Why did Jesus die?
“There are a numbers of ways we could answer the question “Why did Jesus die?”
On the historical level, we can say that Jesus was caught between the crunching gears of apocalyptic messianic expectation, Jewish temple politics, and Roman imperial intrigue.
On the theological level, there is so much more to say. …”
– At With Meagre Powers, Dr George Athas addresses the big question of Easter.
De-Conversion
“De-conversion is the reverse of conversion. While some creep away from the faith like a gliding glacier, the de-converted are glaciers calving off, crashing into the sea with devastating effect. Read on with holy fear. …”
– Do read on. From Reformation21.
The ‘so what’ of Easter: Part 2 – The death of death
“In part 1 we thought about how the resurrection shows Jesus’ work to be successful and effective in dealing with sin.
Here in part 2 we see how the resurrection also declares the death of death. Death is one of those things in our modern western world that people like to ignore – until a friend or family member dies.
For the majority of the human race who live in the rest of the world, however, death is often front and centre …”
– From Mike Leite at The Australian Church Record. (Image: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)
The ‘so what’ of Easter: Part 1
“When it comes to the resurrection of Jesus, most contemporary Christian writing has been centred on its historicity. Preaching often tends to focus on the historical details and the fact that it really happened, rather than its meaning.
As a result, the average pew sitter might have a robust apologetic in response to the historical claim of the resurrection, but be somewhat cloudy when it comes to its theological significance. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Mike Leite doesn’t want us to miss the point of Easter.
J C Ryle on “Evangelical Religion”
“Since many religious disputes have arisen solely because there has been a lack of accurate definition, I am beginning this paper by explaining exactly what I mean by ‘Evangelical Religion’. …”
– This classic article by Bishop J. C. Ryle is always worth re-reading.
The Illuminated Heart — Lent Reflections from Dr Peter Jensen – Part 6
“In the penultimate video in the series, Dr Jensen explains how God illuminates our dark hearts through the proclamation of the gospel.” – From GAFCON.
T.C. Hammond on Article 19 — The Church
Article XIX Of the Church
The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the sacrament be duly ministered according to Christ’s ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.
As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred; so also the Church of Rome hash erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith.
“It is worth noting that the definition here embodied is limited strictly to the Visible Church. The Language is very carefully chosen. The Article does not say ’The Church of Christ is visible,” but “The Visible Church of Christ is a congregation, etc.‘ …”
– T.C. Hammond on Article 19 of the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion – republished at The Australian Church Record.
The Exclusiveness of Christianity — T C Hammond on Article 18
“We have to notice that there is an exclusiveness about Christianity.
It asserts, quite emphatically, that there is only one way of salvation. This is the consistent message of the New Testament.
Peter boldly declared to his interrogators: ‘Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name, under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.’ This is a vigorous declaration of the exclusiveness of Christianity. …”
– The Australian Church Record continues to republish T.C. Hammond’s theological reflections on The Thirty Nine Articles.
The Burning Heart — Lent Reflections from Dr Peter Jensen – Part 5
In the fifth of seven videos during the season of Lent, GAFCON General Secretary Dr. Peter Jensen turns to the burning heart.
T C Hammond on Articles 17 and 18
The Australian Church Record is continuing to republish T C Hammond’s commentaries on The Thirty Nine Articles from the late 1950s. The latest are:
Perversions of the Doctrine of Predestination (Article 17)
and Where is salvation to be found? (Article 18).
The New Heart — Lent reflections from Dr Peter Jensen – Part 4
In the fourth of seven videos during the season of Lent, GAFCON General Secretary Dr. Peter Jensen asks ‘How’s your heart?’, looking at the new heart.
Do whatever makes you holy
“We all face the struggles of living in a world that doesn’t know Christ.
The Christian life is like an iceberg: one tenth of it is spent at church or with other Christians, and nine tenths is spent in the world where, much like salt water, that world attempts to erode our Christian character. …”
– ACL Council member Mike Taylor writes to urge you to pursue holiness. Read it all, at GoThereFor.com.
The Repentant Heart — Lent reflections from Dr Peter Jensen – Part 3
In the third of seven videos during the season of Lent, GAFCON General Secretary Dr. Peter Jensen asks ‘How’s your heart?’, looking at the repentant heart.
Published by GAFCON.
Church Society series for Lent
We’re now well into the season of Lent.
Whether or not you personally observe Lent, it’s always a good time to mediate on the great truths of Scripture.
Over at Church Society’s blog, Lee Gatiss has been posting Lent reflections:
So far (earliest first), the posts are:
A Revolutionary Act: Saying the Creed.
The Author of Perfect Happiness.
– with more to come, at Church Society.
T.C. Hammond: God’s Purposes are Independent of Time (Article 17)
“So much attention has been paid to what we may call the problems of Predestination that sometimes the positive teaching of the Article is overlooked. It is worthwhile to devote some time to this obvious duty. …”
– The Australian Church Record republishes this 1957 article by Archdeacon T.C. Hammond.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…