The Law/Gospel Distinction in Reformed Theology

This is a re-post from October, 2009. I've posted on this before, but it is something that needs to be said more than a few times: the law/gospel distinction is right there in the fabric of historic Reformed theology.  Though some people don't like it, won't teach it, and think it is Lutheran, it is …

Law/Gospel: A Staple in Reformation Theology

We've posted on this before, but it is something that needs to be said more than a few times: the law/gospel distinction is right there in the fabric of old-school Reformed theology.  Though some people don't like it, won't teach it, and think it is Lutheran, it is undeniable that a sharp law/gospel distinction is …

The Reformed Scholastics on the Regnum Christi

Earlier, I noted Watson and Bavinck's notes on the kingship of Christ, as well as Luther's.  It was pretty "standard speak" in the Reformation and post-Reformation schools to talk about the reign of Christ (regnum Christi) in a threefold way.  Brakel (and the aforementioned Reformers) used these terms: Christ's kingly office is threefold: 1) "He …

Bavinck on the Two Kingdoms

Earlier, I noted how some Reformed teachers from around 1700 talked about the two kingdoms, the two-fold reign of Christ.  For review, Thomas Watson, Wilhelmus a Brakel, and others like them talked about Christ's general reign over all things and his special reign over the church.  The former is the kingdom of power and the …

The Kingdom of God Part II

Yesterday I noted some Reformed teaching concerning the kingdom of God - from around 1700, in England and in Holland, the Reformed language was the same: God is king over all things, which is his kingdom of power. He also rules the church in a specific, saving way, which is his kingdom of grace (now) …