A Theological Description Concerning Which Few Have Interest

This is my summary/compilation of how theologians describe God. The works of God with respect to Himself and His creatures: 1. Immanent/Internal (ad intra) A. Intrinsic (Remain within God) i. Of His Being ii. Of His Persons [Ontological & Economic Trinity?] “opera ad extra trinitatis indivisa sunt.” [doctrine of inseperable operations] B. Extrinsic (Refer to…

Considering Some of the Claims of Eastern Orthodoxy

NOTE: This is a working post. I update this regularly with new information and with edits. If you have information to add to this or responses/pushback to this, feel free to comment here or message me on Instagram. But just remember I’m just researching here, and trying to come to historically and biblically based conclusions.…

Atonement Thoughts

How did Christ atone for His People? Protestant Theologians debate whether it was in an Equivalent or Exact Sense: Equivalent: “Not indefinite as to the duration, still…equivalent as to the value on account of the Person suffering.” -Turretin Exact: “Christ “made satisfaction by undergoing the same punishment…they themselves were bound to undergo…essentially the same in…

The Decree

“The Son’s sponsio was not an expromissio (surety) [disagreeing with Berkhof], such that the guilt of sin was transferred without further ado from the elect to the Son and they had already become guiltfree through the pact itself. Rather it was a real fideiussio (bail), a guarantee which was already effective from the start, even…

Biblical Compassion: Its Relation to Evangelism

Biblical compassion is an attitude and choice that a Christian does in the context of a fallen world.  Because the world is fallen, there are people who are hurt, and need our compassion.  Because the world is fallen, there are people who will be angered by our faith, and they too need our compassion.  One…

Christians Get Depressed Too

Christians Get Depressed Too by David P. Murray My rating: 5 of 5 stars We’ve endured a difficult season in the life of our nation, our families, and our Church. Not surprisingly, then, some recent studies suggest that rates of depression have increased exponentially during the last year or so. Indeed, I myself have struggled…

Vermigli and SSA (pt. 7): Conclusion

Continued from part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, and part 6. We’ve discussed, in great detail, Vermigli’s views and how they relate to Reformed. But what does that have to do with the current discussion of sexuality in the PCA? Contemporary & Confessional Discussion Contemporary Language about Sexuality There are three…

Vermigli and SSA (pt. 5): Indwelling Sin

This is continued from part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4. In the last post I looked in detail at Vermigli’s view of how original sin is transmitted to Adam’s descendants. The question for the Christian who struggles with same-sex attraction, or any attraction similar to that, is: what does this have to…

Vermigli and SSA (pt. 6): Regeneration

This is continued from part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5. The entirety of these posts are concerned with how Vermigli’s views of original sin relate to our contemporary questions about SSA and Christian living. As of yet, I haven’t resolved any issues or proposed anything new. In fact, I don’t…

Vermigli and SSA (pt. 4): Transmission of Original Sin

This is continued from part 1, part 2, and part 3. I am writing this little series to consider how Vermigli’s view of original sin relates to contemporary issues of same-sex attraction in the theology of the Church. In the first post, I compared Vermigli’s anthropology, or view of human composition, with contemporary views. In…