Ground School

The Subjective Power Of An Objective Gospel

pclafferty — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:23:12 +0000

Sunday we spoke of adoption as the subjective outworking of an objective reality–that is, we argued that the grace of adoption is to become experientially aware of what is undeniably true. We feel the truth of what is true irrespective of our feelings, as paradoxical as that might seem.

This morning the link below “happened” to catch my eye. David Zahl notes that interrelationship of objective truth and our subjective apprehension of it. I commend it to you. May we all have the truth of our adoption apprehend us as we are fully apprehended already in Christ!

The Subjective Power Of An Objective Gospel.

There’s a little bit of truth in every self-deprecation

pclafferty — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:50:58 +0000

Surely Ground School lessons aren’t like this….right?

AUDIO: Chapter 14, Of Saving Faith

pclafferty — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:40:23 +0000

chapter 14 handout

Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith

The Missing Factor in the Justification & Sanctification Discussion

pclafferty — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:31:53 +0000

Jason Helopoulous was an intern here at PCPC several years ago and shortly thereafter became a church planter in Michigan. He’s also a good friend.

He’s been standing in for Kevin DeYoung, a blogger to whom I’ve pointed you on occasion. This week he writes about the renewed conversation–sometimes with mildly raised voices–concerning the relationship between our justification and sanctification. Or to put it in less abstract terms, the relationship between God’s declaring us His own and our growth in godliness. For the next two weeks, Tim and I will unpack what the Divines had to say about true saving faith (Ch. 14) and sanctification (Chs 12, 13). [We're departing from the Confession's ordering due to a scheduling change Tim and I had to make.]

Have a look at those three chapters in the Confession and then consider Jason’s summary of the recent dustup. How do justification and sanctification relate? How are they, as I heard in seminary, “distinct but inseparable” notions?

The Missing Factor in the Justification & Sanctification Discussion.

AUDIO: Chapter 11: On Justification

pclafferty — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:47:03 +0000

Chapter 11: On Justification

chapter 11 handout

AUDIO: WCF Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling

pclafferty — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:04:27 +0000

Audio – Of Effectual Calling

chapter 10 handout

AUDIO: Chapter 9: Of Free Will

pclafferty — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:47:16 +0000

Chapter 9: Of Free Will

WCF 9 Outline

AUDIO: Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator, part 1

pclafferty — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:34:53 +0000

chapter 8.1-3 handout

Ch 8: Of Christ the Mediator, part 1

“That doctrine the Jews traduce, the Greeks deride, but we adore…”

pclafferty — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:13:30 +0000

St Athanasius

As we mentioned in class today, here’s a link to the late third century treatise by St Athanasius entitled, On the Incarnation. He traffics in pithy notions of the reasons why Christ came to earth as He did, but Athanasius has no interest in flattering us with his theological aptitude, but rather to (re)kindle our adoration for the One who laid aside more than anyone ever has to give to us more than anyone has ever given.

There are worse ways to spend part of the Advent season than to wade through and meditate on even some of Athanasius’ ruminations on the meaning and significance of the incarnation.

Who is this King of Glory?

pclafferty — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:22:12 +0000

This Sunday we turn to from the broader themes of providence and covenant in the Confession to a narrower, but no less profound, topic concerning the nature of Jesus. For two weeks we’ll consider what it means that Jesus is our Mediator.

Here’s a little summary of the person of Jesus in a post entitled, Thinking through Christology.