Why God became Man

“The title of this post is the translation of one of the most famous books in the history of Christian theology: Cur Deus Homo by Anselm of Canterbury. In it he expounded the biblical doctrines of Christ’s incarnation and atonement, demonstrating their fundamental connection. The one who died was God the Son become fully human. God the Son became fully human in order to die.

The necessity of the incarnation arises from both God’s character of holy love and determined purpose to have human beings for himself even in the face of the monumental attack upon God and his character that is human sin. …”

– ACL President Mark Thompson writes at Theological Theology.

Abandon the Reformation, Abandon the Gospel

“There they sat. Relics. Lots of them. There was a cut of fabric from the swaddling cloth of baby Jesus, 13 pieces from his crib, a strand of straw from the manger, a piece of gold from a Wise Man, three pieces of myrrh, a morsel of bread from the Last Supper, a thorn from the crown Jesus wore when crucified, and, to top it all off, a genuine piece of stone that Jesus stood on to ascend to the Father’s right hand…”

– At The Gospel Coalition, Matthew Barrett writes for Reformation Day (October 31).

Archbishop Cranmer’s immortal bequest

In the run up to Reformation Sunday (October 30), Church Society has republished a 1992 article from Churchman – ‘Archbishop Cranmer’s Immortal Bequest: The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England: An Evangelistic Liturgy’ by Samuel Leuenberger. (PDF file.)

Worthwhile reading for a sense of where the Book of Common Prayer comes from, especially so as Sydney Diocese discusses liturgical revision.

The Elephant in the Room

Does theology matter? Of course it does – and even more so when someone is a teacher and preacher who claims to speak the words of eternal life.

Over the last few days, quite a storm has developed over the invitation extended to a ‘Word of Faith’ preacher to speak at a high profile event in the US. You can read a summary by Tim Challies about the controversy. Carl Trueman also offers some thoughts.

Related: Word of Faith preachers. (Photo: Tim Challies.)

On hearing and responding to Christ’s word

At the Better Gatherings website (run by the Archbishop of Sydney’s Liturgical Panel), there’s a helpful short article by Dr David Peterson – on considering what we do when we meet around Christ in church. You can read it here (be sure to check the other resources on the site!).

Paul, Chronology and the Unity of 2 Corinthians

“It is generally agreed that Paul’s engagement with the church in Corinth was extensive and intensive, more so than with any Pauline congregation. This short paper addresses the question of the chronology of Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth and the related issue of the unity of Second Corinthians. …”

– Bishop Paul Barnett has posted a very interesting and helpful paper he presented at the Society for the Study of Early Christianity at Macquarie University in August.

Deciding… Yet Undecided

“The strategy behind Williams’ address was not to promote his views on homosexuality directly, but to reflect on the process by which moral decisions in general should be made – not so much to play the game, so to speak, as the more ambitious task of actually trying to define what the playing field should look like.

And this is the enduring significance of his address thirteen years later as he continues to promote ‘indaba’ and ‘listening process’ strategies which focus on the process of decision making…”

– Charles Raven, author of Shadow Gospel, reviews a book on Archbishop Rowan Williams’ theology of moral decision-making – at SPREAD.

A passionate plea for doctrine

In the latest issue of Cross†Way, Anthony Rees gives 5 reasons why there is a need to recover Christian doctrine.

Read it here as a PDF file – from Church Society.

Holding the Word of God in your hands

A few weeks back, Crossway, the publishers of the ESV, hosted a dinner at a Christian booksellers’ convention in Atlanta, Georgia. They asked someone who loves God’s word to give the keynote address.

John Piper spoke about William Tyndale, the 400th anniversary of the AV, the RSV, the NRSV, the rationale for the ESV – and the incomparable worth of God’s word. You can watch his 31 minute address on Vimeo. h/t Dane Ortlund.

Idea: Registered Vimeo users can download the 175MB file. Have a big TV? Invite your Bible Study group around to watch.

The Doctrine of Baptism – DWB Robinson

Church Society has republished a 1962 paper by Donald Robinson (then Vice-Principal of Moore Theological College, and later Archbishop of Sydney) on the doctrine of Baptism.

“For our Church’s doctrine of baptism we must go first of all to the Thirty-Nine Articles. The Prayer Book services must always be interpreted in accordance with the Articles, and not the other way about.”

– This enlightening paper is available as a PDF file from Church Society.

(This has also been republished as chapter 26 in Volume 2 of Donald Robinson, Selected Works, Australian Church Record / Moore College, 2008.)

Biblical Authority in an Age of Uncertainty

In this video from The Gospel Coalition, Don Carson, John Piper and Tim Keller speak together about the importance of knowing what the Bible says.

Related: David Ould looks at the debate in the UK on Women Bishops – “It’s Just the Vibe of the Thing” – at Stand Firm.

William Taylor on ‘Why Expository Preaching?’

William Taylor spoke at a Simeon Trust workshop on Biblical Exposition, in 2008. The audio of the workshop is available on their website. Most encouraging – especially for preachers of God’s word.

Science and Genesis 3:1-24

Barry Newman is continuing to write stimulating notes as he reads through the early chapters of Genesis. He’s posted his latest complete series of explorations, “Science and Genesis 3:1-24” – as a PDF file – at his blog.

The Great Creeds

“The earliest function of the creeds was baptismal, that is for instruction beforehand and interrogation of the candidate at the baptism itself. Between their embryonic beginnings and ultimate finalization of the creed in the forms we have them further elements were added.

This was because the era between the New Testament and the finalization of the Creeds in the fourth century was chaotic, with the intrusion of serious doctrinal errors threatening the survival of apostolic truth and the unity of the church. …”

– Bishop Paul Barnett is continuing to post some of his writings online.