Distinguishing Justification from Sanctification (Vos)

Here's a good explanation of the difference between justification and sanctification. It's found in volume four of Geerhardus Vos' Reformed Dogmatics. A) Sanctification serves to take away the pollution of sin and to replace it with what is good as an inherent disposition; it restores in us conformity to the image of God. Justification serves…

The Historical Progress of Supernatural Revelation (Vos)

I've read the following paragraph by Geerhardus Vos so many times I've lost count. It's so rich and full of very helpful insight. You can find it in his Shorter Writings. The title of the chapter is "The Idea of Biblical Theology as a Science and as a Theological Discipline." Vos gave this lecture as…

The Words of Jesus: Take, Eat…Drink” (Vos)

The words that Jesus used when he instituted the Lord's Supper are very important and deep words. They are full of rich meaning for disciples. You can find Jesus' words of institution in the Gospels. Here's how Matthew recorded them: 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke…

Preaching and the Lord’s Supper (Vos)

The Christian pastor's duty is to consistently and clearly preach the whole counsel of God which has Christ at the center (Acts 20:27; 2 Cor. 1:20; 1 Cor. 9:16, etc.). Christian sermons must come out of the Christian Scriptures which are all about Christ. And this reality also has to do with the Lord's Supper.…

Judgment According to Works?? (Vos)

The Bible teaches that sinful people cannot earn salvation or contribute to their salvation.  Justification and eternal life are free gifts of God received by faith alone in Christ alone (Rom 4:1-8, Gal. 2:15-16, Eph 2:8, etc.).  Or as the Heidelberg Catechism says, the good we do can't make us right or help make us…