When and how the believer is sealed with the Spirit is the question. Many of the Puritans and certain of their contemporary disciples, agreeing that sealing is the assuring of the sealed of their salvation, contend that the sealing is a work of the Spirit that follows faith in Christ in time, often after many […]
Tag Archives: Theology
Biblical Doctrine: When Are We Sealed By the Holy Spirit?
posted by Joel Taylor
We learn the truth about assurance especially from three passages, or kinds of passages, of Scripture. The first is those texts that teach the sealing work of the Spirit. Several texts teach that the Spirit seals the believer, including II Corinthians 1:21, 22; Ephesians 1:13, 14; and Ephesians 4:30. Ephesians 1:13, 14 is the most […]
Assurance: An Indispensible Work of the Spirit – Not of Christians
posted by Joel Taylor
Assurance is not our own work, our own achievement by our own hard efforts. Neither is assurance bestowed in recognition of the superior spirituality by which a few children distinguish themselves from the rest of the congregation. It is an important aspect of the gospel that God not only wills to save all His […]
1689 Federalism vs Dispensationalism
posted by Joel Taylor
“Understand the differences between the particular Baptist covenant theology of the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith and Dispensationalism.”
A Doctrinal Cancer Within the Church
posted by Joel Taylor
In his book, The Object and Acts of Justifying Faith, puritan Thomas Goodwin acknowledges that many who finally obtain assurance do so only after many years. After many years? Really? After truly believing and trusting in Christ alone, we must wait and toil for something else in addition for real assurance other than knowing that […]
A Refutal of Baptismal Regeneration
posted by Joel Taylor
Below you will find a most interesting, and an honest video by Jay Miklovic, which he made as a defense of baptismal regeneration. I like Jay, nice guy (and he’s a baseball fan to boot). In the video, Jay makes his case, and I need to say up front that I appreciate both his conviction […]
How to Spot A Legalist
posted by Joel Taylor
“If one is scrupulous about obeying God’s law because one hopes, or intends, or desires, by keeping his law, to obtain or retain one’s salvation, then he is a legalist, and lost. But if one tries to keep his law, not in order to be saved at the final judgment, but because he is already […]
August
27
The Biblical and Virtuous Practice of Name-calling
posted by Joel Taylor
John W. Robbins: “Name-calling, accurately done, is not only not a sin, it is a virtue. It is identifying a person for what he is, and this cannot be done except by doing it. Anyone who studies the examples quoted here or any of the many other examples in the Bible will find that the […]
August
19
How Much Do You Really Know About C.S. Lewis?
posted by Joel Taylor
In light of the incredible popularity of the writings, videos and quotations of C.S. Lewis among evangelicals (and especially new Calvinists), I thought it helpful to get a more accurate portrait of Lewis than what those promoting him have been giving. The following article of research on Lewis is by David Cloud. Link is at […]
August
13
Thinning Carrots and Splitting Theological Hairs
posted by Joel Taylor
Today, I spent a good bit of time thinning our carrots in the garden. You must do that because carrots need space to fully develop. You simply must get rid of anything, like weeds, that might distort them and stunt their growth, otherwise, you will end up with spindly little orange nothings that are useless, […]
Satan: Neither Prince nor Ruler of This World
posted by Joel Taylor
The consummation of the kingdom of God is eschatological. However, the present reality of the kingdom is certainly not, nor is that of the present reign of Jesus Christ as King of kings. It is a great comfort to the Church that at the right hand of God is seated He Who reigns supremely over […]
May
21
Al Mohler, ‘Natural Evil’ and the Oklahoma Tornado
posted by Joel Taylor
If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it? – Amos 3:6 The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these. – Isaiah 45:7 Yesterday, a massive […]
Trending with God
posted by Joel Taylor
To say I am greatly disappointed would be a tremendous understatement. But I’m unsure how to word it at the moment. Let me tell you that I am absolutely amazed at the eagerness to which professing Christians jump on the latest trending topics on social media. If it’s trending, look out. Blog posts, tweets and […]
The Last Waltz and the Need for a Good Whuppin’
posted by Joel Taylor
For those whose minds have not been polluted by government run, public education and brainwashed by the long, tireless, continued effort of those still attempting to reconstruct the South, it’s people – and the truth of American history, I hope you will appreciate what I’m about to say. There are few modern words that describe […]
February
21
Persecuted Church Seeing Angels?
posted by Joel Taylor
It was another Sunday. My family arrived to our meeting place of worship on time, maybe a little early. We took our usual seats. This Sunday would be a little different. It would include a presentation of the purposes of a particular missionary society and a special speaker from a foreign land. He would not […]
Q&A: Did Jesus Christ Commit Suicide?
posted by Joel Taylor
This question comes in response to a post which was in itself a response to John Piper and his teaching on Christians and guns in their home, which he opposes. Q: Was Christ committing suicide when He did not resist his murderers? A: Absolutely not, and for at least two reasons.
John Piper: Christians Don’t Need Guns in Their Homes
posted by Joel Taylor
Apart from written Scripture, Christians are never to arrive at final conclusions regarding instruction on life and godliness by the examples of men, ever, not even from missionaries or popular preachers. The written Word of God, alone, is God’s revelation to His people regarding such things. This counsel from Dr. John Piper, is most absurd. […]
Are Huckabee and Dobson Wrong About the Newtown Shooting?
posted by Joel Taylor
Sound reasonable? or no?
Sincerity
posted by Joel Taylor
Sincerity is generally an admirable quality. Most of us in our dealings with others appreciate being thought of as sincere. To be described as “insincere” makes most of us angry or have hurt feelings. In fact, given a choice, some of us, if not many of us would prefer being described as “factually mistaken” rather […]
Joel Taylor
5 Pt. Salt 
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