I am still deep into my research concerning the development of the doctrine of justification. While engaged in some online research this morning, I came across a new blog (new, of course, to yours truly), The Heidelblog, which has two recent threads discussing Peter Leithart, “Federal Vision”, and the NW Presbytery of the PCA: FIRST POST; SECOND POST. The following snippet from the second post, should wet the appetite of some of this blog’s readers:
The refusal yesterday by the NW Presbytery of the PCA to discipline a minister who deliberately, provocatively, and openly challenged and contradicted God’s Word as confessed by the Reformed Churches serves as a reminder that adopting “pastoral advice” is not enough.
It seems that many PCA brethren were not as convinced as Mr. Clark that Dr. Leithart, “deliberately, provocatively, and openly challenged and contradicted God’s Word as confessed by the Reformed Churches”. The fact that conservative, Reformed, confessional, Presbyterian scholars cannot come to a clear consensus on the doctrine of justification, certainly speaks to the issue of PERSPICUITY. It also raises the question: which interpretation/doctrinal stance is the correct one?
If brilliant, Reformed scholars, remain embattled over this issue, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Grace and peace,
David
David,
ReplyDeleteThis is one presbytery. There is an appeal to come to GA or the SJC. If the majority report in this presbytery made the same arguments as the Louisiana Presbytery and the SJC, on behalf of the GA, rejected them why would one expect the same arguments to fair any better a second time.
The FV is not an open question. The PCA GA has already rejected it as has the RCUS, the OPC, the URCs, not to mention Westminster Seminary California, Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and others.
There's a starting point on the FV discussion here.
Q: If brilliant, Reformed scholars, remain embattled over this issue, what hope is there for the rest of us?
ReplyDeleteA: Barack Obama.
David, you don't want to miss John Fesko's book on Justification titled "Justification: Understanding the Classic Reformed Doctrine." You can see the TOC and a sample chapter here.
ReplyDeleteHere is a recent interview with him.
Hi Jeff,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up on Fesko’s book. I actually became aware of the book awhile back, for I am on the Westminster Seminary Bookstore mailing list. I had already read Guy Prentiss Waters’, The Federal Vision and Covenant Theology and Justification and the New Perspectives on Paul, plus Justification In Perspective, edited by Bruce L. McCormack, so I did not purchase to book. However, after reading the following REVIEW, and subsequent follow up THREAD, I have put the book on next month’s book allowance list of purchases.
Grace and peace,
David