Reformation Theology Blog

Penal Substitutionary Atonement

When you encounter professing Christians who attempt to deny penal substitutionary atonement, I would encourage you to make sure to point them to Luke 22:37 (among many other passages). Here Jesus is speaking just prior to Jesus' crucifixion, where He defines the importance and meaning of His going to the cross:

"For I tell you that this Scripture MUST be FULFULLED in ME: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its FULFILLMENT.” Luke 22:37 (emphasis mine)

Salvation is not Just Forensic

Salvation is not just forensic. As central to our faith as this is, we cannot reduce salvation simply to justification only.  Salvation is multifaceted. The work of our Lord includes, regeneration, justification, sanctification and ultimately, glorification, It includes imputation and impartation, not just forgiveness of sin, but a changed heart. We are saved in Christ from both the guilt and power of sin. 

What is Deconstruction?

by Barrett Duke

Deconstruction is designed to strip texts of their meaning so that readers can appropriate foundational values in ways that are satisfying to them, regardless of authorial intent.

Does Not God Have the Right to Do Whatever He Likes With His Own?

When you ask an Arminian friend if it would just if God left us all in our sin and saved no one, most answer yes, we are sinners and justly deserve God's wrath. But then turn around and ask, if God decided to pardon a number of these ill deserving sinners, but gave over the others to the justice they deserve, these same people suddenly cry out "that makes God unfair". Yet how can the former be okay in their eyes, but not the later? Does not God have the right to do what He wants with His grace? And are not those rebels getting their just deserts?

10 reasons to slow down and listen in evangelism

by Aaron Shafovaloff

1. Restraint shows wisdom. “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 17:27)

2. Patient listening is contrary to a quick temper. "Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." (Proverbs 14:29) “My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” (James 1:19)

Our True Identity is Not Found in Our Sin

"The Blessedness of Adam in his creation ... makes plain what humankind's identity as creatures ought to be. The fundamental identity of every man, woman and child is that of a divine image bearer. That is what human beings were created to be. What that means for us today is that our identity is not found in our sin. Often the most difficult part of turning away from a particular sin that has infiltrated your life is the feeling that, in rejecting that sin, you are rejecting part of who you are.

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