the Christian Sabbath Day
As a pastor of a church that confesses a Reformed and Presbyterian view of the fourth commandment, I often encounter questions as to how to observe it. The fourth commandment—to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy—is particularly challenging…
Reformation Day Sale: Save 15.17% on Everything!
In celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, we’re running a store-wide sale. Our special 1517 Wittenberg stickers are 50% off, while you will save 15.17% on everything else. This includes our merchandise, new books, and used books—even…
Enjoying the New Creation
Introduction Isaiah 65:17ff is a wonderful picture of the future restoration of God’s people. It’s a passage that demonstrates the greatness of the blessings that come to God’s people from his bountiful hand. It’s an even greater picture once we…
Ecclesiastes and the Triumph over Futility
My wife recently told me that one of her friends will have to sell her house and move at the end of the summer. This particular friend has a large and vibrant garden into which she has poured many hours…
Programmers, Designers, Architects: Join Our Community at Reformed.tech
Reformed Forum has been blessed with many opportunities to serve Christ’s church. Since 2008, we have been producing and distributing Reformed theological content freely (both free and libre!) online. Over the years, we have developed tools and processes for making…
What’s the Difference between the PCA and the OPC?
Occasionally, I am asked about the difference between the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and my denomination, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). I’ve had different thoughts about this during my brief sojourn as a member of the latter. It’s a…
Eternal Relations in the Trinity: A Brief Summary of the Current Controversy
The evangelical Internet is abuzz with discussion about ad intra relations within the Trinity. Bruce Ware and Wayne Grudem have been recognized as presenting forms of Eternal Functional Subordination (EFS) of the Son to the Father in their respective books, Father, Son, and Holy…
