The children of believers, even before they have the sign placed on them are in the Covenant of Grace. The sign is actually a ratification of the faith of the parents in the promises of God and in their obedience to that command. The question to ask is, are they in...

There are surely dispensations in the economy of God. Certain epochs mark out decrees and moves of God and His people. However, if you follow a dispensational pattern by say, C. Ryrie or Scofield, you have abandoned the pattern of Holy writ for a novelty. If you call...

Is All of Life Worship? Is worship that which we render to God by living all of life to God's glory? If so, has the regulative principle of worship (ie., we are to worship God only as He has commanded, explicitly or by good and necessary consequence, and whatever He...

'That God does manifest his love only to some at their first conversion, not to all. Though he dearly loves every penitent soul, yet he does not manifest his love at first conversion to every penitent soul. God is a free agent, to work where he will, and when he will,...

http://ag.org/top/beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_response_to_reformed_theology_08_2015.pdf

John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 56...

Richard Sibbes (Works, Vol. 2, p. 153): Beloved . . . . let us hence take a trial of ourselves, what our condition is, whether the words that come from Christ when he speaks in his ministry to us be sweet or not. The word, to some kind of men, is like the northern...

Fiducia, Ascentia and Notitia. The above items are present in all true believers. However, these components have as well, internal and external distinctions. That being, these components MUST be carried about, for the true believer, by the Holy Spirit. It is the gas...

Keeping the Sabbath day holy. It is a sure mark of an ungodly person to be a Sabbath-breaker, as a conscion-ableness to celebrate it to God’s glory is both a mark and a work of godliness. It is the description of the godly eunuch, Isa. 56:4, “Thus saith the Lord to...

Temptation is God’s school, wherein he gives his people the clearest and sweetest discoveries of his love; a school wherein God teaches his people to be more frequent and fervent in duty. When Paul was buffeted, then he prayed thrice, i. e. frequently and fervently; a...

Precious remedies Against satan's devices Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan is, to consider, That there are relapses into enormities, and there are relapses into infirmities. Now it is not usual with God to leave his people frequently to...

"When somebody inquired whether, when a sick person wished to have the sacrament but could not tolerate wine on account of nausea, something else should be given in place of the wine, the doctor [Martin Luther] replied, 'This question has often been put to me and I...

My wife and I met in church. We were wearing the same shirt. We were friends for 7 years prior to our engagement. We were engaged for 7 months-I believe this is much too long. We kissed for the first time when we took our vows. We have been married for 15 years, now....

Thomas Brooks writes: Remedy (2). Seriously to consider, That the giving way to a less sin makes way for the committing of a greater. He that, to avoid a greater sin, will yield to a lesser, ten thousand to one but God in justice will leave that soul to fall into a...

"The first key to writing is to write....thinking comes later. You write your first draft with your heart and you rewrite with your head." William Forester-From the movie, Finding Forester

In sacraments there is something seen and something understood; something perceived by sense and something apprehended by faith. Sacraments are glasses for our understanding and monuments for our memories, that by means and visible sights we might perceive and call to...

Coffee in, Pontification out: "Don't read Calvin, Luther, Boston, Gillespie et. al. Read contemporaries; they are more relevant! There is no blessing in reading these dead guys. reading them will create nothing more than potholes in your road and deter from the unity...

Naphtali Press: Presbyterian & Reformed Books http://www.naphtali.com/articles/chris-coldwell/john-calvin-and-holy-days/ John Calvin and Holy Days—it is that time of year the Genevan reformer is trotted out to justify in some manner the observance of the church...

Genevan Opposition At times during the sixteenth century, ecclesiastical holidays caused agitation in the city of Geneva. It seems to have been a difficult matter for a resolution, since any official action taken would stir up some element of the population. The...

Romans 12:4-5 ESV  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Hebrews 10:25 ESV  Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of...

Back in the early 90's I was at enmity with God. I worshipped self and the flesh. I could be found @ 34 yrs old in a bar at 3am on a Thursday drinking straight Vodka in a glass with no ice in it, with only one goal in mind, to find a woman to hook up with. I was a pot...

There is another theory, however, very different from that first mentioned, which asserts that the form and arrangements of ecclesiastical government have not been left to be fixed by the wisdom of man, nor reduced to the level of a question of mere Christian...

Calling Halloween a 'Harvest festival' is like calling watching porn, scientific investigation. Quit it. It's silly.

http://www.semperreformanda.com/.../new-wine-a-jewish.../http://www.semperreformanda.com/2014/12/wine-and-the-talmud/http://www.semperreformanda.com/wine-or-grape-juice/http://www.semperreformanda.com/.../the-bible-and.../http://www.semperreformanda.com/.../12/the-suppe...

The Regulative Principle of worship is a principle based on the sufficiency of Scripture which teaches that everything we do in the worship of God must have positive warrant in His Word. Every part of worship must be expressly commanded by God or be clearly deducible...

2 Ti 3:16–17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. If the word of God is sufficient...

The Spirit, distinguishing from such revelry the divine service, sings, “Praise Him with the sound of trumpet;” for with sound of trumpet He shall raise the dead. “Praise Him on the psaltery;” for the tongue is the psaltery of the Lord. “And praise Him on the lyre.”...

The Doctrine of Infant Salvation(According to B.B. Warfield)-Roman Catholic View: (Pelagian roots) an infant that dies in infancy but has been baptized is saved. Children dying in the womb of parents who desired to baptize them may be taken in lieu of actual baptism....

Genesis 16:7 7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. Genesis 16:9 9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. Genesis 16:10 10 And...

Are you the woman who brings down kingdoms? 4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength...

"A lot of churches do a baby dedication. Where the mother and father agree that they will raise that child on the word of God."In response to a internal need for the credo baptist to be obedient to Gods covenant, some credo baptists rip this passage out of context...

  “Men could be content to have the kingdom of heaven; but they are loathe to fight for it. They choose rather to go in a feather bed to hell than to be carried to heaven in a ‘fiery chariot’ of zeal and violence.” Thomas Watson-Taking Heaven by Storm

Leviticus 4:2 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: Leviticus 4:13 13 And if the whole congregation...

Psalm 118:24  This is the day which the Lord hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25  Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 26  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: We have blessed you out of the house of...

In the LXX hymnos appears in six titles of the Psalms: Psalm 6:1εἰς τὸ τέλος ἐν ὕμνοις ὑπὲρ τῆς ὀγδόης ψαλμὸς τῷ ΔαυιδPsalm 54:1εἰς τὸ τέλος ἐν ὕμνοις συνέσεως τῷ ΔαυιδPsalm 55:1εἰς τὸ τέλος ἐν ὕμνοις συνέσεως τῷ Δαυιδ Psalm 66:1εἰς τὸ τέλος ἐν ὕμνοις τῷ ΔαυιδPsalm...

Homily on Colossians 3:16-17 By John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople (A.D. 347 - 407) "Teaching," he saith, "and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." Mark also the considerateness of Paul. Seeing that reading is toilsome, and...

The confusion over our dependance on sovereignty and the removal of Arminian angst, secondarily to the confidence in the words of Christ, 'and I will lose none', over people perishing because we didn't rush out aimlessly so no one falls through the cracks does not in...

Some historical data on Psalm singing: "Council of Laodicea (343-381), canon LIX: “No psalms composed by private individuals nor any uncanonical books may be read in the church, but only the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments.” Council of Braga (563): “no...

    Excerpt from greg Price's paper on alcohol in the bible: " a. Yayin (wine) (1) The same wine (yayin) that intoxicated Noah (Gen. 9:21), Lot (Gen. 19:32-35), Nabal (1 Sam. 25:36-37), and others (Is. 28:1,7) was given as a gift to others by godly men. For...

Amos 5: 21 “I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. 22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your...

Fighting the good fight: Much of this comes from frustration. Zeal for the Lords house. We fail to consider the patience God bore with our inadequacy just a few years ago. All men are progressing in knowledge as God decrees. What seems simple to us to adopt and...

She is risen! Rom 8: 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living...

Eph 5:4: 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanksThe New King James Version...

In regard to membership in the local church: One must consider the difference between a communicant member and non communicant member. Communicant members are seen as in the internal covenant and elect by presumption based on their confession and fruit. Non...

Most of the people who hold to presumptive regeneration are really holding to an amplified faith in God's promises. They see it as illicit to even consider anything outside of God's yes and amen. Unfortunately, they discredit the didactic of election by this route....

Consider the fact that when we sing the Psalms, Christ is singing with us. This cannot be said of hymnody. Given the choice, why would I not want the ultimate worship leader singing along with us when we are given the opportunity?

Some thoughts from a defender of hymnody: "We thus defend the use of hymns, but we should remember the following: 1. In Holy Scripture we do not find a separate collection of prayers, but we do find a separate collection of psalms. 2. The spiritual depth of the psalms...

God commands worship. It is He who determines how He is to be worshipped. It is not random nor spontaneous. He is the one we 'aim at'. Larger catechism:Q. 108. What are the duties required in the second commandment?A. The duties required in the second commandment are,...

From the Solemn League and Covenant on 'extirpation': extirpate |ˈekstərˌpāt| verb [ with obj. ] root out and destroy completely: the use of every legal measure to extirpate this horrible evil from the land. ORIGIN: late Middle English (as extirpation): from Latin...

The distinction between being 'in' covenant and being out of covenant must be considered; For example, Abraham saw both his children as in covenant. This is not to imply that he considered both children regenerate. As well, Abraham understood that at the placing of...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRKz82v5JQY

In Thomas Watson's 'The 10 Commandments, he writes: (1) True faith is grounded upon knowledge. Knowledge carries the torch before faith. There is a knowledge of Christ's orient excellencies. Phil 3:8. He is made up of all love and beauty. True faith is a judicious...

In regard to Arminianism: The distinction between a practicing Arminian and one who is just confused must be considered. For example, a boy of 9 years old; if he is elect and doesn't quite get the components of salvation yet, doesn't imply that he will never come to...

"The singing of Psalms has also now just about died out. Originally Reformed churches only allowed congregational singing of the Psalms, because they were authentically and authoritatively Biblical and hence lacked the potential contamination of false teaching which...

we would never use the name of Jesus... by Richard Bacon Copyright 2002 © First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett See a PDF format of this article in The Blue Banner, v11#1 An argument is sometimes made against the position of Exclusive Psalmody (the position that one...

Instruments in worship? "Using instruments in worship was not practiced in the Apostolic Church, nor by any example in the New Testament at any time, nor by Christ. This fits the pattern of synagogue worship which, as James says, we "synagogue" together when we meet...

"The nearer a false worship approaches to a true one, the more dangerous it is. Israel came nearer to the true worship of God than the heathens: now the prophet saith not, Though the heathens be idolators, yet let not Judah be so too; but, "Though Israel play the...

In keeping with the 4th commandment: It is said by many that it is the righteousness of Christ, the work of Christ, we should understand in relation to the sabbath day and how one observes it. "In Christ we rest-Jesus is our rest-He is Lord of the sabbath!!" This is...

Circus elephants and puppet shows: In regard to the worship of God; you either fall under the normative or regulative principle of worship. If regulative, you position yourself under the idea that whatever is commanded by God, that you do and only that. In the...

What is the covenant sign of the Noahic covenant? The rainbow? The Ark is pertinent as well. When we consider the ark, Noah was faithful to build it for how many years? He was faithful in understanding how to build it, that it would float, that it would protect his...

I love sports as much as the next guy. However, I love the Lord who created men and sports, more! Isaiah 58:13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lord honorable,...

Do you believe for a second that God did not consider the covenant child of Abraham, i.e. Ishmael in any sort of fashion? Obviously, from scripture, we can see that God respected His command of covenant even when it came to those reprobate within the external portion...

“There is a wide difference between what it is lawful for the church to do on those occasions when God in His providence may be calling its members to weeping and humiliation, or summoning them to special joy and thanksgiving, and what it is lawful for the Church to...

The Regulative Principle is based solely upon God's command and it alone. The distinction between the command and presumption is critical. Consider these passages: 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that...

To be at enmity with the bride is to be at enmity with the groom.

Isaiah 59:22 "‘This is My Covenant with them,’ says the Lord. ‘My Spirit Who is upon you, and My words which I have put into your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth nor out of the mouth of your seed nor out of the mouth of your seed’s seed,’ says the Lord,...

The Religious Observance of Christmas & 'Holy Days' in American Presbyterianism

There is no broad interpretation of the regulative principle. What is not commanded is forbidden. The regulative principle has nothing to do with "permission." It is positive "command" which is enforced by the mere will of the lawgiver. If it is commanded it is...

"Puritans saved their greatest contempt for Christmas. Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, they successfully prevented any significant celebrations of it. 'Foolstide,' as they called December 25, aroused their special ire for a variety of reasons. In...

So much can be said of this doctrine. Remarriage is illicit unless there is adultery, one dies or 'the unbeliever leaves'. Moses permitted divorce, 'for hardness of heart'....but from the beginning, it was not so'. This is known as the 'except' clause. Everything has...

Dr. Jack Lewis states: “Wine was ordinarily used at the Passover and is called ‘fruit of the vine’ in Berakoth 6:1” (1976, 147; for an extended discussion, see Lightfoot 1979, 346ff). Berakoth 6:1 Berakhot, Chapter Six, Mishnah One Introduction According to halakhah...

Are you a believer that is independent of Christ's overseers? Consider the scriptures in regard to the distinction between the local church and the universal church. All believers should be attached locally. Too disregard submitting to Christ's overseers is to...

God decreed that His people not be involved in any sort of idol worship, i.e. 2nd commandment. I refer you to the golden calf and God's response to it: 7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have...

Complaint: Let's not use wine in the Lord's Supper as it could stumble a brother or sister in the faith and cause them to sin! Response: The Lord Jesus Christ left His church two blessed sacraments: 1) The Lords Supper, 2) Baptism The Supper is holy. May it never be...

A normative approach to the Regulative Principle is nothing more than Christianity cloaked in liberalism. There are no borders when it comes to a normative approach. What would you use to restrict any form of worship in light of a normative approach? The treatment is...

The doctrine of election is discriminating. The doctrine of election is an arm of God's sovereignty. To miss these important distinctions is to miss one of the most important characteristics of the biblical God. To deny this doctrine is to deny God.

Luke 17:11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master,...

Coffee in, pontification out. At the crux of all theology is the sovereignty of God. Think, 'In the beginning, God....' It is God decreeing and overseeing all of life events. Nothing is arbitrary. Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet...

Jenny Geddes

Coffee in, pontification out. As a believer, there are days where fixing one's neck towards the throne room of God seems unreachable. Faith reflects a response to all the adversity by turning our attention, much akin to how a compass directs our steps, by default even...

Your commitment to the word of God, your local church, the elders that oversee your care, your marriage etc. are a direct reflection on your commitment to Christ. Generally speaking, even believers only submit unto the things mentioned until it's stings and then many...

Meditation from Henry Scudder on the 4th Commandment: Have I upon the six days remembered the Lord’s day, that I might despatch all my worldly business, and prepare my heart, that when it came I might keep a holy Sabbath to the Lord, according to the commandment? Did...

Compare the anguish and pain the thief on the cross experienced and yet, was lucid enough to cry out: "42 .......“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Lk 23:42.

The word of God is the only true thing that will nourish the believer. Deny yourself of a nutritious meal for a few days and watch the emaciation that occurs; not only physically, but mentally. Have you ever witnessed a person who is spiritually bankrupt in dread and...

Isaiah 34:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. All 'weapons against you' are by devine decree. The weapons here described are those things which the enemy uses against the saint. The...

Presbyterian churches: American Presbyterian Church (http://www.americanpresbyterianchurch.org) Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (http://www.arpsynod.org) Associated Presbyterian Churches (http://www.apchurches.org) Bible Presbyterian Church (http://www.bpc.org)...

'Fruit of the vine' For those of you who believe this biblical statement allows for the use of grape juice in the Lords Supper, would you as well believe it is ok to use these vine fruits in the supper if you wanted? 1) Kiwi. 2) Cranberry 3) Watermelon 4) Cantaloupe...

More on Brittnay Maynard: *Intent is everything from the Christian perspective. As I continue to consider the Maynard issue, the idea is argued from two perspectives. One is from the Christian perspective and the other from a world view. God's law is a reflection of...

"Everyday is the lords day. " Not really.... "Awesome scripture man. I'm just wondering how in this scripture seventh has translated into first." This may help: Go here: " Good and necessary consequence; what I have described above is traced to the patristic writers,...

Coffee in, pontification out: Do the math: Over the past week, what is your mind stayed upon? What percentage have you invested in these hours that are holy? Is it on Sports, movies, novels, your family, employment or enjoyment? God should maintain the center of all...

MY friend Steve Rafalsky commented on the issue: There are two aspects to discussions such as this: the first being, a) “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3), and “be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one...

On the singing of Psalms in worship: GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND WEDNESDAY MORNING, 7 O’CLOCK […] ADJOURNED MEETING The Assembly met again at half-past three, when four propositions (given below) of the new code of discipline, agreed to by...

Matt 11:12 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered...