pilgrim people

In his 1655 work against the Socinians, Vindiciae Evangelicae, Owen described the covenant of redemption (pactum salutis) as “that compact, covenant, convention, or agreement, that was between the Father and the Son, for the accomplishment of the work of our redemption by the mediation of Christ, to the praise of the glorious grace of God.” (XII, 497.) He saw five major elements within this covenant:

(i) The Father, as “promiser,” and the Son, as “undertaker,” voluntarily agreed together in counsel to achieve a common purpose, namely, “the glory of God and the salvation of the elect.”

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Ascension Day is Thursday, May 1. There will be a worship service at Christ URC at 7.00pm. Not only will the Word be preached, but this will commence our expository series through the Book of Acts, which will subsequently take place on Sunday evenings. (You can find the liturgy for the service on the sidebar under "This Week's Liturgy.") 

This Lord's Day (May 4), we welcome to our pulpit the Rev. Dr. W. Robert Godfrey to our pulpit, table, and lectern as he preaches God's Word, administers the Lord's Table, and then teaches adult Sunday school. This is Bob's annual visit to our church. He preached the very first morning service of Christ URC, held in May of '04. We have invited him back every year since as a sort of Christ URC tradition, which our congregation has thoroughly cherished. Dr. Godfrey's preaching is always first rate and feeds the soul. And his Sunday school lectures, well, what can you say? In his lecture of '05, he spoke on "Fun with Luther," which was precisely that. It was infomative, edifying, and sprinkled with humor. (And I don't think he glanced at his notes once.)  In '06, he lectured on Sister Aimee. Enough said. In '07, he spoke on Calvin. What will it be this year???

In 1677, when John Owen (1616-1683) published his book, The Doctrine of Justification By Faith through the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ; Explained, Confirmed and Vindicated," the Protestant doctrine of justification sola fide was still engulfed in controversy. "In my judgment," said the English Calvinist, "Luther spake the truth when he said, 'Amisso articulo justificationis, simul amissa est tota doctrina Christiana.' (trans., "When the article of justification is lost, at the same time the whole Christian doctrine is lost.") And I wish he had not been a true prophet, when he foretold that in the following ages the doctrine hereof would again be obscured." (Works, 5:67)

As a Reformed theologian, Oxford University Vice-Chancellor, and Congregationalist pastor, Owen defended the Protestant and confessional doctrine of justification against Arminianism, Socinianism, and Roman Catholicism. Indeed, The Doctrine of Justification by Faith was primarily a repudiation of these three positions, particularly Socinianism. (To read an extensive series of blogposts on this work by Owen, see Todd Pedlar's blog, "Semper Ubi, Sub Ubi").

These were not, however, Owen’s only opponents on this subject.

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The Pope and the Christian Reformed Church. Read about it here. (HT Shane Lems and Kim Riddlebarger)

No, those are not representatives from the CRC kissing the pope's ring in the picture to the left, but hopefully the picture makes the point. The question is this: Does the CRC believe the Three Forms of Unity or not? If so, will someone please give a copy to Rev. Dykstra? Apparently, he has forgotten what it says with regard to justification sola fide and the marks of a true church. Our unity as Christians is in the truth we confess. Attending the Pope's ecumenical prayer service led by Pope Benedict XVI does NOT "demonstrate that unity." And what exactly is this nebulous thing called the "Reformed world and life view"? How about a Reformed confession? You know, that thing to which Reformed ministers subscribe and promised before witnesses to uphold and defend.  

I realize that there are still some faithful ministers in the CRC, but as far as I am concerned, the sooner the denomination drops the title "Reformed" from their name, the better it will be for everyone.