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New Three Forms of Unity Class

Michael Brown — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:28:53 +0000

A new Three Forms of Unity Class on Sunday mornings (after worship) begins June 1. This is a twelve-week course designed as an orientation and/or refresher to the Reformed faith and the beliefs of Christ URC. This class is required for those interested in becoming a communicant member of Christ URC. On the other hand, you may already be a communicant member of Christ URC but you would like a basic review of the doctrines of the Protestant Reformation as summarized in our confessions. Whatever your situation is, this course is designed to get you to think about what you believe and why you believe it.

Here is a breakdown of the class:

Class #1 : Introduction to the Class

Class #2 : Law & Gospel; True Faith (HC questions 1-21; BC articles 14-15)

Class #3 : Scripture; Trinity; Creation; Christ (HC questions 22-58; BC articles 1-13, 16-20)

Class #4 : Justification by Faith Alone (HC questions 59-64; BC articles 21-23)

Class #5 : Baptism (HC questions 65-74; BC articles 33-34; CO articles 41-43)

Class #6 : Lord’s Supper (HC questions 75-82; BC article 35; CO articles 45-46)

Class #7 : The Church and Church Discipline (HC questions 83-85; BC articles 27-32, 36; CO articles 1-36; 51-66)

Class #8 : Good Works (HC questions 86-115; BC articles 24-25)

Class #9 : Prayer (HC questions 116-129)

Class #10 : Election; Man’s Conversion (Canons of Dort, 1^st and 3^rd /4^th Heads)

Class #11 : Christ’s Atonement; Perseverance (Canons of Dort, 2^nd and 5^th Heads)

Class #12 : Understanding & Enjoying Reformed Worship (CO articles 37-50)

* HC = Heidelberg Catechism
* BC = Belgic Confession
* CO = Church Order

At the end of the day, it's ALL active obedience

Michael Brown — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:48:49 +0000

If you are interested in reading more about the connection between Owen's doctrine of the pactum salutis and his doctrine of the imputation of Christ's active obedience, pick up a copy of The Outlook this October. The editor has agreed to publish an article I wrote on Owen's doctrine of imputation, which, hopefully is more clear, cogent, and concise than a series of blogposts.

There is one point, however, that I would like to make briefly. For Owen, ALL of Christ's obedience was ultimately active obedience, even his suffering and death. In some regards, Owen found the debates in his day over the distinction between the active and passive obedience of Christ to be foolhardy, “for [Christ] exercised the highest active obedience in his suffering, when he offered himself to God through the eternal Spirit.” (V, 253) Because of the pactum salutis, the whole of Christ's work was in the context of active obedience. Sent as our surety in the covenant of grace, Christ had to accomplish the work the Father gave him to do and fulfilling the demands of the law by keeping its commands and suffering its penalty and curse. For England's most significant federalist theologian, all of this was Christ's active obedience.

Classic Godfrey

Michael Brown — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:17:56 +0000

Christ URC was privileged with a May visit from Dr. Godfrey for the fifth consecutive year. Dr. Godfrey preached an epic sermon on Psalm 81 in the morning Divine service, and subsequently taught an extremely helpful and edifying class on "How to Read the Psalms" in our adult Sunday school. For those who missed it, look for his sermon and Sunday school lecture to be posted on the "listen" page soon.

A true, real, perfect righteousness

Michael Brown — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:45:15 +0000

Owen did not begin his case in The Doctrine of Justification by Faith with an explanation of the pactum salutis. He began, rather, with a lengthy introduction stating his reasons and pastoral concerns for taking up this work, namely, “the glory of God in Christ, with the peace and furtherance of the obedience of believers.”

He followed this with a full six chapters on the nature and object of justifying faith, as well as the meaning of justification itself.

The Eternal Foundation of Imputation

Michael Brown — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:05:34 +0000

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.”

Ascension Day Service this Thursday!

Michael Brown — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:13:50 +0000

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.")

Dr. Godfrey at Christ URC, Santee

Michael Brown — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:38:06 +0000

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???

I wish Luther had not been a prophet

Michael Brown — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:09:55 +0000

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.

Sad and Pathetic

Michael Brown — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:57:59 +0000

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.

Owen on Imputed Active Obedience

Michael Brown — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:37:14 +0000

For John Owen, the imputation of Christ's active obedience was a necessary component of the gospel. So important was it to Owen, that he believed it should be refelected in the church's confession. In his classic work, The Doctrine of Justification by Faith through the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ; Explained, Confirmed, and Vindicated, Owen made clear that the passive obedience of Christ (i.e. Christ's suffering the curse to remove the penalty of sin from us) was not enough. Sinners do not merely need acquittal, they need to be declared righteous in God's sight. That requires perfect, active obedience to the law, which was fulfilled by Christ, the righteous One. He argued for the imputation of what is called the active and passive obedience of Christ to the believer: "the obedience of Christ unto the law, and the imputation thereof unto us, are no less necessary unto our justification before God, than his suffering of the penalty of the law, and the imputation thereof unto us, unto the same end...We have need of more than the mere sufferings of Christ, whereby we may be justified before God." (Works, V, 252, 254)

Why is it important to think about what someone like Owen said about Imputed Active Obedience (IAO)?