May 2009

Laurence Womock, The Result of False Principles: or, Error Convicted by its Own Evidence

Laurence Womock(1612-1686) was an outspoken critic of Calvinism and the Synod of Dort. (link)

I John 5:20; A Devotional

But we also know that the Son of God is now here and has given us acuity so that we learn the truth and so that we are in the truth; in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. -MGV

The beginning of the verse differs from verses 18 and 19 with the addition of the conjunction 'de'. 'de' is most often translated 'but', and here I translate it as 'but also' to link it to the two proceeding verses. This indicates that this is the principle point that John has been building up to through 18 and 19. Using 'but' instead of 'therefore' shows that this thought doesn't flow out of the proceeding thoughts, but takes the context of the proceeding thoughts and goes far beyond it to something greater.

So let us look at this line of thought:

  1. We know we are protected
  2. We know that the world is dominated by evil
  3. But we also know that Jesus is here now

Friday Files: Goodwin on Romans 9

John Goodwin's 531 page commentary on Romans 9 is the longest and most detailed account of Romans 9 I have read. I loved it. I will try to give a brief overview and highlight what I found to be some of his most insightful points. The structure of his work is as follows: a brief overview of the chapter to show how his view flows with the contours of the text, a detailed exposition of the text, a table of scriptures mentioned with some commentary on them, some general comments on interpretation, and some questions on answers on the broader implications of the text. The work also includes the "Banner of Justification", which explains justification in detail and it includes "Agreement and Distance of Brethren" which highlights the differences between Calvinists and Arminians.

Overview

The New Covenant

This post is an excerpt from the book review of Death of Death in the Death of Christ.

Owen’s Argument 1:

P1: The new covenant saves only believers
P2: God only intended the elect to believe
C1: Therefore, God intended the new covenant for the elect

Owen fortifies P2 by this argument:

P3: God effectually gives the elect faith
P4: No one else can have faith without God’s effectually giving it
C2: therefore, God only intended the elect to believe.

(link)

Scriptures Owen uses to Defend His Argument

Calvinistic Controversy by Wilbur Fisk

A review of Calvinism, moral agency and accountability, total depravity, prevenient grace and regeneration, published in 1835. (link)

Assurance - Christ's Death and Intercession (Part 5/5)

This post is an excerpt from the book review of Death of Death in the Death of Christ.

Owen's Argument

P1: the strict connection between Christ’s offering and His intercession gives assurance to those who believe Christ offered for them
P2: Arminians think Christ may offer for those whom He does not intercede.
C1: Under Arminian thinking, those who believe Christ offered Himself to the Father for them have no assurance.

Scripture supporting P1:

“Who is he that condemneth? “It is Christ that died,” (Romans 8:34)

(link)

Refutation