As I read books on missions and evangelism, I often feel that important, biblical distinctions are getting lost in the shuffle. The New Testament root which in its verbal infinitive form means to witness or testify is often and without explanation applied to the...
The Regulative Principle of the Church 8: Its Biblical Support—Second Argument
The second argument for the regulative principle of the church has to do with the inevitable tendency of human tradition. The introduction of extra-biblical practices into worship inevitably tends to nullify and undermine God's appointed worship (Matt. 15:3, 8, 9; 2...
The Regulative Principle of the Church 7: Its Biblical Support—First Argument
Four biblical arguments for the Puritan regulative principle of the church and its worship must now be presented. Here is the first one. It is the prerogative of God alone to determine the terms on which sinners may approach him in worship. Bannerman eloquently...
The Regulative Principle of the Church 6: Its Ecclesiastical Framework (Part 3)
The Distinctive Regulation of the Church of God as the Place of His Special Presence—1 Tim. 3:15 1 Timothy 3:15 is, of course, a key text for the doctrine of the church, but I had never realized its full implications for the regulative principle till I was doing...
The Regulative Principle of the Church 5: Its Ecclesiastical Framework (Part 2)
The Special Character of the Church of God as the Place of His Special Presence—Matthew 18:20 Matthew 18:15-20 is one of the first two passages in the New Testament where the term church is used, and it contains the first explicit mention of the local church in...
The Regulative Principle of the Church 4: Its Ecclesiastical Framework (Part 1)
In speaking of the ecclesiastical framework of the regulative principle I come to one of the matters in the Reformed tradition with regard to the regulative principle which I believe is in need of some clarification. The clarification which follows will, I...
The Regulative Principle of the Church 3: Its Historical Meaning (Part 2)
This principle articulated by Calvin and the Reformed against Luther and the Roman Catholics was given sharp focus in the debates between the Puritans and Anglicans in late 16th and 17th Century England. It was given its classic and definitive statement in...
The Regulative Principle of the Church 2: Its Historical Meaning (Part 1)
There are certain theological words and phrases which gain such a clear and defined meaning in the history of theology that to affirm that one holds to them is tantamount to affirming their meaning in that history. To affirm such words and phrases and not hold...
The Regulative Principle of the Church 1: General Introduction
It is a vast understatement to say that the regulative principle has been the subject of much discussion in recent years. Many in the Reformed resurgence have adopted (as they should have) the regulative principle as part of the Reformed and Puritan tradition to...
Theology Matters: Barcellos Reading
In this week's Theology Matters, Dr. Barcellos briefly discusses some of the books that he has recently been reading.
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