James Durham demonstrates that Christ acted as Intercessor before His incarnation. He outlines the differences between Christ’s intercession in the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the change in basis, relationship, manner, and impact. Old Testament saints had true consolation in Christ’s intercession for them in their life and death.… Read More Christ: The Intercessor of the Old Testament Church
Satan is to be cast out of the world, and in due time bound in chains, to the judgment of the great day [Rev. 20:2-3]. He is not, even at present, lord de jure of one foot of earth; but his usurpation lingers, and is permitted to continue on many accounts (into which it is not our present business to inquire). He is to be ejected, in point of fact as well as right, to exercise no more power or authority either over single men or communities of men, by means of any of those systems on which he has expended, for centuries, the utmost refinement of his subtlety. These shall melt away like the mists of the morning. But even now the church has, on the ground of Christ’s atonement, to go in and take possession of the world from which its prince has been legally cast out, and from which he will ere long, in point of fact, be fully ejected (Luke 10:18).… Read More Satan’s Dominion Overthrown De Jure & De Facto
The intercession of Christ is perpetual. This perpetuity was prefigured of old by the constant fire on the brazen altar, by the daily holocaust of sweet savour, and by the perpetual incense—all of which were brought to a point by the burning of incense on the Day of Atonement. Christ is a nobler Priest, and He belongs to a more noble dispensation. He lives forever as the God-man. His is a personal life; but He also lives forever officially as Priest. And His office is therefore not transferable. He exercises an unchangeable priesthood. As His pleas are of everlasting force, so He ever lives to plead them. His meritorious undying love is constant, fervent, and unchangeable. His fulfillment of the conditions of the Covenant is an enduring ground for pleading the promises.… Read More Christ’s Intercession In The Old & New Testaments
David Dickson (1583-1663)Therapeutica Sacra, pp. 124-127 Objection. But some there are who maintain the decree of Redemption and Covenant between God and Christ (which in substance, is one with the decree) to be absolute concerning the powerful and invincible conversion, perseverance, and salvation of the elect; but concerning the rest of the world, they tell… Read More Predestination and the Free Offer of the Gospel
William PerkinsThe Manner and Order of PredestinationWorks VI, pp. 342-347 Objection: Saint Paul says that “God will that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). 1. All of which men? I answer, first, that the place is not to be understood of all the posterity of Adam,… Read More Does God Desire the Salvation of the Reprobate?
If the gospel is commanded by Christ to be preached unto all men without distinction, does this imply that Christ did in fact die for every individual human being to ever live? If the universal free offer of the gospel is true, how does this cohere with the doctrine of limited atonement? Is God insincere by offering redemption through Christ’s blood to the reprobate in the external call of the gospel, if Christ’s blood was never truly shed for them? In this post we will answer these questions by looking at three 17th century Reformed theologians.… Read More The Gospel Offer and Limited Atonement
Dr. William Young wrote the OPC Minority Report on the Free Offer of the Gospel (1948). Below is Dr. Young’s further analysis of the report and a critique and refutation of an alleged will of God that lies between his prescriptive will and his decretive will. A supposed divine willingness (velleitas), or “a weak though… Read More The Free Offer of the Gospel
The Geneva Theses (1649) were drafted by Antoine Léger (1594-1661) and Théodore Tronchin (1582-1657) at the commission of the Council of Geneva and the approval of the Company of Pastors (i.e. the Genevan Classis). While in Constantinople as the chaplain of the Dutch embassy, Léger became an intimate friend of Cyril Lukaris (1572-1638), whose creed… Read More The Geneva Theses (1649)
Christ perfectly satisfied divine justice for all our sins, by one offering of himself, such that there are no more propitiatory offerings to be made for sin.… Read More The Perfection of Christ’s Atonement
Zacharias Ursinus Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism CHRIST’S DESCENT INTO HELL Question 44. Why is there added, “he descended into hell?” Answer. That in my greatest temptations, I may be assured, and wholly comfort myself in this, that my Lord Jesus Christ, by his inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish agonies, in which he was… Read More Did Jesus Descend into Hell?
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