X Close Menu
  • Featured Posts
  • Show All Posts
Jun 2023 26 Jun 26, 2023

Kevin DeYoung [As we come to the conclusion of the horribly misnamed “pride” month, we should give serious consideration yet again to the comments by Kevin DeYoung in this short article.] Q: If the Bible says so little about homosexuality, why do Christians insist on talking about it so much? A: The reason the Bible says comparatively little about homosexuality is because it was a comparatively uncontroversial sin among ancient Jews and Christians. There i...Read More

Jun 2023 21 Jun 21, 2023
1

This is the seventh and final installment in this series of articles. I would humbly ask anyone who knows the three Ligonier participants to request of them a response. I welcome their pushback regarding any way in which I may have misinterpreted their view or any way in which my exegesis is faulty. (9) I think it was Stephen N who mentioned Hebrews 2:3-4 as an argument for cessationism. The author of Hebrews says that the gospel message “was declared at first by...Read More

Jun 2023 19 Jun 19, 2023

If you are just now joining us, these articles are a response to the Ligonier panel on spiritual gifts. Today I post the sixth in this series. Here I continue to take note of the presence and operation of spiritual gifts in the early church fathers. The influential and highly regarded Cappadocian Fathers (mid to late 4th century) must also be considered. Basil of Caesarea (born 330 a.d.) spoke often of the operation in his day of prophecy and healing. He appeals to Paul...Read More

Jun 2023 16 Jun 16, 2023
1

(8) Stephen N, you said that these gifts “faded” from church history. I have often heard this argument, but then wonder if those who make it have actually read the original sources. I know that I’m asking a lot when I ask you to consider the following evidence. But if you are going to represent truth and accuracy on this matter on a stage where thousands of Christians are listening and following your counsel, it seems only responsible that you carefully...Read More

Jun 2023 14 Jun 14, 2023

Again, this continues my response to the Ligonier panel on spiritual gifts. (6) All of you appear to have concurred that the so-called “sign” gifts or miraculous charismata were somehow uniquely tied or tethered to the original apostles. In the absence of those men, we should not expect the gifts to be found. But the apostles were hardly the only ones who operated in the power of signs and wonders. The NT describes numerous non-apostolic Christians exercisi...Read More

Jun 2023 12 Jun 12, 2023
3

This is the third installment of my response to the Ligonier panel on spiritual gifts. (4) Steven L, you made an argument for cessationism based on the idea of the sufficiency of Scripture. I certainly agree with you that the sufficiency of Scripture means that the Bible contains every theological truth and every ethical norm that is required for living a Christ-exalting and God-glorifying life. What the Bible contains and teaches is “enough” to enable us to...Read More

Jun 2023 9 Jun 9, 2023

This is the continuation of my response to the Ligonier panel on spiritual gifts. (2) Steve Lawson, you said that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit disappear or are no longer in evidence beyond the time that 1 Corinthians was written (which would be sometime between 53 and 55 a.d.). If that were truly the case, then what do you make of 2 Corinthians 12:12 which speaks of “signs and wonders”? What do you make of Romans 15 where Paul speaks of the power of th...Read More

Jun 2023 7 Jun 7, 2023
2

Last year, at one of their conferences, the three men noted above led a panel discussion as a part of Ligonier Ministries. I watched the entire discussion and took careful notes. Quite honestly, I was surprised by how unaware all of them appeared to be of the widely published arguments against their position. So I decided to write them a rather long email response. As of the publication of this blog post I still have not heard back from any of them. I welcome their input...Read More

Jun 2023 5 Jun 5, 2023
3

I’m not a fan of bumper-sticker theology. I’m referring to those clever little one-liners that neatly sum up an otherwise complex biblical truth, or what the author of the one-liner thinks is biblical truth. People generally love the sort of punchy proclamations that are short enough to paste on the bumper of your car or emblazon the front of your t-shirt. They are catchy and powerfully persuasive. That’s what makes them dangerous. More times than not t...Read More